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An Ugly Design Career

The uncommon guide to becoming an always in demand designer for Apps, Websites, and UI

Have opportunities come to you

Build an unbreakable network through providing incredible value

Learn what to focus on to become invaluable and irreplaceable

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I cannot help but strongly recommend this book to all the designers out there, whether you're a senior or starting your career. The content in this book is so well put and brutally honest for your career endeavour. It is one of those books that you want to keep next to your desk so that you can revisit it now and then. It is almost like a dictionary but for the design career aspect.

~ Van

If you are interested in design as a career, you should definitely take the time to read this book. He is willing to share information that most would hold to their chest. This is a great way to get an inside look in this amazing career and decide if this is something for you and get ideas on how to improve your position in this work space.

~ Giselle

A solid read for those looking to get into design as a career or who are already working as a designer and looking for new perspectives on their craft. Unlike more "hard skill" focused books that speak on design principals, the author focuses on an aspect of the job that is often overlooked; The professional relationship.

~ Gavin

I’m just getting into the industry and a fellow designer recommended this book to me… a great read with amazing insight. I’m mid-way through and loving it!

~ Ron

An Ugly Design Career masterfully nails its topic in a creatively composed, enjoyable, page turner, obviously written inside the author’s zone of genius, laying out a clear recipe for success to use in your website, app and UI Design career.

~ Dee

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Read the Chapters:

Chapter 9 – Stay Late with Developers

Individual commitment to a group effort-that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. ~Vince Lombardi Nobody likes to stay late at the office. Ideally, you’ll work at a place that respects work-life balance. But as an important milestone nears its deadline, or your team is striving for…

Chapter 10 – Make Developers’ Lives Easier

Chapter 10 Make Developers’ Lives Easier The most fundamental problem in software development is complexity. There is only one basic way of dealing with complexity: divide and conquer. ~Bjarne Stroustrup With the rise of “Design Thinking” and “Design is the how the thing works” concepts, designers can be forgiven for thinking that developers are serving…

Chapter 11 – Developers Will Get You More Jobs Than Designers

Developers Will Get You More Jobs Than Designers Developers Will Get You More Jobs Than Designers Developers Will Get You More Jobs Than Designers Developers Will Get You More Jobs Than Designers Developers Will Get You More Jobs Than Designers Developers Will Get You More Jobs Than Designers Developers Will Get You More Jobs Than…

Chapter 12 – Learn to Love and Appreciate Your Coworkers

Coming together is beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success. ~Henry Ford Grab a coffee with anyone who’s worked anywhere for a couple of years and it’s guaranteed you’ll hear a coworker horror story. It’s near impossible to navigate a career without having terrible run-ins with those you work with day in…

Chapter 13 – Learn How to Fight Through Ambiguity

Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next.~Gilda Radner Demanding perfect clarity on a project before you get started greatly diminishes your value and your potential. If you create a scenario where you can’t possibly begin your design work…

Chapter 14 – Don’t Let Details Get in the Way of the Big Picture

Focus on the excitement and it will lead you through the obstacles. ~Piya Sorcar There comes a time in every project where the details become absolutely critical to success. The key, though, is to understand when that time is and when they are a hindrance. Let’s run through a scenario. A leader comes to the…

Chapter 15 – The Best Isn’t Always the Best

Be stubborn on vision but flexible on details.~Jeff Bezos You will sometimes know deep in your heart, guided by all the empathy and experience you have, that a particular design decision is the “right” one. You will be convinced to fight for it with every fiber of your being, to “win” for the sake of…

Chapter 16 – You Need a Beautiful and Meaningful Portfolio

Bad design is like wearing a rumpled suit. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person,but it may give people the wrong impression.~Unknown You cannot have an ugly design portfolio. Period. Absolutely unacceptable. “But I have great case studies!” Doesn’t matter. Make it look better. “But I’m primarily a UX designer.” That doesn’t forgive ugly. Make…

Chapter 17 – Don’t Build Yourself Based on an App, OS, or Design System

Technology and tools are useful and powerful when they are your servant and not your master.~Stephen Covey You are a designer. You have excellent taste and are able to craft compelling digital products that help or delight other people. You are able to put together interfaces and paths that help users get what they want…

Chapter 18 – Output Is More Important Than Process

Thinking is easy, acting is difficult, and to put one’s thoughts into action is the most difficult thing in the world. ~Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe It’s fairly common in design portfolios to see an explanation of one’s process or the steps a designer took to arrive at the final design. Within reason, this can be…

Just read chapter 1-10 and you really created a masterpiece!! Every page has so much helpful tips especially for people like me at the start of their careers. I'm grateful I came across you and this book!!

~ Stephanie

When I first came across the table of contents, I knew this one is a must-read. Building a design career can be quite challenging and Trevor Alexander did a great job in helping designers find ease. This book helps you understand and see your career in a different kind of lens. Every designer should have a read.

~ Omowunmi

Damn! This book is goldddddd. I'm at the beginning of my design career and it feels like having a mentor hold your hand, teaching you THE BUSINESS OF DESIGN. There are tons of books that teach you design principles and almost none that teach you how to sell your skill as a designer. I felt really giddy while I read the book. It felt like I had found the missing piece in my career.

~ SheDesigns

This is a practical book about building a successful design career. It's neither a UX manual nor a UI guidebook. It explores the less documented day-to-day interactions that designers will undoubtedly experience. As I read the book, I felt like I was receiving career counselling from a mentor.

~ Tony

An Ugly Design Career is a very insightful book and I’m glad I got the opportunity to read. It’s packed with lessons and insights on how we can make the most of our careers as designers. Thought to highlight some lessons that I’ll be making conscious efforts to apply in my career as a designer.

~ Iremide