Five Things UX Designers and Teachers Have in Common
I spent eight fabulous years as an elementary school teacher. I took great pride in all my students consistently developing high-level reading, writing, and problem-solving skills. I designed my teaching to suit the specific educational and emotional needs of each student.
Over the course of my career, I faithfully practiced what I know now is human-centered design to create meaningful and engaging learning experiences for my students. I also deeply enjoyed collaborating with my colleagues. It was their support and knowledge that got me through difficult situations.
Then it came time for me to move on from teaching like I always knew I would after my milestone 30th birthday.
What’s next? That question seemed to haunt me day and night. It made my stomach clench up in worry but also a little excitement.
It seemed like there were so many options. Then, reality set in as I began applying for corporate jobs. I felt limited with my teaching background. Transitioning into a new career felt like having to prove my skills and my worth as a professional to folks who didn’t know about the inner workings of a classroom. Folks who don’t necessarily see the value of teachers as creative, highly productive, multi-tasking individuals.
After a few years of research and talking to people, as well as acquiring a day job that nurtured my passion for design, research and people, I finally figured it out.
I wanted to become a UX/UI designer. And so I did.
My career change felt full circle. Here’s why.
UX Designers and teachers never stop learning. In the classroom, you are both pupil and teacher at all times. This idea is referenced in one of my favorite books on education called Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Brazilian educator and philosopher Paulo Friere states the following: “The teacher is no longer merely the-one-who-teaches, but one who is himself taught in dialogue with the students, who in turn while being taught also teaches. They become jointly responsible for a process in which all grow.” Teachers learn about their students, their interests, and what’s trending in their world in order to connect with them. Listening to student feedback when designing lessons is essential! Teachers even often take professional development courses to further add to their learning. UX Designers and teachers share an authentic love for learning about the user, their stories, needs, and motivations.
Innovative thinking is valued. In the last twenty years, teaching has really moved away from being teacher-centric to being student-centric. Here’s a smaller-scale example: we’ve realized not all students learn well while sitting in rows; some students learn best while being on the carpet or sitting in a small group. As a primary teacher during children's formative years, I aimed to create a classroom culture where innovation, creativity, asking questions, and making mistakes were valued! I asked my students open-ended questions and encouraged them to discuss all possibilities and think big. Now as a UX designer, I employ these same strategies during teamwork. I focus on creating an environment where my colleagues feel free to flourish, meet any challenge, and question the world around them.
Empathy is a must. They say a designer’s greatest attribute is being able to empathize, to be able to share the feelings of the user. When you’re designing a product the end goal is to meet a user’s needs while providing a solution. Therefore, being able to truly understand people is about being able to empathize. In the same vein, effective teaching is about building genuine connections with students, finding out what’s driving their behaviors so that you can determine the best way to be there for them. You want to let the students know they’re not alone in difficult moments and you understand their feelings. Feeling understood and supported in the classroom is especially important for students who learn and think differently.
Collaboration among colleagues leads to more feedback/creativity. One of the main reasons I wanted to move on from teaching was because I missed working with adults. I knew how much I enjoyed weekly lesson planning meetings with my colleagues. I believe the BEST and most creative ideas are born out of collaboration. I can safely say I wouldn’t have made it through my first year of teaching at a demanding private school in Thailand were it not for my fellow teachers. We were tasked with keeping detailed portfolios on every student. We shared ideas, edited each other’s work, and provided each other with great and useful feedback. Teamwork is the part of teaching that I enjoyed the most and now as a UX designer, my love for collaboration has only grown. As much as I learned from my course work, I also learned from my peers. A great teammate uplifts you, bringing out the best version of your professional self. I am a better UX designer (and human) because of the constant feedback I received from my teammates.
Grit — don’t stop until you find the solution. Educators will often spend hours on end outside of the classroom researching new teaching strategies to connect with students. When faced with a student who thinks and learns differently, a good teacher will consider various ways to teach the material to determine which way the student will be most receptive to. Learning and addressing the needs of every student in the classroom is the hallmark of an effective and memorable teacher. Just like UX designers and their penchant for iteration and innovation, teachers work passionately to find solutions. Both teachers and UX designers are natural-born problem-solvers with great attention to detail and determination to spare.
