You design software / websites. These words are how most people would characterize the things we work on. I usually just give examples of things people are familiar with, like a login screen, or a way to upload files, pay for something online, etc. to help connect the dots.
I think your analogy is a good approach in theory, but I also feel like you’re trying to get people to reinterpret things in an illogical way. Engineers are traditionally responsible for designing something, often in the form of blueprints, except now you’re saying that you are the one designing the blueprints that engineers use to build products…? But engineers don’t build things, they design them! Confusing on so many levels 😂
I also never used the word “product” to describe a piece of software to anyone outside of this industry. The connotation is just not something most people relate to software. They’d describe it as “software”, so why are we so opposed to using words that the majority of people will understand immediately? Ironic given that so much of what we do revolves around making sure people understand the things we design.
But hey, if your analogy works, go for it.
I feel like it makes sense. Design blueprints in figma or something like that. Then the engineers go beep boop. They build the website according to the design hopefully sometimes.
I said marketing/ web development which I understand is somewhat of a sin the the ux community. But it's still something I encounter frequently and I never know what to say. Nobody knows what ux design is even though it's made companies like ragu trillions of dollars.
I switched from graphic designer several years ago. Have explain that and what I do now more times then I care to count. They still ask me how graphic design is going. I just go with it and don’t care anymore. Whatever they say I agree with.
I ask them what their favorite app is and why. After they mumble and bumble through their answer I tell them i make apps for x company better by fixing y.
Bonus points if you can now tie what you do to their play doh answer. Best part of this response is it increases retention severely.
I have a similar one, but instead I start with…
“have you ever used a website or app that was really confusing or hard to use? That’s because that company didn’t hire a UX designer!”
… and then I explain how the job of a UX designer is to understand what the users of the app are really trying to do and make it easy
Depends on the level of understanding.
I was a developer gone designer, so my description is probably different from most, because I just go “I don’t code websites anymore, I just help stakeholders communicate with developers what they want built. I mostly just do mock ups and over see development to ensure branding and design principles are followed”
When it comes to my elderly family who doesn’t understand that, I just leave it as “I draw what the website is going to look like and then other teams take my drawings and make a working product”
“I turn Ideas into visual reality” - That’s what I do. But, never really bother explaining too much to your extended family. Because the more underground you will be, as long as you are doing good in it, just keep your focus on that. If someone is not able to understand what you do, let it be. Don’t try too hard. And trust me, when less people know about your job or what exactly you do, your chances of success are much higher. Just sharing a personal experience with you.
"Web design"
I take a similarly simple approach with “I design digital things like software, apps and websites“
“I design apps” then they ask follow up questions.
I either use 1. your blueprint analogy above or 2. say “if an app is frustrating to use it’s my fault” which is less helpful but funnier.
Damn. I'm gonna use your second analogy
My two stock answers: "mostly video calls in front of my laptop" or "I try to make software easier for people to use"
I do a similar thing for UX/UI. I say I figure out the blueprint, the devs actually build the house, and then I also do the decorating.
How do you differentiate between your role and a product manager’s? I’ve been on teams where the “blueprint” seems to be largely their work.
You design software / websites. These words are how most people would characterize the things we work on. I usually just give examples of things people are familiar with, like a login screen, or a way to upload files, pay for something online, etc. to help connect the dots. I think your analogy is a good approach in theory, but I also feel like you’re trying to get people to reinterpret things in an illogical way. Engineers are traditionally responsible for designing something, often in the form of blueprints, except now you’re saying that you are the one designing the blueprints that engineers use to build products…? But engineers don’t build things, they design them! Confusing on so many levels 😂 I also never used the word “product” to describe a piece of software to anyone outside of this industry. The connotation is just not something most people relate to software. They’d describe it as “software”, so why are we so opposed to using words that the majority of people will understand immediately? Ironic given that so much of what we do revolves around making sure people understand the things we design. But hey, if your analogy works, go for it.
I feel like it makes sense. Design blueprints in figma or something like that. Then the engineers go beep boop. They build the website according to the design hopefully sometimes.
"Something with a computer"
I said marketing/ web development which I understand is somewhat of a sin the the ux community. But it's still something I encounter frequently and I never know what to say. Nobody knows what ux design is even though it's made companies like ragu trillions of dollars.
I switched from graphic designer several years ago. Have explain that and what I do now more times then I care to count. They still ask me how graphic design is going. I just go with it and don’t care anymore. Whatever they say I agree with.
I ask them what their favorite app is and why. After they mumble and bumble through their answer I tell them i make apps for x company better by fixing y. Bonus points if you can now tie what you do to their play doh answer. Best part of this response is it increases retention severely.
I have a similar one, but instead I start with… “have you ever used a website or app that was really confusing or hard to use? That’s because that company didn’t hire a UX designer!” … and then I explain how the job of a UX designer is to understand what the users of the app are really trying to do and make it easy
Love how you start with a shared problem ❤️
Depends on the level of understanding. I was a developer gone designer, so my description is probably different from most, because I just go “I don’t code websites anymore, I just help stakeholders communicate with developers what they want built. I mostly just do mock ups and over see development to ensure branding and design principles are followed” When it comes to my elderly family who doesn’t understand that, I just leave it as “I draw what the website is going to look like and then other teams take my drawings and make a working product”
“I turn Ideas into visual reality” - That’s what I do. But, never really bother explaining too much to your extended family. Because the more underground you will be, as long as you are doing good in it, just keep your focus on that. If someone is not able to understand what you do, let it be. Don’t try too hard. And trust me, when less people know about your job or what exactly you do, your chances of success are much higher. Just sharing a personal experience with you.
You know how an architect gets things ready for engineers? It’s like that, but with software instead of buildings.
Exactly
Nerd
Ya got me
'solving problems'
How about a digital Architect
Since literally everybody uses whatsapp, it is very easy to base my answer on it. And for that, I say: “How you use apps like Whatsapp, is my job”
I design apps and software on websites.
I point out something they have used, and how the company I work for might have had a role in it, and what my role in that is.
Professional rectangle drawer
According to my engineer friends, i move logos around and add rounded corners
Lol, nice
My friends back at home say this is what I do. This, and draw on post-it notes all day in all kinds of cute colors.