On to a New Skillset – UX Writing

Every few years, I find myself honing a new written communication skillset under the umbrella of content strategy. I am fascinated with how the written word interacts with design to form a piece of communication, complete enough to evoke action or emotion within us. That's why this year when I first came across a UX Writer profile it sparked my interest. Days and hours of research later, I’ve decided to self-learn UX Writing and apply its principles in the work I do. 

However, in retrospect, I am curiously surprised to have come across a fewer number of or no UX Writer profiles through the course of my career, unlike the UX Researcher and UX Designer profiles that are plentifully available. Even though without words (and without the right ones too) the apps that we use would only be a confusing mesh of coded visuals!

In a UX Writer's position writing equates only 10 percent of the actual role. The work begins with collaborating with the researchers and designers to define the users, context of communication, flow and wireframes along with user goals. This further contributes to defining the voice and preparing tone guides for the entire project, followed by UI text and micro-copy, contributing to a highly well-devised and nuanced output. The sheer combination of the left brain right brain functions required here and the ability to guide human minds to solve a problem or fulfil a need through content design excites me.

As I continue dabbling in UX writing and building a portfolio, I seek to understand the process of humanising digital tools and services and the various approaches it entails to achieve the desired output – comprehensive experience and an engaged user. I’ll keep sharing my learnings here.

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Words: Nikita Vhora