The UX Unicorn and its Fallacies
Talented designers who can do it all are rare, but can a unicorn be rare?
Photograph: Mandy K Yu
Throughout my career, I’ve had some interesting conversations with many other professionals regarding this term and everyone has their own definition of what a unicorn is!
Let's break it down
However, let’s look at how the majority has defined a “UX Unicorn” in general:
a) A highly talented, “jack-of-all-trades, master of all” individual that encompasses all of the abilities, skill sets, and knowledge of basically an entire team of a digital agency or product team.
Type A is client-facing and can lead UX and business strategies, are excellent UX researchers, know how to use Axure and other highly complex prototyping and wireframing software, have leadership qualities for projects and teams, are great visual and UI designers AND know how to build these prototypes in front-end development using more than one language. (Non-existent, unrealistic, and something to be cautious of when you see this on a resume or a job description.)
b) A knowledgeable, “jack-of-all-trades, master of one” individual who is multidisciplinary and has surface talents that spread beyond one role, but also has a specialized and in-depth focus in one area of expertise.
Type B has a limited but still helpful understanding of many peripheral areas relating to UX but still has that one special something-something they are amazing at. For example, an individual who has a graphic design background will most likely excel in UI design. But in order to become versatile and diverse in the tech industry, they have incorporated UX fundamentals and methods into their work and has expanded their scope to also include wireframing, light user research and strategy, rapid prototyping, and can understand enough basic HTML/CSS to be able to communicate effectively with other developers and stakeholders on their team. (Realistic, quite common, and something to strive for.)
Photograph: Mandy K Yu
The term is flawed in itself – an all encompassing and talented designer is rare, but a unicorn is not.
Let's be real
All in all, there is a reason the word “unicorn” is part of this all – they are mythical and imaginary! They hold magic, allure, and desire – but has anyone ever seen one before?
I’d like to shift focus to perhaps how I would accurately title Type B: a talented, and multidisciplinary UX Designer – not a make-believe, majestic beast. Let’s be real. In both senses.