At the Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program, we have a large community of dedicated alumni. Our alumni span geographic locations and industries, and they frequently look for ways to give back to the PSM program.
On April 24th, 2024, the PSM program launched a new series of educational lectures called the MBS Café Speaker Series. Master of Business and Science (MBS) alumni Nicole Errico kicked off the series by leading students in an open discussion about the reality of how user experience design (UXD) is applied in a professional setting. The discussion was facilitated by Rupa Misra, Ed.D., director of MBS’s User Experience Design (UXD) and Product Design concentrations.
Errico holds an MBS degree with a concentration in UXD. With over seven years of experience as a Consultant and UX Designer, Errico currently works for Deloitte Consulting as a Senior UX Designer within their Innovation and Technology group. She is also the owner and lead artist at Flores Illustration LLC, a design company that specializes in fashion illustration.
Errico hosted a candid conversation about the current job market and how it’s affecting the field of user experience. She began by sharing her journey in UX. She transitioned into the field after being a consultant, and she acknowledged that recieving a master’s in UXD provided her with confidence and credibility.
Errico shared information about different roles within UX, including:
- UX Designer: Covers all five steps of the design thinking process.
- Product Designer: Similar to UX Designer, but Product Designers need more knowledge on how to transition into the market.
- Visual Designer: Focuses on developing the prototype and visual design.
- UX Researcher: Conducts research to understand how users interact with a product
- UX Copywriter: Advises on wording that goes into the product
- UX Engineer: Can complete front-end development and design wireframes. This is a sought-after role.
Errico gave a tip: The roles that are growing the most include Product Designer, UX Designer, and UX Engineer.
Errico also discussed the nuances on working in an organization, discussing the pros and cons of working:
- Aligned to one industry vs multiple industries
- Staffed on one project vs multiple projects
- As the sole designer vs on a team of designers
After, Errico and students shared insights, frustrations, experiences, and advice. Errico advised students on the importance of networking and taking advantage of opportunities to be referred into roles. She suggested students attend meetups (check out the World Information Architecture Association or UXPA/NJ), make LinkedIn connections, and take advantage of their own personal networks.
Many thanks to Errico for sharing her insights with current students! Read more of her advice on the UX job market. Our next MBS Café Speaker Series will take place on June 5th, 2024 featuring Dr. Raj Kohli, who recently retired from Colgate Palmolive, as Executive Vice President of Global R&D.
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