NOT a UX designer

Personal branding is a big part of why we get hired, weather you are looking for a full-time job, you are a freelancer or contract worker your personal brand helps potential hires understand who you are and if you are a good culture and company fit. Join the conversation : Website : www.dovetterux.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/  Discord: https://discord.gg/uH58UKbxkT

Are you looking to get started in UX design in 2022? Here are things to consider for people who are looking to get started and designers who want to take their career to the next level.   Join us for this live recording of our first podcast episode in 2022.   Visit our website:  https://www.dobetterux.com

In this episode I have a discussion with Liz - Head of design at DVT. She gives us insights on what hiring managers are looking for in UX design candidates. We get into the details on what UX designers need to focus on to stand out, the do's and dont's in design portfolios and CV's, as well as ethical salary practice.

If anything 2020, showed us that nothing is certain and we need to keep diversifying our income and evolving our skills and technique In this episode of not a UX designer I want to chat about why change is not only important but good for us, how you can keep reinventing yourself in your career and most importantly how to not get extinct as a designer by becoming a good problem solver.

In this podcast episode I will share why I left my job as a senior UX designer and why you should also consider other career paths as a designer in 2021.

WWDC2021 Apple's world wide developer conference was on the 7th of June 2021. This could have been an all time most anticipated conference with many leaks and rumours from the apple leaks community and expectations were set high to everyones disappointment.  We cover that and more on what we liked for the WWDC2021 Day 1 keynote.

Happy 2021,  In this first episode of season 3 of "Not a UX designer" we will be talking about the Return on investment of good UX design (Or the RIO of design), I will discuss why the companies that focus on design are more successful in any given market.

UX design has been around for a long time and many of the practices are being rinsed and repeated. Can we do more, can we innovate new better ways of solving problems and working.  In this episode we would like to invite you to the dobetterux community.  Join our community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ www.dobetterux.com

Adobe and sketch have been a huge part of my design career, but I am leaving them for a more futureproof UX design tool. In this episode, I discuss why I am leaving adobe and sketch as a product designer in 2020. Join our community: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ www.dobetterux.com

What are the options for designers when it comes to passive vs active income? Do you have a side hustle where you are working on something bigger than what you are doing in your current job? or perhaps you want to free up more time and work less. I will be talking about your career as a designer and the things you can do to make the shift needed to focus on a Job vs building something of your own.

This is a confrontational podcast episode, but I think this is the alternative designers need to think about when it comes to building a portfolio in 2020. 

In this episode we discuss the launch of the first Design sprint tool, mydesignsprint.io is a tool that is targeted to helping sprint masters, plan run, and capture design sprints all in one online tool.  Find out more: https://www.mydesignsprint.io/ Launch your product fast: http://www.varimahenry.com/design-sprint/ Do better UX: http://www.varimahenry.com/training/

A conversation with Lesego Buyey on the perspective of recruiters on the UX/UI role, what they expect when hiring a designer.

The market is open for UX designers. More and more businesses are demanding UX design skills because of the value they see in it. There are some things you need to consider to be able to influence and get design buy-in from stakeholders.  Getting into UX is an exciting learning curve and there are tons of resources on the internet. The South African context is a bit different and lagging behind, join me for my upcoming workshops and masterclasses on practical everyday UX facilitation skills to kick start or boost your UX career and do more impactful work. Learn More: http://www.varimahenry.com/training/ 

Design Sprints help UX designers show client Value fast, They are packed with methods and activities that can be applied in everyday UX work when working in product teams. Take your UX career to the next level by learning how to run and get Design Sprint Buy-in.  See upcoming events here:http://www.varimahenry.com/events/ Learn more about design sprints here:  http://www.varimahenry.com/training/

Season 2 | Episode 1 - Happy new year and hope you have a great year ahead. In this episode, I kick off the year with a conversation on how to add value as a UX designer and doing more meaningful work. Meetings don’t have to be boring time wasters. There are lots of cool tricks you can use to make them focussed, efficient and get problems solved, not just discussed or debated. Stop running shitty endless meetings that end up in a meeting to discuss the next meeting with no clear next steps. This problem farming and prioritisation workshop presented by Varima Henry is a complete guide to facilitating your own workshop that creates the freedom needed to come up with creative ideas using structure and discipline for any team. Join me for the “Facilitate better meetings and conversations workshop” hosted in Johannesburg. See event details here: https://qkt.io/uGeGzs What to expect How to identify problems without discussion Note and vote method to keep moving forward How to prioritise solutions Create team alignment on the next steps Who should attend Anyone interested in running better meetings that always have clear actionable outcomes. Project managers, Product owners, UX/UI designers. Why? Attending this workshop will give you a step-by-step recipe to brainstorm ideas and prioritise solutions. You will receive material to help you facilitate your own workshop with your team. You will understand how to run and facilitate better meetings.

It has been a great year, This is the last episode of S1.  A lot more coming in 2020 S2.  Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

In this episode, I discuss designing for AI Using the AI design sprint from 33a.ai. I talk with Mike and Jonas as they share the ideas behind the AI design sprint, how it works and how organizations can benefit from it. More about 33a. https://www.33a.ai/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/33a/people/ Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

In this special feature "Skills of the future" episode, I have a chat with Stephan Dohrn on Remote working.  Connect with Stephan : https://www.sdohrn.com/ https://medium.com/@sdohrn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sdohrn/ Learn more on remote work https://www.radical-inclusion.com/ https://remote-how.com/ Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

I think that people should focus on one or the other and not do both at the same time, I have seen many successful "Sides hustles" that became successful but here is why I think you need to focus on your Personal brand, Career, and Skillset. Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

This is one of the most asked questions on the internet. What happens after a design sprint? I think there are 3 main ways that things can go after a design sprint. In this podcast episode, I share my thoughts on what happens after the sprint. Are you a UX designer or a Scrum master in an agile team? Join me on this webinar: 👉🏽https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXEUIbbepP0 , find out how to do better UX in agile environments using Design Sprints. Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com  **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/ 

In this episode I talk about How to become a product designer in South Africa 🇿🇦, I share my personal journey and some of the skills I think one needs to focus on if they want to become a digital product designer in South Africa. Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

In this episode, I talk to Maaike Coppens about the difference between Product Design Sprints and Voice design sprints. How voice design sprints work and where they can be applied. Join the conversation using the official #designsprintsa on social media or join the private Design Sprint S.A groups on Facebook and Linkedin. Find Maaike on the interwebs:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/maaikecoppens/  https://twitter.com/maaike_coppens  https://www.instagram.com/mcreations.io/  http://www.m-creations.io Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

This episode is for UX designers who want to find out more about running a Usability test. what it means and what to look out for. Find out the steps in the process from planning to giving feedback back to the client/stakeholders. Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

Join me, as discuss when to run a design sprint some of the best use cases of design sprints.  Engage with me, ask questions or join the conversation using #designsprintsa   The post: https://lnkd.in/gPvwjUw    Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

Find out how "Why to run a design sprint?" What are the team problems do design sprints solve and why you should be considering to run a Design Sprint. See the webinar on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sQcMNKxrjg&t=7s Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

In this episode i explore the product designer role and some of the skills that i think any UX designer who wants to get in the product designer role should learn. Enjoy the podcast. 

This is episode 3, going solo to give you an update on what has been going on in my world and what to look out for.  Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

Working with a UX designer on any team or environment requires the business to shift their mindset and get better at understanding the user, their needs and frustrations. Having a UX designer on the team changes the process of how products get delivered to the market. The process may be different from the traditional methodologies used in most business processes and by many UX/UI designers in South Africa today. This is a part of my latest post on www.varimahenry.com. Read the full post there and let us know what you look for in a UX designer when hiring? Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/

The UX designer role in South Africa is often confused with what we call the "UX/UI" role. This misleads a lot of humans who want to get into a career in what experience design is about. I hope that this post will provide some clarity on what a UX designer is, how to become one and what to look out for to make it in the South African market. I want to focus on the “UX” role exclusively, what it entails and separating it from the “UI” role. I disagree that they are one and the same thing, though they are very commonly associated together, especially in the digital business era we are in. See the rest of the post on www.varimahenry.com Join the South African Design Sprint Community: #DESIGNSPRINTSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/407772346500293/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13715248/ Varima Henry is a digital product designer and strategist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a thought leader in Design Sprints and helps design teams in agile and waterfall environments build better products at speed. Varima  has worked as a UX designer in the learning, technology and financial landscape of the South African market. For the past 10 years, he has created a deep understanding of how people learn, use products and the processes that make it all happen. He currently facilitates Design Sprints with design teams across the country, helping them build products that are effective for their customers and users. www.varimahenry.com **CONNECT, DM ME**👨🏽‍💻 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varima-he... Twitter: https://twitter.com/varimahenry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varimahenry/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/varimahenry/