Fred Beecher wrote what he thinks are the nine essential characteristics you must possess to make a good software user experience designer, in reaction to a comment made about skills an IA should possess. It's an excellent read for those listing qualifications and evaluating UX Designers for hire, and a great list of qualities for job-seekers to demonstrate during interviews.
- A Deep Understanding of Human Psychology & Research Methods
- Competence in the Basics of Graphic Design
- An Awareness of and Interest in Technology
- Verbal & Visual Communication Skills
- Moderate Familiarity with Business, Deep Familiarity with Your Business
- The Ability to Quickly Learn a Subject Matter Area
- Mediation, Facilitation, & Translation Skills
- Creativity & Vision
- Passion
Elizabeth Buie also added a familiarity with HCI literature, and undboubtedly with HCI history, which I think should be there as well. For descriptions of each characteristic read the full article
Nice article. Let me also praise the arc90 Readability Lab Experiment that let me print the post. Seems that people forgot to carve a short & nice print.css thesedays...
Sorry "curiosity" isn't on this list. It's certainly what I look for when hiring UX folk.
@Eric, I would agree. I think curiosity and the interest in "tinkering," e.g. diy hobbyists and makers, also make good qualities for those who might be prototypers.
@BRUNO MONTEIRO: Print? What? Alright, just for calling out my lazy ass, I just put in an extra print style sheet to hide extraneous stuff for you. Was just using the Blueprint one.
Empathy and lifelong willingness to curb ego.
@JIBBAJABBA: Actually, I was talking about the Evantage Consulting site, but thank you sir. You are very kind! :-P
@BRUNO MONTEIRO: We all win (printing from here at least). :)
Although there are a huge number of more granular qualities that have been mentioned already I think a tenth essential characteristic, and perhaps the most important, is empathy and genuine care and concern for the user.
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