December is here. This means it is time for reflection. Earlier this year, I wrote a post about setting goals. To complete this circle, for the 2017 year in review, I want to show some highlights for me and the site.
2017 Blog posts review
45 blog posts in 2017.
6 on job tips. 9 on design inspiration. 4 interviews.
Last year I worked out a system to research, write, and edit a post for almost every week of the year. This year I was able to cut down the time required to get this content out.
While 2016 reflected a lot of the lessons I brought into my design classes at Austin Community College, this year I connected with former students and other colleagues on their experiences in the industry. This content received the most positive reactions with shares and comments. I will continue with more interviews in the coming year.
Read more of the interviews interviews.
Check out all of the other job tips.
Sign up for the UX Portfolio workshop! We’re doing an online workshop now, but you can still sign up for the next one here.
Speaking to a bigger community
3 Conference Talks: 1 local, 1 International, and 1 at TEDx
This year I made the goal of speaking at a conference. One of the reach goals of my career was to get on the TED or TEDx stage. After submitting over 20 proposals, I received the opportunity to speak at UX Australia: Managing Design in Melbourne, Big Design in Dallas, and at TEDx San Antonio.
Personal Development
I read about 2 books a month on design, business, and personal development.
Making time for professional and personal development is a priority. One of the excuses I have been actively working to erase is the problem of ‘not enough time.’ In an earlier post, I wrote about an experiment for waking up at 4 AM. That has continued. I found so much value in carving out hours when people are basically still asleep.
Here is a list of books I feel every UX designer should read.
Read my post on journaling every day.
Health and Fitness
I ran 1488 miles this year. 5 Races. 1 half marathon. 1 full marathon.
Running has been my not-so-secret passion that also does a body good. After years of putting it off, I committed to doing a full marathon. This pushed me to increase my monthly miles through longer runs that ranged from 18 to 24 miles. In the end, all of those early morning runs in gross weather paid off. This year I completed my first marathon in 4 hours and 15 minutes.
At the end of 2016, I made a vision board for the first time. It was something that was missing in how I could actively focus my life. A few things that I pointed out as “dreams” have already come true. Not because I wished for them, they came into my life because I called them out as a focus.
