Building Your UX Design Network: How to Make Meaningful Connections
Building Your UX Design Network: How to Make Meaningful Connections
You know that networking is key to advancing your career as a UX designer, but the thought of schmoozing at industry events makes you want to run and hide. The small talk, the awkwardness, ugh. But building a strong network doesn't have to be that painful. Meaningful connections that lead to mentorship, collaborations, job opportunities, and lifelong friendships don't just materialize out of thin air or behind a computer screen.
The good news is you don't have to become an extrovert overnight to start forming those relationships. With some simple strategies, you can build a robust network in an authentic way that feels comfortable for you.
Prepare for in-Person Networking Events
Do some research on the organizers and expected attendees beforehand. Check out their websites and social media profiles to get a sense of their work and interests. Come equipped with a few questions or discussion points in mind to help break the ice.
We are hosting an in-person meetup after Adobe MAX with our Buddies at Freepik and Exhilo on Thu Oct 12, 3 pm after the last event of MAX. Meet designers, founders, and content creators!
We will have free swags and boba tea. Anyone around Los Angeles who is also not attending MAX is welcome to join! It’s free for all to attend
Make friends with other designers, founders, and content creators
Find potential jobs, collaborators, and hire designers
Share what you're working on and what you learned from the conference
Once there, have a goal to initiate meaningful conversations. Look for common ground and shared interests to establish genuine connections. Ask open-ended questions about their experiences, perspectives on industry trends, or current projects they’re working on. People love talking about themselves and their passions, so show interest in learning more about them.
Make an effort to remember names and details about who you meet. Follow up within a day or two with a LinkedIn request referencing your conversation. This helps to cement the new relationship in their memory and keep the lines of communication open. Extend an invitation to grab coffee or continue the discussion.
Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Compliment people who ask great questions or share insightful comments. Introduce attendees with common interests to one another. The more you engage and help others feel included, the more it will come back around.
Networking may feel unnatural at first, but with regular practice it can open up a world of opportunities. The key is simply showing up, starting genuine conversations, listening well and following up to turn new connections into meaningful relationships.
Making Strong Connections at Conferences
When attending UX design conferences, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the size of the crowd. However, these events are prime opportunities to make meaningful connections with fellow designers. Here are some tips to help you build your network:
Approach others
Don't be shy - introduce yourself to new people. Smile, make eye contact, and extend your hand for a firm handshake. Ask open-ended questions to start a genuine conversation. People will appreciate your friendliness and interest in them.
Focus on listening
Concentrate on what others are sharing rather than waiting for your turn to speak. Pay attention to details and ask follow up questions. People will remember you for your active listening skills.
Share knowledge
While exchanging business cards, also exchange ideas. Discuss projects you're working on, methods you find effective, or trends you're following. People will value your willingness to share insights and expertise.
Follow up appropriately
If you make a strong connection with someone, reach out within a week to express your interest in staying in touch. But don't stalk or constantly message new contacts. Send a quick email or LinkedIn request, then give people space before contacting them again.
Attend social events
Conference socials, after parties, and networking events are more intimate opportunities to connect. Strike up lighthearted conversations, find common ground, and build new relationships in a relaxed setting. The meaningful connections you make can lead to mentorships, collaborations, job referrals, and long-lasting friendships.
Putting in the effort to connect with others at conferences will help build your UX design network and open up more opportunities. With an open and engaging attitude, you'll be making new friends in no time!
We hope to see you IRL at our meetup at MAX in Los Angeles on Oct 12, 3 pm!
Following Up After Events to Grow Your Network
Following up with new connections after an event is key to building your network. Don't let potentially valuable relationships fizzle out—reach out within a week to strengthen new connections.
Send a Personalized Message
Mention something you discussed or that you have in common to jog their memory. For example, “It was great meeting you at the Design Buddies meetup. I really enjoyed our conversation about persuasion design strategies.” Keep your message fairly short but sincere.
Connect on LinkedIn
Send an invite to connect on LinkedIn. In the message, reference where you met and reiterate your shared interests. Once connected, like and comment on their posts to stay on their radar.
Suggest Meeting Up Again
If you felt you really clicked with someone, suggest grabbing coffee. Let them know you’d like to continue the conversation. Say something like, “I felt we had an interesting discussion about UX leadership and would love to pick your brain more over coffee next week if you have time.” Meeting in person again is a valuable way to strengthen a new connection.
Share Resources or Opportunities
If something comes across your desk that reminds you of them or could benefit them in some way, pass it along. For example, “I just saw this job posting for a senior UX designer and thought of you. In case you or someone from your network may be interested.” Sharing useful information and opportunities with your connections builds goodwill and reciprocity.
Share Your Experience on LinkedIn
Shortly after the conference, you can create a post about it on LinkedIn including the conference’s hashtags. You can mention what you learned from the conference and tag some people you’ve met. This will help more people discover you. It’s also great to reflect on what you learned and look back in the future!
We also have a live cohort-based course coming up to help you more on LinkedIn - Content Creation for UX Designers - Standing Out in a Competitive Job Market by Grace Ling (UX Designer at EA, Content Creator (50K+), Founder of Design Buddies (59K+). It will be taking place online in Nov 2023 open to anyone around the world.
Enroll in this course to develop your personal brand, craft compelling content on LinkedIn, expand your professional network, and cultivate meaningful relationships with others. Grace and a network of peers will help provide you with feedback to help you advance in your design career.
Networking to Advance Your UX Design Career
Once you’ve built up your network, it’s time to tap into it. Your connections can lead to new opportunities that advance your UX design career. Here are a few ways to leverage your network:
Reach out for informational interviews
Connecting with other UX designers is a great way to learn more about a company or role you’re interested in. Ask your connections if they’d be open to an informational interview. This is a chance to ask questions about their work and company culture. Let them know you’re exploring options in the field and value their insight. These conversations often lead to introductions to others or possible job leads.
Share resources and advice
An easy way to strengthen your connections is by sharing valuable resources with others in your network. This could be articles on UX design trends, tools, or processes. You might share tips for overcoming common challenges in the field. Your network will appreciate you adding value, and they’ll likely reciprocate. These exchanges build goodwill and trust in your relationships.
Look for job opportunities
Once you’ve established strong relationships, don’t hesitate to make your career goals known to your connections. Let them know if you’re on the job market or looking for new opportunities to advance in your current role. Your network may know of unadvertised jobs or be able to provide a recommendation for you. Even if there are no immediate openings, they can keep you in mind for the future.
Collaborate on side projects
A great way to strengthen relationships with other designers is by collaborating on side projects together. This could be redesigning an app, conducting user research on a topic you’re both interested in or creating a design system. Working with others enhances your skills and also allows you to experience firsthand what it would be like to work with them on a professional team. These partnerships often lead to new career opportunities through a shared network.
Using your connections in these strategic ways will boost your career as a UX designer. Don't hesitate to tap into the meaningful relationships you've built. Your network will likely be happy to help you along your career journey.
Conclusion
You've got the skills, the talent, and the passion for UX design. Now it's time to build your network. Making meaningful connections with others in the field will open doors to new opportunities and help take your career to the next level.
Get out there, start conversations, ask good questions, and listen. Find your tribe and nurture those relationships. Help others along the way too by sharing knowledge and making introductions. Before you know it, you'll have a strong network of talented UXers in your corner to learn from and lean on.
🎉 Upcoming Design Buddies Events
Tue Sep 26, 3 pm PT (UTC-7): Design an Alexa Voice App for Airbnb Guests: Hands-On Voice Design Workshop
In-person in San Francisco - Sat Sep 30, 11 am: Exhilo Creative Meetup along with our Buddies at Pebblebed and Adobe
In-person in Los Angeles - Tue Oct 12, 3 pm: Designers, Founders, & Creators Meetup at Adobe MAX
Wed Oct 18, 8 am PT: Project pricing and the five ways to increase your profits
Tue Oct 24, 3 pm PT: Hands-on UX Writing Workshop: Nike Sneakers App
Every Saturday, 10 am ET: UX Book Club by Haidita and Steven in #design-book-club
🐰 About Design Buddies
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