How can you improve your UX design presentation skills after an interview?

This introspective process yields insights on communication of work, audience engagement, and idea presentation. I've found this approach immensely helpful. After a recent interview, I reviewed my UX design presentation. I identified where I effectively explained design decisions, showcasing my problem-solving and design thinking. I recognized moments for clearer explanations and engaging interviewers better. Seeking feedback from panels or peers is enlightening. Once, panels praised my visuals for enhancing understanding of design processes, reinforcing visual aids' importance. These are a few of many but in essence, self-reflection and external feedback refine my presentation skills, leaving lasting impressions on potential employers.

I made a transition in the last years from UX to Video Content, but I feel there are similar concepts flowing around. In the UX process I would put my emphasis on storytelling with an insane eye for details. There's this thing called The Hero Journey and I believe if anyone would manage to tell a story about the problem they're solving AND putting the user in the center, the experience would just be amazing. What does it mean? Well, from UI, to wording, strategy, pitching, appearance, persona, etc., everything should be taken as a different skill to be mastered. It takes time, but it's a skill you can use in any fields afterwards.

One effective way to approach this, is by handling it like a research project: record the presentation even if it’s just audio recording with you phone, so you could go back and analyse the points where questions were asked and adjust if they highlight friction points

Take time to reflect on the interview process. What went well? What could have been better? Consider the feedback you received and your own observations.

Improving your UX design presentation skills after an interview is a valuable endeavor, as it can enhance your ability to effectively communicate your ideas and insights. Here are some steps you can take to enhance your presentation skills: Self-Reflection: Review your interview performance honestly. Identify areas where you excelled and aspects that need improvement.

User insights, stories, and evidence - It's so important that you can tie all your design decisions back to crystal clear insights and stories from real world user research. Plus, any evidence you gathered from prototyping and testing with real users, and how this was used to refine your design. Otherwise your interviewer can mark you down for pitching design work that is based on opinions and assumptions. Hope this helps a little ??

UX presentations often involve telling a story about the user's journey. Work on creating a clear and compelling narrative that guides your audience through the design process and user experience.

One of the most powerful elements hiring teams want to hear are the story beats. These include the failures, what didn't work, just as much as the successes. By highlighting what didn't work, hiring teams can see a more holistic picture of how you embrace thought problems, and highlight how you can pivot when issues arise. After all, those failures highlight major plot twists!

In reality, constraints like time and research resources are common in our work. If you faced compromises in your design project due to such constraints, utilize the "If I had more resources, I'd approach it differently" approach. This highlights your strong design expertise and adaptability to constraints.

Drawing from my own experience, this approach has been instrumental in capturing the essence of my work and demonstrating its impact. In a recent interview, I aligned my presentation with the STAR method. This structure provided clarity, making it easy for the interviewers to follow the progression of my design process and its outcomes. I vividly remember a scenario where refining my story proved indispensable. During a presentation on a complex healthcare app, I used the narrative arc to break down intricate technical details into relatable user scenarios. This technique not only simplified the information but also engaged the audience by allowing them to visualize real-world applications of my design solutions.

Rehearse your presentation multiple times. This will help you become more comfortable with your material, improve your flow, and reduce nervousness. Practice in front of a mirror, record yourself, or present to a friend for feedback. Ensure that your visual aids, such as slides or prototypes, are visually appealing and support your narrative. Use a consistent design theme, keep visuals uncluttered, and focus on key points.

I agree as it aids in refining the way you communicate your ideas. Before a significant interview, I diligently rehearse my presentation. I sometimes simulate a live audience by rehearsing in front of friends or mentors who can provide realistic feedback. This experience offers insights into whether my content resonates and whether my visual aids effectively support my narrative. On the flip side, while practicing potential questions and preparing backup materials is crucial, I've found that striking a balance between preparedness and spontaneity is vital. Over-rehearsing can sometimes make responses sound scripted, potentially hindering the natural flow of the conversation. Develop a style that conveys both expertise and authenticity.

Take video of your practice sessions or dummy presentations. This enables you to evaluate your performance objectively and spot your weak points.

Rehearsing is a big one for me. Recording myself and watching it back even three times usually helps me refine my script and draw out the key points, as well as perfect my cadence and tone while delivering. Can you say less? Streamline your main points until you can recite them easily.

This is something that many UX designers tend to overlook. Your portfolio is not just a representation/highlight of your past work, but it's also a dynamic testament to your adaptability and commitment to continuous learning. Keeping it up to date ensures that your future clients are viewing the most accurate reflection or your current skills. It's a great way to showcase your dedication to staying updated and relevant in the ever-evolving UX design field.

Divide the elements of your portfolio into content, images, communication, and engagement. Identify the precise areas that want improvement. Did you, for instance, have trouble expressing yourself clearly? Did your images effectively bolster your arguments?

Capture the interviewers' attention and engage them throughout your presentation. Ask questions, encourage participation, and create moments for discussion. This shows that you value collaboration.

Be sure to know your audience in advance and try to find tips from them. For example, look for their articles or designs. Also, personalize your portfolio for them.

Seek feedback from mentors, peers, or even the interviewers if possible. Constructive feedback can provide insights into areas you might not have considered. Watch presentations by experienced UX designers or public speakers. Pay attention to their techniques, delivery, and how they engage their audience.

Improving your UX design presentation skills should involves tight combination of self-awareness, practice, feedback, and ongoing learning. Through consistently refining your approach, you'll become a more effective and confident presenter in interviews and beyond. Additionally, I think being yourself and to be aware of your goings in the UX field should learn you an inspiration to be always practicing and just be mindful.

When presenting, try to tell a story. Index cards and prompts are helpful in delivering your story in a coherent and engaging way, although it is important to consider how you use your cards, refer to them but don’t read out from them. Infusing a narrative format into your process, research, findings and outcomes make for a presentation that holds attention and makes an impression. The journey of a project is usually non-linear, so the idea is to take this journey and communicate it in an authentic and engaging way.

Start PRE-Interview. Remember the saying that if you "stay ready, you don't have to get ready?" Do that. After a UX design interview, it's crucial to reflect on your performance and consider ways to improve your presentation skills for the future. But it's also way to late to have an impact on the now. Begin practicing as early as possible and seek input from smart people you trust. Make sure they give you feedback on what you're doing well and get them to be real with you about where you can improve. Apply this feedback, iterate your presentation style, and repeat. The more you practice and diversify your learning, the more versatile and compelling your future presentations will become.

I think a crucial and probably the most important point after a UX presentation is to listen to the panel/jury feedback. They were listening your presentation so you can evaluate yourself based on their reaction and questions. If it’s not clear, ask, and never take anything for granted. Their opinion is very valuable for you to improve your research and gain the experience you need to fulfill the task and grow as a professional. There could be cases consensus is just not possible, and that’s completely fine. But make sure you grow through this objections or moments or confusion. This will help you get a better conclusion on your performance.