A headshot of Doug Collins, editor of UXNewsMag.com

Best Layoff Ever: How A Job Gap Will Let Me Serve the UX Community

By Doug Collins
Editor, UXNewsMag.com

The best blessings are the ones that come in disguise.

This week I received my layoff notice paperwork, giving my last day of employment with current employer, CACI, as July 14, 2020.

At first it felt like a kick in the gut. Nobody likes to hear that their employment is coming to involuntary end, especially in the middle of a pandemic and unemployment levels not seen since the great depression.

It was a scary feeling. But as the fear faded, the realization began to hit me.

This is my chance to finally give as much as possible back to the community that’s given so much to me.

First off, I just have to say that it’s been an amazing ride with CACI, and I want to thank them for giving me a chance to do some tremendously meaningful and challenging work.

Day-in and day-out, I’ve been helping keep our world safe and secure, and I’ve been honored to work to make the day-to-day work of our intelligence partners and allies more effective.

For right now, I’m looking for the right fit in my next full-time employer.  If you’d be interested in having me as a part of your team, I’d love to hear from you – drop me a line at Doug@DenverUXer.com.

And while I look, I’m blessed to have the opportunity to serve the UX community in the way I’ve always wanted.

If you don’t have time to read through all the details, simply know this: everything I do will continue to be posted on Twitter (@DougCollinsUX).  If you follow me there, you’ll never miss a thing.

Time for You, Whatever You Need

If you want to invite me to anything, I now have time, including for meaningful cups of coffee and drinks – even if it’s all virtual during this pandemic.  Right now, we could all use a friend, confidant, or comrade, and I’m happy to help however I can.

Additionally. I’m excited to announce that I’ll finally be able to offer paid coaching and mentorship opportunities on a first-come, first-served basis.  One of my biggest regrets has always been that I’ve never had the opportunity to be more hands-on with those in the community. 

Now that community will be my focus, and I can’t wait to share my knowledge and passion with you.  

I’ve set up a page on my personal website, DenverUXer.com, where you can learn more about my coaching and mentoring services, sign-up, and schedule your first session.  Alternatively, you can head straight over to my Calendly page to book a time slot with me.  My availability will be open as of July 15th.

Freelance, Speaking, and On-Site/Virtual Educational Opportunities

Microphone

One of the best part of my UX career has been the opportunity to work on a wide variety of varied projects.  And if you think I could help your project, I’d love to help you however I can.  

If you’d like to bring me in to help you or your team on a project, educate your group on UX and design, or simply to speak at your event, drop me a line at Doug@DenverUXer.com and let’s get the conversation started.

From a digital perspective, one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in the past year was to finally finish my class on Dark Patterns, which I’m proud to offer 100% free of charge on my YouTube channel.  The response has been tremendous, and I’m honored to help the community learn and grow.

With all that in-mind, my goal is to continually create content, making my channel the go-to place for free instruction on UX, design, and related topics.  

More Content on UXNewsMag.com (and other UX sites)

UXNewsMag.com has always been the child I wanted to spend more time with.  

My background is in journalism, and I’ve always had a passion for creating a space for the best UX writing and resources.  More content will be coming to UXNewsMag.com soon, so keep your eyes peeled for more new content here.

Additionally, I have pieces for a few other big-name UX websites in the works, all expected to debut in the next couple of months.  

Upcoming Podcasting Appearances and New Podcasting Projects

Many people have written to me asking whether Afternoon Answers will be making a comeback anytime soon.  I’m proud to announce that Afternoon Answers will return full-time starting July 17.

In addition to Afternoon Answers, I’ve also been working on a new podcasting project.

In Design Disasters, I tell a story to a different one of my friends in the UX and design world about the history of catastrophes created by poor design decisions. 

We’ll look at how the design mistakes of kings, dictators, CEOs, engineers, and design professionals across history created some of the largest debacles known to mankind.  More importantly, we’ll discuss the lessons to be learned from each, and how we can apply them in our day-to-day work.

I expect Design Disasters to premier in late July. For now, follow me on Twitter to get news and updates on its launch, upcoming shows, and guests.

What do you think? I want to hear from you.

What have I missed?  What else would you like to see from me?  Head on over to my feedback form and drop me a line.  I’d love to know how I can help you, and what advice you have for me going forward.

Whatever happens, know this – I am honored to be a part of a great community of smart, talented, and growing design professionals, and I will do everything in my power to make the community even better every day from now until I land my next full-time job.