The Blog for Content Designers
Read the latest on user experience content, craft, and community from working UX writers and content designers in the field.
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How to measure content operations maturity
How “mature” is your organization? Rob Mills shows how to use content maturity models as a guide, not a prescriptive framework.
UXCC Instructor Spotlight: Meet Rob Mills
UXCC course instructors share their unique backgrounds, insights, and advice for fellow UX content people. This time, we chat with Rob Mills.
Grow your content design career with a coach
In this panel, Patrick Stafford chats with UXCC coaches from Microsoft, Spotify, and ServiceNow.
Five tips for success as a solo UX writer
Setting up a UX writing practice as a team of one is no small feat. Megan O’Neill shares how she got started building processes and best practices at Codecademy.
Introducing the Gender-Inclusive Language Project
Content designers from around the globe explore how we can adopt gender-inclusive language in our everyday lives and content design work.
Figma techniques for better content design
Figma is where the content design magic happens. Jason Fox shares quick tricks and tips to make the most of the tool.
UXCC Instructor Spotlight: Meet Daree Allen Nieves
UXCC course instructors share their unique backgrounds, insights, and advice for fellow UX content people. This time, we chat with Daree Allen Nieves.
Error messages as poetry from Condé Nast & Zendesk
UX writing is rarely considered the most emotional expression of the written word—until two UX writing teams transformed error messages into poems.
How to give impactful content design feedback
Giving feedback is one of the most important tools in your content designer belt. Taylor Rohwedder shares how to use it well.
The top 50 UX writing resources of 2021
Our field evolved a ton in 2021. We’ve collected the top 50 UX writing and content design resources for you to enjoy!
How to give your product a voice
Adina Cretu gives an in-depth guide on how to bring a product’s voice to life by giving it personality. It all begins with asking the right questions.
Interview with Kinneret Yifrah
In this interview, the author of the popular book “Microcopy, The Complete Guide” talks about her beginnings in UX writing, her projects, and the future of content design.
Introducing the UX Content Collective
Welcome to the new and improved UX Writers Collective — now UX Content Collective.
Accessible content design for emojis
Emojis are fun, but they’re not always accessible. Jason Fox shares guidelines and considerations for content designers.
14 days of the Daily Conversation Design Challenge
Curious about convo design? Up for a challenge? See how Joel Ramey completed each daily prompt and put your skills to the test!
Compassion in UX: A hospital case study
A UX writer’s analysis of the user journey through the world of medicine.
Why we need better blockchain content design
When it comes to the multi-billion dollar blockchain industry, how can we prove the value of better content design?
Landing a job in UX is hard
Landing a job in UX is hard work. Students Nick and Harry share their lessons learned during their career transition.
How to keep up with the changing content design field
Check out the first two lessons from the Career Course!
UX writing for e-commerce prices
Blanca shares how we can balance UX ethics with marketing priorities to design for prices in e-commerce experiences.
Writers of Silicon Valley: How can we make the content design industry…better?
In this episode, Jane Ruffino talks to Patrick about how she bridges digital archaeology with the world of content design.
Writers of Silicon Valley: UX writing in fintech
In this episode, Yael-Ben David talks to Patrick about UX writing in fintech and how to get out of the customer’s way.
Writers of Silicon Valley: Connecting the internal and external product experience
In this episode, Andrea Drugay of Slack shares her experience to date and talks to Patrick about bridging the internal and external product experience.
How could AI impact UX writing? Q&A with Bobbie Wood
AI (artificial intelligence) tools are getting smarter and smarter. In this interview, UX Writers Collective founder Bobbie Wood weighs in on their future impact to the field.
Five must-try content tests for UX writers
Content testing is the best way to see if your words work. Here are five proven methods for UX writers to make design decisions with data.
Fight customer churn with UX writing
UX writing can make or break your business. Find out how you can improve customer retention and prevent churn with your words.
Why UX writers should learn Figma
Figma is a critical tool for design collaboration. UX writers and content designers need to jump in, too.
11 key content design considerations
Content design is complex. Erica, Senior UX Content Designer at Microsoft, offers up key considerations to keep in mind while doing the work.
Five UX writing job trends to look out for in 2021
Gordon reveals the hottest UX writing job trends to look out for this year!
Exciting new material for our courses
Today we wanted to let you know about some exciting new material just added to the UX Writing Fundamentals and our CX Writing for Marketing Engagement courses.
Pitch Portfolio: Create a UX writing job where there is none
Uzoma shares her tips on how to create a UX writing position where positions are scarce or don’t exist by creating a pitch portfolio!
Course Preview: UX Writing for Tech Writers
It’s time technical audiences got some UX writing love. Are you a technical writer looking for ways to level up your work? Are you interested in UX writing? If you
Getting started with growth content design
Jason lays out the basics of growth content design in this beginner’s guide to core principles, frameworks, and craft-level considerations to act on growth content opportunities.
Do in-app marketing right: Remove the friction
No one likes to constantly be bombarded with “buy me!” messages all the time. Sasha goes over the right and wrong ways to do in-app marketing so that your users don’t get frustrated or annoyed.
“Learn more” is not enough: A case for descriptive CTAs
Are your CTAs serving a specific purpose or are they acting more like fillers? Alice Chen argues that descriptive CTAs are more accessible, SEO-friendly, and contribute to a better user experience!
How not being a native English speaker makes me a better UX writer
Companies often list “native English speaker” as a requirement but are they missing out on first-class writing talent? Dragana explains why non-native English speakers actually make for great UX writers!
Writers of Silicon Valley: What we learned from the Button conference
In this episode, Patrick chats with Yael, Duaa, and Vicki about their experience at the 2020 Button conference. They discuss preparation leading up to the conference, what it was like as a fully remote digital conference, and what all the generous knowledge share from speakers and attendees means for the future of the industry.
The top 50 UX writing resources of 2020
The UX writing, content design and content strategy communities grew a lot in 2020. We’ve collected the top 50 UX writing resources for you to enjoy.
Microcopy matters: Why everyone on a design team should know how to write
Everyone on a design team should know how to work in Sketch or Figma. So…shouldn’t everyone know how to write microcopy?
Starting your first UX writer role (remotely) from a class of COVID grad
Cayla thought she was going to start in-office at Microsoft, enjoying the perks that come with joining a major tech company. However, as a class of COVID graduate, she found herself starting her new, big role working from home. She shares her insights and lessons she’s learned along the way.
The dos and don’ts of hiring a UX writer
If you’re going to hire a UX writer soon, there are a few things you should know to make sure everyone’s experience is a positive one!
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Jessica Ouyang and Jolena Ma transcript
In this episode, Patrick speaks with Jessica and Jolena about their product Ditto, what it means for UX writers and content strategists, how they developed the product, what it’s like going through the Y Combinator process, and where they want to take it.
Atomic design needs atomic UX writers
What is atomic design? Russell Norris shares great insight into how atomic design works and how UX writers should leverage it!
When a UX writer joins a CX team
James shares how CX thinking has influenced his UX work, taking the broader perspective from CX and using that to inform his work on experiences at the individual level.
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Tamara Hilmes transcript
Patrick and Tamara talk about what makes working at Spotify so great, and the skills needed there to succeed and a UX writer.
How to complete a UX writing challenge during the interview process
Pembroke King, UX Writer at Catawiki, describes every step in detail on how she completed the UX writing challenge that got her the job!
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Ben Barone-Nugent transcript
In this conversation with Patrick and Ben Barone-Nugent, they cover: what’s it like to work at Netflix, do you succeed as a UX writer / content designer there and much more.
What is UX writing?
Take a peek into the first 3 lessons from our UX Writing Fundamentals course. Learn what UX writing is, why it’s important, and how UX writers work on a design team.
How we moved from content docs to Abstract at Wix
UX Writer & Team Lead at Wix, Jenni Nadler shares how her team transitioned from using content documents to using Abstract.
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Andy Welfle and Michael J Metts transcript
In this podcast, Patrick chat with Andy and Michael about their new book “Writing is Designing.”
Equitable hiring in UX writing
Christie Fremon shares what she’s learned about seeking equity in the hiring process.
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Gordon MacRea transcript
Gordon MacRae is an instructional designer, product manager, UX writer, and more. In this podcast, Patrick and Gordon talk about everything to do with hiring UX writers in 2020, and getting hired.
UX Writing: What, Why, and How – webinar recording presented for IxDA Dubai
Bobbie introduces how UX writing has evolved as its own discipline in the tech industry in a recent webinar with IxDA Dubai. She explains why UX writing is essential to product success and customer happiness.
Content Testing and Research – webinar recording presented for UXPA International
In a recent webinar for UXPA International on Content Testing and Research, Bobbie talks about the importance of testing content and how to do it in different scenarios.
Classism in UX copy: A Coronavirus era case study
Upon discovering classism in UX copy in COVID-19 related writing, UX researcher John McLeod-Moya performed his own research and case study during the pandemic. Here he offers his insights for more inclusive messaging.
Taxonomies and metadata: 5 key tips for UX writers
Expert in taxonomy and Image Librarian at Primark, Alice Walsh shares the fundamentals of metadata for beginners in the field.
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Angela Gordon transcript
Angela Gordon describes what it’s like working on a team of UX writers at Dropbox.
GPT-3 is coming. Are you ready for AI?
UX writers and content strategists need to start preparing for GPT-3 – and we can do that by articulating the value we provide now.
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Ryan Farrell transcript
Ryan Farrell, creator of the Daily UX Writing Challenge, chats with Patrick on the skills they think are underrated in the UX writing community and more.
What I learned from UX writing portfolio reviewers
Joel Ramey shares insights from UX writing portfolio reviews by experts in the industry.
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: 12 pieces of UX writing wisdom transcript
Get 12 pieces of essential UX writing wisdom from the first year of the Writers of Silicon Valley podcast
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Annie Adams transcript
Annie Adams shares her experience on working as a UX writer in the fashion industry.
Getting started with writing inclusive copy
Writing inclusive copy allows us to build trust with all users and not leave anyone out. Kaitlyn shares a few tips for beginners on how to get started.
5 ways to build your professional UX writing network
Alexandra gives a comprehensive list of resources and tips on how to start building and growing your network.
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Hillary Black transcript
Patrick interviews Hillary Black, chatbot extraordinaire and author of “How To Design A Chatbot” on how to create chatbots people actually use.
How to write for voice experiences: 4 key tips for UX writers
Anna shares her best practices on how to go from writing meant for reading to writing for hearing.
How to succeed as a sole UX writer
As the sole UX writer on a design team, Kendra Ralston shares how to navigate this complex experience and advocate for your work.
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Kathryn Strauss transcript
Patrick interviews Kathryn Strauss, Senior UX Writer at Square about how writers can participate in UX research, the future of the industry, and the types of skills it takes to be a really good UX Writer and Content Strategist.
Why you should care about localization in UX writing
When it comes to user experience (UX) writing, every word matters. UX writer Michael Winnington explains why localization should be at the forefront of your thinking.
Tips for your UX writing portfolio when you’re starting out
Get the best tips for structuring your UX writing portfolio from Andy Welfle, Adobe Content Strategy lead and hiring manager, and co-author of “Writing is Designing”.
Chatbots save lives
In challenging times, Finn Astle shares how chatbots can significantly improve customer experience.
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Sophie Tahran transcript
Sophie Tahran is Senior UX Writer for The New Yorker at Condé Nast. She started writing at Lyft and lead UX writing at InVision. Patrick Stafford interviewed Sophie about her work in UX writing.
The anatomy of a UX writing job interview: what you need to know
Heather McBride shares her UX writing interview experience and discusses in detail what you can expect in your upcoming UX job interview.
Writers of Silicon Valley Podcast: Roy West transcript
Roy West is the design director, UX Writing, at Uber. But his UX writing career extends beyond that into Google, NeXT and more. Patrick Stafford interviewed Roy about his work in UX writing.
Learn how to write and design a chatbot: UXWC course preview
Want to learn how to write and design chatbots? This guide will give you everything you need to know. No coding required!
Dear Companies, Here’s how to hire a UX writer
User experience (UX) writers are many things. A lot of us come from copywriting, technical writing, or support backgrounds and have spent a lot of time working to build brand
Why you should absolutely hire a remote UX writer
Did you enjoy this blog post? Level up your skills and knowledge in one of our courses. Your career is depending on you!
How to succeed as a remote UX writer
UX writing is a fast growing field, but job opportunities for remote workers are still less common than for UX designer or copywriter jobs.
How to research and test content and copy
Learning how to test and measure your content is difficult, but not impossible. This course will show you how.
The UX writer’s guide to influencing without authority
Influencing without authority is a skill that UX writers need to learn – and here’s how.
UX writer salary survey: How much money do UX writers make?
Read the results of our UX writer salary survey, and find out the average UX writer salary in your area.
The product design ratio
Why is the product design ratio so skewed? The other day I was scrolling through Twitter and saw this: Thank you, Rachel, for tweeting everything the UX writing community wants
Introducing our new digital strategy secret weapon: CX Writing!
After some waiting, some tinkering, and a lot of work on our end, our next course is finally available: introducing the new way to boost your digital strategy skills… The
An introduction to CX Writing and our upcoming course
Since we launched the UX Writing Fundamentals course, we knew we wanted to expand into other areas. CX Writing seemed the perfect next step. There’s so much to teach when
Ready for a UX podcast about writing and content?
There are plenty of articles about design online, but what about a UX podcast about writing and content? Our very own co-founder, Patrick Stafford, recently launched “Writers of Silicon Valley”,
Introducing our upcoming advanced UX writing courses!
When the UX Writers Collective launched in January, the original vision was to offer a UX Writing Fundamentals course, and then an Advanced UX Writing course. Instead, we’re now offering
The UX Writing Fundamentals course has 100 students!
In mid-2018, we formed the UX Writers Collective and began writing all of the content for the Fundamentals course. We had a vision: with so many companies needing UX writers
Welcoming 2 awesome people to the UX Writers Collective
Photo source: https://writix.co.uk/blog/how-to-write-a-persuasive-essay
How to become a data-driven UX writer (and how to A/B test copy)
Conversations about data are often focused on technical fields, like development and product management. When it comes to writers, data-driven decision making becomes a little fuzzy. How does it
The UX course graduate survival guide
Something strange has happened over the past several years. With more UX graduates attending bootcamps and intensive sessions designed to get them up to speed on UX design and research, we’re
UX writing versus microcopy
So what’s the difference between microcopy and UX writing? The growth of UX writing and content strategy has sparked all sorts of great conversation and debate. Whether you call yourself
