A designer who writes.
Fresh ideas about craft, clarity, creativity, and personal growth, as well as updates on my projects, media recommendations, and links to all the weird and delightful things I find on the internet.
There’s no magic bullet for getting your first official UX writing job. No single experience, program, or certification will put your resume on the top of the stack or get you that callback. Before you spend money on a camp or certificate, consider what you need to get out the program. That’s what should guide you. Will … continue
UX writing is less “writing, but apps” and more “design, but words”. What I mean by that is that UX writing is primarily a UX design specialization. UX writers typically focus on interface copy and language while working collaboratively as part of a design team on a specific product or feature, rather than working solo … continue
The Great Flattening continues. Even when the city was burning, even with protests to attend and petitions to sign and causes to donate to, it’s still all blending together a bit. (I’ve come to appreciate the #WhatDayIsIt tweets from Steve Portigal.) I moved during the initial lockdown period in Minneapolis, and I’m in a larger … continue
These are not precisely questions about UX or content strategy, but I still get asked them a lot at conferences.
Things aren’t so bad in Minnesota as in other places, for which I’m grateful. I’m home, mostly, unless I’m going to the store or my girlfriend’s apartment, by foot or by bike, playing Frogger all the way trying to dodge other humans. Our respective offices went work-from-home only a week or so before the orders … continue
Lotta information to process these days. I’ve read more bits of scientific papers in the past few weeks than ever before. Doesn’t mean I know anything, though. I’ve stopped sharing what I think I’ve learned even with people close to me, at least until I hear it from multiple real experts. At least twice now … continue
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a perfectly simple, data-driven answer to that question? “Based on an analysis of 1,000 writing assignments, we’ve found that four reviewers are enough to catch 99.99% of style and usage errors.” Hooray, the answer is four! Have four people review your content and everything will be perfect! Except, no. … continue
As soon as something more formal than conversation starts taking place, many designers feel like they need to ask for a permission slip. You don’t. Never delegate understanding.
If you don’t articulate and assign the writing role, then either everyone is the writer, or no one is the writer. Neither situation is fun.
Went out to an event a few weekends ago, but did not actually get to attend the event, because I did not purchase tickets to the event and it was sold out when we got there. I was absolutely certain I had purchased the tickets. I remember looking at the site, I remember filling out … continue
Or you will, if you subscribe. Personal dispatches from the desk of Scott Kubie, a designer who writes.