The hardest design role to fill...

I’ve worked on many design roles over my career, the trickiest I find to hire for are Experience Directors. Mainly because it’s so subjective for every company.

Luckily, I get to pick the brains of people like Russell on a daily basis. Below are a few of his thoughts ??

Why are Experience Directors are hard to find right now?

First off, the definition of an Experience Director is so ambiguous in this industry. Each company has different needs, and to direct entire experiences require knowledge in so many areas of the design process. So it’s really a matter of finding the right talent to not only fit what we do but more importantly, add something different to what we already do. The second part is that once you do find that talent that you think will be a good fit…guess what? Other companies that are hiring probably thing the same thing! They are in high demand but as long as you are authentic in explaining your culture, your process, and their fit at the company the rest is really up to them. In the end, authenticity always wins.

Can they simplify their narrative?

A lot of people in their portfolio tend to write a lot of content and overcomplicate things. The more simple they make it for me the more simple they will make it for their team and the more simple they will make it for clients. They always say some of the smartest people in the world can explain the complex in a simple manner.

Even though they are not visual designers, do they have an eye?

Is their website clean and intuitive? We are very visual with everything we do. Whether it is designs, presentation, charts, everything. I’m not looking for a beautiful work of art from a UX leader but I am looking for someone that puts care and attention to how the work is presented.

Do they actually do the work or do they just manage?

We love people that are hands on — not just people to inform what others to do. I think those types of people are super talented, however, it isn’t how we got to where we are today. We are a bunch of thinkers but also do-ers. And we learn the best by doing and getting into the files themselves to help build magic.

Do they have experiences with many industries?

Sometimes we get people who are great, but the only experience doing a 1–2 verticals. We like the variety because we are going to give them just that when they join. We don’t need experts in all verticals, but we need someone who has the experience taking on a vertical they have never worked with and being able to thrive inside that ambiguity.

Passion. Passion. Passion.

Do they have side projects? Do they do stuff outside of 9–5? This is not mandatory but we love people that genuinely love what they do and love to do more than what they are asked. You don’t necessarily need a side project to show that passion, not at all…but something to indicate your love for your design in whatever capacity you can…it really goes a long way. We want to be surrounded by that energy.

“I think titles are tough in this town, my title included. And I think it is hard to find people with the leadership experience WITH the experience of getting in the files and doing the work. Meaning they love to lead but also not super far from the work.”