The rise of UX Writing

Of all the specialties that coexist in the development of user experiences, UX Writing, or the generation of content designed for the user, is one of those that have not yet fully positioned itself in this industry that grows and evolves day by day.

What is UX Writing and who is involved in it? How are they professionally trained? Where does a UX Writer work? These are some of the many questions that every UX professional or enthusiast would like to see answered for good.

A few weeks ago the UX Writing Worldwide Report was launched, a study that attempted to capture the reality of this field around the world. And the truth is that the results are more encouraging than we could expect, especially for the future.

Multiple names for the same position?

Strictly speaking, as far as possible, UX Writing is a relatively new discipline; which has been formally discussed for at least five years. In other words, we are just positioning the professional profile of the UX Writer among those of us dedicated to generating content designed for digital platforms.

But the study not only presents this to us, but it also indicates that those of us who create user-centered content identify with more than one label. UX Writers, Content Strategists, Content Designers, and UX Copywriters are just how we call our professional profile. And not only that. The professional profile may also vary according to each country, industry, or company.

We are not so alone

We could expect the UX market to take real shape within time difference between industries in Asia or North America, and those on Europe or Latin America, but fortunately, only geographical distance is what separates us. Yes, the development or maturity of UX Writing in some countries is far below markets such as North American or Asian, but the digital world put UX professionals as equals in term of aptitude.

The report also shows that there are many of these professionals all around, throughout the world, who have gradually forged their knowledge and expertise. The companies just have to catch up.

Few can say that they have received formal education about UX Writing; And in this the students of the first generation of the Diplomas in UX Content or Interaction Design are fortunate. And not only in Europe or in the US, but all over the world.

There is still a way to go

It may be a somewhat conformist look, like when you told your mom that your whole class did poorly on the math test. And it is that despite being relatively “far” from maturity, most of the world just face some cultural changes in both the UX community and the industries where their services are required.

The study indicates that companies are aware of the need and the role that content plays in user experiences. Particularly in the way people relate to the interfaces writers offer them to meet their goals. But there is still no cultural change that gives relevance to the content throughout the development of projects.

Let it be a principle: the content must precede the design; because design without content is nothing more than decoration. That is why we, from the industry, must be promoters of that change, in which our work acquires weight and meaning within the processes of creation and development of experiences.