Writers of Silicon Valley
The future is words. More businesses are investing in high quality UX writers and content strategists. Apple, Uber, Shopify, Spotify, Amazon...the list goes on. "UX Writer" is now one of the hottest jobs in tech - and around the world, too. Why? They realise writers embedded in design crews are the great differentiator. This podcast is all about those writers - who they are, where they come from, what they do...and why the work they do is so important. You've heard all about the stories of building computers in garages. Now it's time for the writers to stand up - and take their place.
Episodes
The Interface—a podcast by content designers, for content designers
Yael Ben-David is one the most thoughtful UX writers in the industry. She’s written numerous blogs and has spoken at several conferences on how to make sure UX writers and content designers prove the value of their work.
Today, we take a look at some of the regulations surrounding the fintech industry which make writing for it so difficult. Plus, we explore the ultimate question: how do you get out of the customer’s way?
Jane Ruffino is one of the most experienced UX writers in the industry, with an extensive work history. She also teaches a UX writing course and consults to companies on their UX copy.
But what makes Jane even more interesting is her studies - she’s currently pursuing a PhD in digital acheology. In this episode we talk about how she bridges that world with the world of content design, and the discussion may surprise you.
Andrea Drugay has one of the most experienced resumes in the content design industry. Now she works at Slack, one of the most coveted roles in all of design.
In this episode, we talk about Andrea’s background, what makes Slack’s copy so special - but most importantly, how to make sure UX writers and content designers bridge the experience that’s outside the product, and the experience inside the product as well.
Last month, I spoke wth Chris Baty from Figma - and we talked about how Figma is helping UX writers enter the design process. This month we continue that conversation with the creator of a copy management system.
Jasper Platz is NOT a UX writer or content designer. He says that straight up. However, he quickly discovered a love for content design when...
One of the biggest challenges for UX writers is figuring out how to embed themselves within the design process. Tools like Figma are making that easier.
After all, being able to edit a design without any specific software makes it harder not to give writers access. Which means it’s easier for us to do our job.
Chris Baty is the Principal UX Writer at Figma, and was previously ...
Originally, the UX writing and content strategy community was meant to descend on Seattle for the Button conference. That didn’t happen (obviously). What happened instead was even better.
It’s crazy that digital conferences haven’t been a thing until now, but COVID really thrust this one upon us. Today, I’m speaking with some fantastic UX writers and content strategists: Duaa Osman from G...
If you want an anecdote about Steve Jobs and UX writing, then this episode is for you. But that's just the beginning.
Christie Fremon is probably one of the most experienced UX writers in the industry. She started as a technical writer, working through companies like Yahoo and Cloud.com in the 2000s, before moving to Apple as a UI writer on iTunes, and then at Google. <...
When I named this podcast, I chose to focus the title on “Silicon Valley”. Why? I don’t even live there. It comes down to bias. Today’s episode is about breaking that bias.
Mario Ferrer was a senior UX writer at King Games, now he’s a senior UX writer at Skyscanner. He’s also one of the cofounders of the UX Writers Meetup in Barcelona - and he’s perfectly placed to help us understand the ...
First thing’s first: listeners to the podcast can get 15% of tickets to Button! Use the code “UXWC” at checkout to get 15% off: www.buttonconf.com.
Kristina Halvorson is the CEO and founder of Brain Traffic, the coauthor of Content Strategy for the Web, the founder of Confab Events, and the host of The Content Strategy Podcast.
Her seminal article, The Discipline of Content St...
So many of the conversations on this podcast have been focused on the relationships between UX writing and content strategy.
My guest today wants to help clear that up a little bit.
Scott Kubie is one of the most well-regarded voices in content strategy. Currently a free agent on contract at Mailchimp, Scott's worked previously as the Lea...
“Text might be its own vertical in the product stack.”
I don’t think I’ve ever been so impressed by people so young. I’m 33, so I’m allowed to say that now.
For a while, guests on the podcast have asked me: is there a way to manage our copy end-to-end? For a long time, the best answer I’ve had to give is something like Airtable. But now, J...
Please donate to these national organisations in the United States advocating for racial justice:
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Act Blue (Donation split between 39 community bail funds)
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It's been just over a year since I started W...
Ever wondered what it’s like to work at Google? Sure you have. In today’s episode, I speak with Shayla Byrd, a UX writer at Google, about what it’s like there - and so much more.
This might be one of the most illuminating conversations I’ve had in a long time. Shayla has an extensive history, ranging from poetry to journalism.
Read more
Early Bird tickets for the UX Writing + Content Design Summit are now on sale!
Buy now and save $100. Don’t miss out!
Visit www.uxwcdsummit.com
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Streaming media is the big war right now in tech. Apple wants a piece, Amazon wants it, Disney is hitting out in a big way. But Netflix was there first, and so I was fa...
There have been a few books on UX writing published, all of them very good, but I think this one might take the cake.
Andy Welfle and Michael J Metts have written "Writing is Designing". I think it advances the conversation as it approaches writing as a design tool, and builds on the great work that has already been published by other UX writers.
Listen to our conversation and you'll see why.
A few things:
1. Buy Writing is Desig...
Are you looking for a job as a UX writer in 2020? Then no hyperbole: you need to listen to this podcast.
Gordon MacRae is an instructional designer, product manager, UX writer, and more.
He started the UX Writing Jobs newsletter in 2018 to collate all the opportunities for UX writers around the world, and he's learned more along the way about the market than just about anyone else.
After all, you don't talk with hiring managers and...
Spotify! Do you use it? Probably. Remember when we owned CDs? Crazy. Actually, you know what’s crazy? Paying for stuff I don’t have in my hands. I’m 32, so I still want to read that lyrics sheet damn it.
No, streaming is better. And Tamara Hilmes is one of the people making it better. She’s a UX Writing Manager at Spotify, and she and I spent some time talking about her b...
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