GitHub Presente: Cómo GitHub transformó mi carrera en UX Design

Ana's Journey in UX Design and Community Building

• Ana is a Senior UX Designer who describes herself as having a "Junior soul" because she is always eager to learn and adapt to new challenges.
• She emphasizes the importance of being open to learning and adapting, and she enjoys mentoring others.

Ana's Involvement in Communities

• Ana is actively involved in various communities, including Javascript Chile, Woman Techmakers, GScom, and Sparc.
• She volunteered to create a website for the Javascript Chile conference, which led to her involvement in the community and a passion for sharing knowledge.
• Ana is also a Twitch streamer, where she shares her design process and knowledge with her community, primarily composed of developers.
• She initially felt hesitant about streaming but ultimately found it to be a valuable way to connect with others and share her passion for design.

The Speaker's Journey to UX/C Engineering

• The speaker initially didn't understand the relevance of GitHub to their UX design role.
• As they progressed in their career, they realized the importance of development skills and how GitHub plays a crucial role in making designs tangible.
• Their first interaction with GitHub was during an interaction design role where they had to prototype their designs.
• They later focused on UX design and UX lead roles.
• A significant turning point came when they decided to stream themselves building their portfolio using GitHub.
• This experience led to a community-driven learning process and ultimately helped them transition into a UX/C engineer role.

The Speaker's Experience with Open-Source Communities

• The speaker started a project on GitHub and received help from developers who wanted to contribute.
• The speaker learned about version control and received feedback on their work.
• The speaker encountered junior developers who were eager to learn and contribute to the project.
• The speaker was touched by the developers' willingness to help and their excitement about contributing to the project.
• The speaker learned about GitHub's features, such as issue tracking and project boards.
• The speaker learned from the junior developers and helped them learn how to program.
• The speaker realized that the project had become a community effort and was no longer just a personal portfolio project.
• The speaker was impressed by the work of the community and felt proud of the finished product.
• The speaker describes how a community formed around their work, initially as a joke, but quickly grew into a serious group of UX designers and developers.
• The community, which they named "UXC," became a space for collaboration and learning, with members contributing to open-source projects and helping each other.
• The speaker highlights the importance of open-source projects, mentioning their own website and the community's work on a Twitch channel.
• They emphasize the value of learning from each other, even for more experienced designers and developers, and the joy of helping others.
• The speaker concludes by stating that the community and their involvement in development have been crucial for their professional growth.

The Importance of Understanding Development for UX Designers

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the challenges faced by developers when implementing designs. They highlight the friction that often arises between designers and developers due to a lack of understanding of each other's roles and expertise.
• The speaker advocates for designers to learn about development, gain proximity to the development process, and engage with the developer community. This knowledge, they argue, makes designers more aware of the implications of their designs and ultimately leads to better professional outcomes.
• The speaker recommends constant communication between designers and developers, emphasizing the importance of open dialogue and avoiding ego-driven conflicts. They encourage designers to expand their knowledge beyond their own role and embrace a curiosity for other areas, such as product development.
• The speaker shares their personal experience of learning development skills and how this has made them a more efficient and precise designer. They understand the value their designs bring to the development process and how they contribute to both the user experience and the business goals.
• The speaker concludes by stating that their expanded knowledge and communication with developers have created a more enjoyable and fulfilling work environment, allowing them to feel a greater sense of purpose and satisfaction in their work.

The Benefits of Joining Communities for UX Designers

• It is important to understand the needs and challenges of other disciplines, not just your own.
• While not everyone needs to become a full-stack developer, having a basic understanding of development can be beneficial for UX designers.
• The speaker recommends resources like content creators and books to learn about development.
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of communication and transparency between designers and developers.
• Designers should explain their design decisions and understand how developers will implement them.
• The speaker believes that having a close relationship with the development community can help UX designers evolve and improve their skills.
• The speaker acknowledges that they are not a developer expert and relies on the community for support and guidance.
• The speaker encourages others to join their community, which is described as small and unique.
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of community in their UX design journey, highlighting the value of learning from and collaborating with other developers, particularly those skilled in front-end and back-end development.
• They express their enthusiasm for sharing their knowledge and projects with others, actively engaging with the community through platforms like Discord, LinkedIn, and live streams.
• The speaker acknowledges the significant impact of joining live streams and participating in communities, stating that they have grown tremendously since becoming involved.
• They highlight the importance of showcasing projects and contributions, emphasizing that even beginners can find value in participating and contributing to communities.
• The speaker offers encouragement to those who feel they lack time to join communities, emphasizing that even small contributions can lead to significant growth and opportunities.
• They advocate for prioritizing personal growth and skill development, arguing that investing time in communities can ultimately lead to greater economic opportunities.
• The speaker discusses the importance of communities in UX design, particularly in terms of personal and professional growth.
• They emphasize that while communities may not offer monetary compensation, the personal satisfaction of helping others is invaluable.
• The speaker highlights their own experience in creating content and being part of communities, finding fulfillment in seeing people benefit from their contributions.
• They believe that communities provide a platform for learning and networking, allowing individuals to connect with others in the field and stay updated on technological advancements.
• The speaker encourages viewers to engage with communities, even if they cannot actively contribute, by attending talks and workshops.
• They specifically mention the G Together community in Santiago, Chile, as a valuable resource for learning new tools and staying current in the field.
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of continuous learning in the ever-evolving world of technology, and communities provide a valuable platform for this.

The Benefits of Contributing to Open-Source Communities

• Contributing to open-source communities can be beneficial for your career in UX design. It allows you to learn from others, provide feedback, and build your network.
• Networking is crucial in the tech industry, especially in Santiago de Chile. The community is small, and people often move between companies, making it important to build connections.
• Contributing to open-source projects can enhance your reputation and credibility. While it may not directly translate to financial rewards, it can be valuable in the long run.
• Open-source communities provide opportunities to learn new skills. The speaker learned about development by working with others and having them explain concepts to them.
• Active participation in open-source communities can be valuable even if you don't present or lead workshops. Contributing to logistics, organization, and community management can also build credibility and demonstrate valuable skills.
• GitHub values contributions to open-source communities. The speaker, who has interviewed candidates for GitHub, emphasizes the importance of these contributions in the hiring process.
• Collaboration and teamwork are essential skills that can be learned through open-source participation. These skills are highly valued in the tech industry.

The Impact of AI on Communities

• The speaker believes that AI, while controversial, is not going to replace designers or other professionals.
• AI is a tool that can be used to automate tasks and make work easier.
• The speaker believes that AI will actually lead to the creation of more communities, as people will need to learn how to use AI responsibly and effectively.
• The speaker uses the example of GitHub Copilot and how it can be used to improve education.
• The speaker believes that AI will create more opportunities for people to discuss technology and create new communities.
• The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning good practices for using AI and sharing those practices with others.
• The speaker believes that AI will not replace human roles but will instead create new opportunities and challenges.
• The speaker emphasizes that automation is not new and that it has always been a part of human progress, citing the example of elevator operators being replaced by automated systems.
• The speaker acknowledges that while automation can be perceived as a threat to jobs, it is ultimately the people who embrace and utilize these tools who will thrive.

The Importance of Community in Design

• The speaker shares a comment from a viewer, Tito Mix, who praises the patience of the speaker and the community of designers.
• The speaker highlights the dynamic and creative nature of the design community, emphasizing that even technical individuals like herself are seen as creative thinkers.
• The speaker shares an anecdote about a group of developers struggling to move a component in Figma, demonstrating the collaborative spirit and willingness to help within the community.
• The speaker concludes by expressing gratitude for the invitation to the community and encourages viewers to join the group and experience its passion firsthand.
• Ana's presence on Twitch has been a valuable experience for the community, inspiring aspiring UX designers and fostering a sense of shared learning.
• The power of community is often underestimated, but it provides a platform for sharing knowledge, receiving feedback, and growing as a professional.

Ana's Advice for Aspiring UX Designers

• Ana encourages viewers to engage with open-source projects, even if they don't have coding experience.
• She advises viewers to reach out to project maintainers and ask if they need help, as many are open to contributions.
• Ana emphasizes the importance of researching project guidelines and ensuring that the project aligns with the contributor's interests.
• She encourages viewers to be proactive and ask questions, as many people are willing to help and share their expertise.
• Ana emphasizes the importance of community and finding something you are passionate about in your career journey.
• She acknowledges that rejection and challenges are part of the learning process.
• Ana expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share her experiences and encourages viewers to follow her on social media.
• She mentions her current involvement in supporting various communities and events in Santiago de Chile, including the upcoming hcat in August and Nerdearla in September.
• Ana highlights the Nerdearla event in Argentina, a free event focused on science and technology, and encourages viewers to attend.
• She shares her involvement in organizing the next hcat event in Santiago de Chile, scheduled for December.
• Ana explains that her focus is currently on organizing events, limiting her availability for speaking engagements.
• She encourages viewers to connect with her through her social media channels and Discord server for any questions or inquiries.
• The host expresses gratitude to Ana for her participation and welcomes her back for future events.

Upcoming Events and Resources

• The speaker thanks the audience for their support and shares that they will be hosting a stream the next day about small language models (LLMs) from Microsoft.
• The speaker introduces Bruno, an artist, who will be presenting on how to work with these small programming models.
• The speaker encourages viewers to join the GitHub Meetup groups in Santiago, Chile, Buenos Aires, Guatemala, and Mexico City.
• The speaker mentions a central Meetup page where they post events that are not specific to any city but are part of the Spanish-speaking community.
• The speaker reminds viewers that the stream about small LLMs will be at 11 am Eastern time the next day.
• The speaker encourages viewers to follow Ana on social media and mentions that the GitHub team will be attending her stream.
• The speaker mentions that they will be hosting a workshop in Buenos Aires where attendees can earn 200 GitHub certifications.
• The speaker encourages viewers to attend the workshop and get certified, as it will help them in their professional careers.
• The speaker reminds viewers that they will be hosting two live streams from the Microsoft Artificial Intelligence lab in Uruguay the following week.
• The speaker is inviting viewers to join them in visiting students and giving talks.
• The event will be streamed live.
• The speaker encourages viewers to join and support the event.