UX & Design Category Archives - General Assembly Blog

UX Design and AI: Best Friends or Foes of the Future?

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ux design student looking over wireframe with another design student in GA classroom

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes


If you’re a current or aspiring UX designer who’s a bit (or a lot) unsure of what the future of UX will look like with the rapid evolution of new AI technologies, we’ve got some good news for you. AI isn’t here to steal your job — but it will likely change how you do it. For many, this may still feel scary, but imagine the possibilities of setting yourself free from some of the most tedious parts of your job and instead being able to focus more on the most important part — the users themselves. 

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Afrofuturism & The Future of Tech: 4 Ways to Join the Movement

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Juneteenth holds significant historical importance as it commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black people and African Americans in the United States. Juneteenth serves as a reminder of the long-fought struggle for freedom and equality, highlighting the resilience and perseverance of Black individuals throughout history, acknowledging the progress made and the ongoing work needed for racial justice.

Afrofuturism emerges as a remarkable accomplishment within the Black community, as it combines African diasporas, science fiction, and technology to envision inclusive and empowering futures. Afrofuturism celebrates Black imagination, resilience, and creativity, offering a platform to challenge stereotypes and envision a more inclusive and equitable world. By embracing these cultural movements and celebrating Black heritage, society can strive towards a more equitable and inclusive future for all.

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Expanding UX Design Capabilities for Tech Teams with Uber Design Pathways Powered by General Assembly

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Companies are still competing for tech talent, however many businesses continue to struggle with recruiting diverse employees. The root issue? Everyone is fishing in the same pond, competing for the same pool of talent.

Some companies have decided to pivot and pursue alternative approaches to recruiting underrepresented tech talent. Uber Design Pathways (UDP) Apprenticeship Program, for example, is a recent success story. Last summer, Uber first partnered with General Assembly to identify a group of high-potential, underrepresented San Francisco Bay Area residents interested in transitioning careers and provide them with the unique opportunity to embark on a future-proof UX career through the design apprenticeship. 

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How Tech Skills Can Land You a Creative Career

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Traditionally, “highly paid” and “creative career” doesn’t appear in the same sentence, but as technology transforms every part of the creative process, the demand for creative technologists is surging, creating opportunities for artistic-minded tech workers. 

The internet and social media have ushered in a digital creative renaissance, where artists are experimenting with new mediums like augmented reality and virtual reality, and emerging tools like generative AI. Art exhibits have transformed from static gallery shows to immersive experiences created by UX designers. Digital artists increasingly rely on technology as their studio, leveraging software tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Open AI’s DALL-E, and Procreate to create their next masterpiece. 

Similarly, the music industry is experiencing historic change. Software editing programs and virtual instruments have unlocked new possibilities for creative expression. Technology like streaming services have enabled artists to embrace new ways of marketing and distributing their music. Social media platforms make fan engagement possible in real-time. 

Even already tech-savvy industries like film, television, and video gaming are seeing new opportunities emerge thanks to innovations in 3D graphics, video streaming, and computer performance. The metaverse has unlocked an entirely new world for the entertainment industry to seize, emerging after the pandemic shuttered live events and forced entertainment companies to get creative with digital offerings. 

While technical innovation in creativity is exciting, it also poses legal and ethical concerns around things like an artist’s copyright and control over their work, meaning the field is ripe for innovation in the privacy, security, and compliance spaces. 

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Chart Your Course: Which General Assembly Class Is Right for You?

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Whether you’re making the leap into a career change, or leveling up your current skill set to land that next promotion, you might be wondering if an online coding bootcamp is right for you. The good news is that General Assembly offers a range of beginner-friendly class formats (from full-time immersives to flexible, part-time schedules), and we have a course that will fit your specific career path and interests. 

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Top 5 Industries Hiring UX Designers: Where to Find Your Next Career Opportunity

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There are two narratives dominating hiring right now. The first (and much louder) narrative is that tech workers are being laid off right and left. From the headlines, it’s easy to assume that new designers can’t compete for the few UX design jobs that exist.

The quieter discourse is that the labor market is stable, and growing at a healthy (albeit slower) pace. Let’s look at what the evidence says.

If you’re looking for entry-level UX designer jobs, there are lots of reasons for optimism. However, look beyond tech and software companies to deepen your pool of potential employers. Companies in diverse industries are hiring UX designers and you might miss out on your dream job if you only look at tech startups.

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UX, Visual, or Product: Which Type of Design Is Right for You?

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Design plays a crucial role in the success of any company’s marketing and sales strategies. People spend a significant amount of time online, around six hours and 57 minutes per day, consuming online content. To capture their attention, companies must create visually appealing and user-friendly websites and products.

Due to this demand, there is a high need for UX, Visual, and Product designers. These creative tech careers have been consistently named as some of the most sought-after jobs in the tech industry by renowned companies like Forbes and Medium.

This article aims to explain the differences between UX, Visual, and Product Design to help you choose the right design career.

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Looking for a new career? Here are the 3 most promising tech jobs of 2023

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The tech industry experienced mass layoffs and budget cuts in 2022 that have many tech workers who were once flying high worried about job security. Despite the gloomy news, however, the labor market for tech talent continues to be strong. While big tech firms are making headlines for drastic cuts, tech talent remains in high demand across other industries. 

For example, industries like finance, healthcare, government and automotive, all of which have yet to fully digitally transform, are hiring tech talent. The City of San Francisco—a verifiable tech hub that should, in theory, have unlimited access to tech talent—recently shared that its vacancy rate for IT workers is 21%. 

For workers willing to look beyond big tech, well paid opportunities continue to abound. At General Assembly, we help people break into a career in tech so they can increase their wages and land a job with great benefits and working conditions—ultimately, improving their quality of life. 

Despite today’s economic landscape, we still believe this is a path to prosperity and that opportunities abound for tech workers. In fact, not having a technical skill set could leave you less secure in your career going forward as everything goes digital. 

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UX Fundamentals: 4 Key Elements of The UX Design Process

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When you use a product such as an app or a website, you judge that experience by logic and emotion—how it made you feel

The functionality and the aesthetics have the potential to make you frustrated or happy. It’s not enough for a product to look good—it must also solve a problem or provide a user with actual value. 

User experience design, or “UX design,” is a method of thinking and a design technique for building products and solutions. When designing a product’s functions and interface, UX design considers the end user’s needs, goals, frustrations, and motivations. 

Why learn UX design? 

Current UX designers, or anyone looking to break into a UX design career, need the knowledge and fundamental skills to design a great product. 

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