When determining if one is a unicorn, it is important to consult an expert, like a good patient would consult a specialist (or, perhaps, even two). In this instance, I was able to locate one in the tri-county area who focuses on mythical creatures and Greek mythology. Okay, so she may be twelve, but she is well read and very cute (insert parental bias here). I posed this question to my daughter first, “Do you think a unicorn is the best creature?” Her reply, “No! An alicorn is the best creature. It is a cross-between a unicorn and a pegasus. It has all the qualities of a unicorn, but it can also fly!” My next question was for myself, “Could I be an alicorn?”
“Alicorn (noun) al·i·corn | \ ˈa-lə-ˌkȯrn \ plural alicorns. Definition: A winged unicorn. ”
*Please see video for Bella’s creature differentiation explanation.
Who am I? What am I?
I am a visual journalist by education standards, graduating from Kent State with a bachelor’s degree in information design in Journalism and Mass Communication from the College of Communication and Information. In short, I learned how to edit, write and be ethical, while learning how to use Quark (insert cobwebs here), and Adobe’s first Creative Suite (circa 2002-ish) to build magazine layouts and newspaper features.
The article, Becoming A UX Unicorn in 5 Easy Steps states, “This isn’t unique to the UX unicorn designers. Almost any seasoned designer we talk to tells us they’ve learned the most of what they use every day during the work experience.” I had priceless work experience following my first traditional, college degree-related job.
I went on to become a communications specialist at a local community bank where I was promoted to Assistant Vice President and was the Marketing Director. You may have noticed in my above paragraphs that I did not study marketing. However, my knowledge of writing, editing and design helped to create the foundational footing for this position. The rest was a commitment to learn something outside of my comfort zone, that would challenge my existing capabilities. It was there I learned how to manage budgets, negotiate advertising contracts, run and help manage a CRM system, analyze data, work functionally in Excel (pun intended), question return on investment for campaigns, study audiences, and more … all while doing the creative pieces, such as writing scripts for TV spots, coordinating their filming, designing print advertisements, designing billboards, managing the website, and more. It was a cross between analytical and creative and both sides I loved. It encompassed the “hows,” the “whys” and the “what’s next” in one role. One small detail I neglected to mention is that I was a department of one for 80% of my seven years with the bank. The other 20% I had a part-time assistant. We had 14 bank branches at the time in multiple counties and markets. It was challenging, but rewarding and it sparked something in me that wanted to learn more.
The article, Becoming A UX Unicorn in 5 Easy Steps goes on to say, “Those opportunities forced them to learn new skills, expanding their capabilities and, simultaneously, making themselves more valuable in the marketplace.”
Eventually, I moved on from my role at the bank and I returned to Kent State, where I work today. I became more centrally focused with web work, which includes content, editing, accessibility, site building, user research, etc. However, history tends to repeat itself. My job description did not include user testing, or analytical analysis of advertising campaigns, or even the development of interactive forms, but I do these things. I do them because they are fun, and both personally and professionally rewarding. The desire to learn more and do more to answer the questions, “why” and “how” lead me to UX. It led me to this program, which has provided me with additional knowledge and skills.
This reflection makes me think that, yes, perhaps I am a professional alicorn. Hopefully, this title will allow me to hug my almost 13-year-old in public without embarrassment. She should be proud.
Realistic Realizations
I used to refer to myself as a professional multitasker. I would even say, “I wear a lot of hats.” (Very original, yes, I know.) However, now, I feel through my experiences, not only in this course, but in my career that you can do something much more effectively when you give it your full focus and time. Instead of doing multiple things at once, I approach a single task from multiple perspectives, both creative and analytical.
Should companies look for unicorns, alicorns, pegasus or horses? No. Should they look for specialists? No. They should look for someone who is passionate at what they do, is good at what they do and can add value to an organization. If they are a unicorn? That is an added bonus. If they are a specialist? They can always learn more. However, to purposefully set out on a quest for a unicorn would not be fruitful, as they are hard to catch and hold on to. It is best to seek out those who are willing to learn, have the majority if not all the qualities you need for them to accomplish the job, and perhaps with a little sprinkle of glitter, they may transform into a mystical creature and soar to new heights and take their company along for the ride.