MBA track for UX Designers?
I pivoted into UX and recently got my Masters of HCI, current YOE:2. So far the ROI for the HCI degree is paying off, as it helped land a job at Walmart. Still, I wonder about my career track. My concerns is that UX / design is always evolving and I want to remain competitive. WLB, but having options as far as company/pay is also important. I'm thinking about pursuing an MBA degree in Technology Management. What is the career path for a UX Design w/ an MBA? Is it a leadership position? Are there ICs w/ MBAs? What do you think is the ROI of an MBA for UX path? #professionalgrowth #mba #uxcareer #design #female #bipoc
I’ve never met a designer with an MBA unless they were career changing to UX from business.
That may be true now. 4 years ago it was common for people to say they never met a UX Designer with specialized degree in HCI... Now the field has matured and I see majority of job postings requiring a related degree.
Not that I think MBA will become popular for UX Design... But will an MBA help for career growth in UX leadership?
Experience is way more important than degree. Especially in UX.
I think what people are saying is you can accomplish what you want without getting an MBA. If you want to get an MBA, fine, but having an MBA without leadership experience is pointless. Get that experience first before you go for the MBA.
If your employer will pay for the MBA it might help if you wanted to become something like a design manager or design director. On the other hand design chops seems to be the most respected qualification for design leadership. If you could find a design specific leadership program, that might be better than a generic MBA.
MBA is good for movement into PM which can help you use design skills in a more strategic way. There’s also a d.MBA which gives a taste and can help you move into Design Strategy
Agree with you! I think though it may help also to climb the career ladder as IC since you will be better equipped to influence PMs and perhaps start your own initiatives within the company
Not surehow helpful it is for ICs, but surely helpful if you want to break into design management. Check out the DMBA offered by Cali. College of Arts. It Also opens up the path to PM if you'd like.
I’m in a very similar boat, undergrad in business, 2YOE in UX/UI, wondering if the HCI masters or MBA is worth the hype. Did you pay out of pocket for the HCI degree? Do you feel you needed it to get the opportunities you’re getting now? What do you think you learned in that program that you couldn’t have self taught or learned on the job? MBA can’t ever hurt, but not at full price. Maybe ask your employer to pay? I’ve gotten my company to pay for smaller education opportunities before and they definitely don’t have Walmart money.
I graduated from one of the top HCI programs in the US. Most students here, including myself, are either international students, or people who want to get into the UX. I don’t think you can learn much if you have already been in the industry, unless you want to be more research focused and get into some R&D labs.
An MBA can sort of hurt if you pick it up prematurely. A lot of people in UX don’t care about credentialism and may pass judgment on someone who has junior-level or mid-level experience and an MBA.
As others have said, I'm also not seeing the benefit of an MBA outside of design management or higher level product strategy. That would take you further from individual hands on experience. As an alternative based on personal experiences, I want to suggest a degree in software engineering. It's helped me ten folds in becoming a more technical minded designer / ux engineer / technologist.
MBA for UX makes no sense. It will just make those who would promote you roll their eyes. Sweet MBA UX designer.
MBA for a designer isn’t worth IMO. It might help if you plan to move into design management (vs IC) but still not sure of the ROI.