Deciding whether to become a generalist or specialist in your UX design career
As a UX professional, you may ponder if it's better to become an expert in a single field or a generalist who is knowledgeable in many areas. This is a challenge I have encountered during my own UX career journey, which has made me question my goals and ambitions for this field.
After I discovered this, I realised it's essential to take some time and weigh the pros and cons of each approach to see which one works best for your UX career.
In this post, I’m going to explore the pros and cons of being a specialist or a generalist in UX design and provide a step-by-step guide on how to determine which path is right for your personal development and growth in your UX career.
Specialist vs. Generalist in UX Design
In his book “Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialised World,” author David Epstein explores the benefits of being a generalist in today’s rapidly changing world. He argues that generalists are often better equipped to solve complex problems, adapt to new situations, and find innovative solutions than specialists who have a narrow focus.
When it comes to deciding whether to become a specialist or generalist in UX design, Epstein’s ideas within his book are worth considering for this subject area. While specialisation can be valuable in certain industries, UX design is a field that requires a broad range of skills and knowledge. As technology evolves and user needs change, UX professionals must be able to adapt and learn new skills to remain effective.
To move more closer to the title of this blog post, a specialist in UX design has a deep knowledge and expertise in a particular area of UX, such as information architecture, UX writing, interaction design, or user research. They are often sought after for their specialised skills and are able to command higher salaries. While specialisation can be valuable in certain industries, UX design is a field that requires a broad range of skills and knowledge. As technology evolves and user needs change, UX professionals must be able to adapt and learn new skills to remain effective. A potential other area as a specialist could be a specialist with a combination of skill sets that complement each other, such as just focusing on Information Architecture and UX writing.
On the other hand, Epstein regards a generalist in UX design has a broad range of skills and knowledge across multiple areas of UX design. They may not have the same level of expertise in a particular area as a specialist, but they are versatile and adaptable. By developing a range of skills and experiences, generalist UX professionals can approach problems from different angles and find creative solutions. They are better able to adapt to changing circumstances and can pivot to new areas of UX design as needed. This flexibility can be especially valuable in today’s rapidly changing job market.
Step-by-step guide to choosing which route you want to take in UX Design:
· Identify your strengths and interests: The first step in choosing whether a route in specialisation and generalist in UX design is identify your strengths and interests. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? What areas of UX design do you want to learn more about? Also think about are there any industries, hobbies or topics outside of UX you’re interested.
· Research different areas in UX Design: Once you have identified your strengths and interests and interested in, research the different areas in UX design. Learn about the skills and knowledge required and the job opportunities available for either specialist or generalist roles.
· Evaluate the demand for specialisations vs generalisations: In addition to researching the different areas in UX design, evaluate the demand for specialist or generalist for your strengths and weaknesses. Look at job postings and salary data to see which specialisations are in high demand and where these jobs are located. If you want to generalise, take the same approach and look at job postings for generalised roles, getting an idea of experience and skills required.
· Consider your career goals: When choosing a specialisation or generalisation in UX design, consider your career goals. Do you want to work for a specific type of company? Do you want to work on a particular type of project? How do your skills and interests align with your career goals? What kind of impact do you want to bring with your work, both within your user group and wider environment?
· Identify your skills gaps: Do a UX skill audit (as provided by NNG) and review how you feel your fairing in each area. What areas of UX design do you need to improve on? What skills do you need to learn?
· Seek out learning opportunities: Once you have chosen a specialisation or generalisation, seek out learning opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge in that area. Attend conferences, take courses, and seek mentorship from experts in the field. However, a suggestion would be to choose only 3 hard and soft skills that you feel is the most improve on for the next step within your career (like public speaking, UX writing and workshop facilitation), as having too many areas to learn can be harder to digest.
· Practice, practice, practice: To truly develop your skills in UX design, you need to practice. Work on projects outside of your comfort zone, take on new challenges (like daily challenges), and seek feedback from colleagues, mentors and clients.
· Stay up-to-date with industry trends: Finally, stay up-to-date with industry trends and new technologies. Attend conferences, BarCamps and meetups, read industry publications, and participate in online communities to stay informed and connected.
Ultimately, the decision to become a specialist or generalist in UX design is a personal one that depends on your goals, interests, and career aspirations. It is important to consider both paths carefully and weigh the pros and cons of each approach. By doing so, you can make an informed decision that will help you grow and succeed in your UX design career.
