Necessary Content

This past year has taught me that digital content is not only important, it's necessary. Learning how to create and navigate digital content are now, more than ever, necessary skills in this rapidly changing modern landscape. For my journey in this evolving digital world, I began to look for resources to help me better apply my existing creative skills. Online learning platforms are now more accessible than ever, and Coursera, one of the pioneers in the field, offers many options for those looking to learn a new skill or improve the skills they have. Through Coursera, Google offers a UX Design certificate program. For some reason I was drawn to the program. I work with designers all the time in my current role, and I talk about design in my professional writing. Why not take a course to help me better understand the design process? I'm now two courses in, and the certificate program delivers a lot more than expected. Through the program I have recognized how much writing, whether done in a professional capacity or as a hobby, is a form of design. As a technical writer, I create personas to help me better understand my audience. I make problem statements to help define what questions I need to answer with my documents. I research why the problem needs to be fixed, I identify user pain points, and I formulate ideas on how to address those pain points. Turns out, I've been a designer all along! In a way, I've always equated writing and design. As a fan of table-top role-playing games (TTRPGs), it's kind of hard not to. A good TTRPG needs clear and concise writing when it comes to describing the game world and the rules players need to interact with it. But it doesn't end there. It also needs an accessible layout, thoughtful image placement, helpful sidebars, well-placed tables, and thorough indices. These elements form a tapestry that elevates a TTRPG from a rule book to an experience. I'm moving on to the third course in the UX Design certificate program. I'm also working on a TTRPG passion project and producing technical writing content for my job. And to me, creating these things is necessary. Not only to share my creations with the world, but to help me better understand it.