UX Maturity & The Three Wise Monkeys
Today, I want to delve into a critical area of user experience that often goes overlooked and unmanaged — UX maturity. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the field, understanding and embracing where you stand on the maturity spectrum can profoundly impact your growth and effectiveness as a UX practitioner.
Understanding UX Maturity
UX maturity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a harsh reality we all face. Every UX professional starts somewhere, and it’s crucial to recognize that growth is continuous. You might have been in the field for decades or mere months, but what matters is your willingness to evolve and learn. Comparing yourself to others won’t do much good; instead, evaluate yourself against industry standards.
Practitioner’s Maturity
I prefer to call it “Practitioner’s UX Maturity” because it broadens our perspective, focusing on how well-equipped we are to handle our current roles and adapt to the team’s needs. Whether you’re at an entry, mid, senior, lead, staff, or principal level, your maturity is reflected in how you perceive and utilize heuristics and usability principles.
Navigating Through Strategy and Speed
Strategies evolve as we mature. The more experienced you are, the more strategic you become in accomplishing tasks. It’s not about the speed of execution alone but ensuring that what you implement does not require rework down the line. Fast and hasty does not mean efficient. Proper planning, strategizing, and addressing usability from the start help avoid issues that may arise months after implementation.
NOTE: Speed for speed’s sake isn’t wise. If you deploy in three months, but spend the next nine fixing what you would have identified by considering heuristic and usability factors, is that REALLY fast? True speed is achieved through a foundation of expertise, acumen, and skillful deliberation.
Avoiding the “Three Unwise Monkeys”
Now, onto the crux of today’s discussion — the “Three Unwise Monkeys” of UX: Spaghetti, Spitballing, and Harebrained ideas. Analogous to the traditional “See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil,” these are pitfalls that embody ineffective practices.
- Spaghetti: Throwing ideas haphazardly to see what sticks without a proper plan.
- Spitballing: Proposing concepts without thoughtful consideration.
- Harebrained Ideas: Suggesting impractical solutions (i.e., they sound good, but they’re actually not realistic, feasible, or useful).
There’s a time and place for brainstorming, where all ideas are welcome, but professional maturity teaches us when and where to apply heuristics and focus on usability to refine those ideas into viable solutions. A practitioner’s level of UX maturity will determine how they proceed.
Addendum
Have you discovered that you have lower UX maturity? THAT’S OKAY!!! Everybody has to start somewhere. There was a time when more seasoned people lacked UX maturity, but we grew. We developed. When we persevered, we reaped the benefits.
It’s okay to lack. What’s not okay is to pretend you’re someone/something that you’re not and ascribe more skill or status. This is an emotional intelligence red flag. This is Dunning-Kruger personified. Don’t be THAT person. When you realize you lack in a given area, I challenge you to face that topic or that thing head-on. You’ll be better for it.
If you embrace what you lack, what is a weak area today can easily, over time, become a strength.
The Announcement: Returning to My Audio Roots
Before we wrap up, I have a special announcement. We’re returning to our roots! The World of UX is going back to an audio-only format. While video has its perks, audio allows our content to be more accessible and easily consumed on the go. For those who enjoy video content, stay tuned. We’re launching a community where special video content will be available, focusing on the “how-to” of UX practices.
Thank you for being here today. Whether you’re driving, exercising, or simply relaxing at home, I hope this discussion equips you with valuable insights. Let’s continue learning and growing together as we refine our craft in the world of UX.
Until next time, happy UXing!
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About Dr. Darren
Dr. Darren Hood is a 30+-year UX practitioner with a broad professional footprint across B2B and B2C operations and holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. In addition to serving as a UX manager, individual contributor, and freelancer in the business world, Darren is serving or has served as an adjunct professor at Michigan State University, Champlain College, Brandeis University, Lawrence Tech University, Kent State University, UCLA, and Harrisburg University. He is also one of the authors featured in “97 Things Every UX Practitioner Should Know.” He also regularly speaks at conferences and mentors people worldwide.
You can hear more from Darren by visiting the KaizenUX Medium blog landing page, the KaizenUX YouTube channel, or by listening to The World of UX with Darren Hood wherever podcasts are available.
Visit KaizenTees to check out my UX ≠ UI merch.
Note: This blog post marks my foray into using AI to transform podcast episodes. It was generated with the aid of Descript’s AI functionality.
