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How likely will opportunities to travel abroad be in a career as a UX designer?
I am planning to have a future career in User Experience (UX) design. As understanding different walks of life and cultures is a big part of not only UX design but also my personal interests, I would love to travel alongside my job.
Due to my heritage, I have a particular interest in working abroad in Japan. Currently I am in the process of learning technical and conversational Japanese; I was wondering how likely it will be that I will actually be able to put my developing language skills to use.
#user-experience-design #traveling #business-travel #japanese
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Jennifer’s Answer
I was a UX designer for a year or so, and now I've been a UX researcher for 6+ years. In my year as a UX designer, I did not travel at all. However, as a researcher, pre-COVID, I travel a ton!
For example, in 2018, I did what's called a "field research" study and spent 3 weeks in Germany. We hired interpreters, so I didn't need to learn German. However, one of my colleagues, who was a UX designer, lived in Germany and spoke fluent German. He helped us a great deal when we did "field observations", getting around, translating menus. He also helped "double check" the interpreters' interpretation of the people we interviewed.
So, my short answer is: Yes, you can apply these skills, but it won't happen automatically. You'll have to make sure to ask questions while you're interviewing with companies.
Another thing to consider is to look into "internationalization" and "localization". Sometimes this is shortened to "l10n". There are people in companies who focus on making experiences work for people in many locations and languages. Look out for job postings that mention localization. If you get more experience is localization as a specialty, it will help whatever company you join a ton!
My recommendation when you're starting to look for jobs, is to ask questions like:
1. Does this company have UX researchers? Do they do field research studies?
2. Does your company operate in Japan?
3. Do UX designers ever attend field research studies with UX researchers?
Write a list of questions you want to ask a future potential employer to make sure you get the experience you want.
For example, in 2018, I did what's called a "field research" study and spent 3 weeks in Germany. We hired interpreters, so I didn't need to learn German. However, one of my colleagues, who was a UX designer, lived in Germany and spoke fluent German. He helped us a great deal when we did "field observations", getting around, translating menus. He also helped "double check" the interpreters' interpretation of the people we interviewed.
So, my short answer is: Yes, you can apply these skills, but it won't happen automatically. You'll have to make sure to ask questions while you're interviewing with companies.
Another thing to consider is to look into "internationalization" and "localization". Sometimes this is shortened to "l10n". There are people in companies who focus on making experiences work for people in many locations and languages. Look out for job postings that mention localization. If you get more experience is localization as a specialty, it will help whatever company you join a ton!
My recommendation when you're starting to look for jobs, is to ask questions like:
1. Does this company have UX researchers? Do they do field research studies?
2. Does your company operate in Japan?
3. Do UX designers ever attend field research studies with UX researchers?
Jennifer recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Amanda’s Answer
Hi Katelyn,
It really depends! UX, like most other jobs these days, is primarily computer based. This can be good and bad. Good - you can get a UX job working remotely from anywhere in the world. Bad - Because you can do your work via a computer and the internet, physical travel may not be as important or required for your job.
That being said, there are certainly opportunities out there. You might try specifically seeking out UX roles that are based in a different country (like Japan). Or you could try searching for larger companies that are international, but travel would be no guarantee there (the best you could hope for is maybe the chance to travel to a different office once or twice a year). My best recommendation would be to look into the world of human-centered nonprofit organizations. I was a UI/UX designer at a nonprofit health organization that was based in San Francisco but operated in countries all over the world. I worked remotely from Oregon, but had the unique opportunity to travel to our field offices in Kenya and Uganda to meet with our users and learn about how they used our product. It was a very special experience. I found this design dream job on idealist.org. Best of luck!
It really depends! UX, like most other jobs these days, is primarily computer based. This can be good and bad. Good - you can get a UX job working remotely from anywhere in the world. Bad - Because you can do your work via a computer and the internet, physical travel may not be as important or required for your job.
That being said, there are certainly opportunities out there. You might try specifically seeking out UX roles that are based in a different country (like Japan). Or you could try searching for larger companies that are international, but travel would be no guarantee there (the best you could hope for is maybe the chance to travel to a different office once or twice a year). My best recommendation would be to look into the world of human-centered nonprofit organizations. I was a UI/UX designer at a nonprofit health organization that was based in San Francisco but operated in countries all over the world. I worked remotely from Oregon, but had the unique opportunity to travel to our field offices in Kenya and Uganda to meet with our users and learn about how they used our product. It was a very special experience. I found this design dream job on idealist.org. Best of luck!
Updated
Stephanie’s Answer
I personally did not travel a lot in my job as a UX designer, but large tech companies tend to hire a lot of UX designers internationally.
My company does have several designers in Japan (as well as Germany, China, Brazil, etc..) . You could apply for jobs with a large global company and ask to be transferred or initially just look for UX jobs in Japan at global companies. Language skills will help you obtain a job, and be an asset when you are working.
My company does have several designers in Japan (as well as Germany, China, Brazil, etc..) . You could apply for jobs with a large global company and ask to be transferred or initially just look for UX jobs in Japan at global companies. Language skills will help you obtain a job, and be an asset when you are working.
Updated
Alwyn’s Answer
UX is a field where work can be found worldwide. As a UX expert, you can find projects offshore where your skills and experience will be an asset. Personally, I’ve seen contract work in Turkey, Denmark, Spain, Mexico, and Dubai. Knowing Japanese will make you more valuable and allow you to fit in naturally. Good luck.