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Avery from Evansville, Indiana, asks, who are some important UX experts I should follow?

I love that question. Thanks for asking, Avery. This is UX Question number 14 and I am Ben Judy.

Who are some important UX experts I should follow? Well, definitely you should follow UX professionals who you find to be knowledgeable, highly skilled, good communicators, and with a perspective you appreciate.

There are lots of ‘big names’ in this profession. Some folks have made a name for themselves by being early pioneers and I’ve mentioned some of their names in previous episodes. Don Norman, Jakob Nielsen, Alan Cooper, and Jesse James Garrett are all authors and consultants who helped define UX as we came to know it.

Steve Krug, Luke Wroblewski, Andy Budd, Bill Buxton, and Jared Spool are also ‘familiar old names’ to those of us who have been working in this field for a couple decades or more. When they speak, we listen, because they’re published authors and, frankly they have consistently been the keynote speakers at UX conferences over the past two or three decades.

But so far I’ve only named men. Fortunately, any list of top UX experts now is a more diverse cast of characters than in the past.

Leah Buley, Indi Young, Kaaren Hanson, Kim Goodwin, Jamie Levy, and Erika Hall are all highly accomplished and well known women in the UX field, each with their own specialty.

I could go on naming names, and no doubt some of you are thinking, “but why hasn’t he mentioned so and so yet?” Well, I’ve got to keep this under three minutes. Here’s the thing you need to know about UX ‘experts.’

They’re human beings. Most of them are very hard working, intelligent, energetic people who have applied themselves to their trade for a long time. Most of them are truly humble and empathetic and eager to contribute to the success of other UX professionals. A few of them are shameless self-promoters, and once in a while they can be jerks. That’s why we shouldn’t make them out to be heroes. Don’t meet your heroes, you’ll be disappointed.

Avery, you asked, who are some important UX experts I should follow? Well, go follow the names I just mentioned, you’ll be better for it. They’re all brilliant.

And I don’t like to critique the questions I receive for this show. I truly do love your question. But I gotta say, I think I have a better question in return for you.

Why not you?

What can’t you become the next, important UX expert that others should follow?

Because you can. Keep your eyes and ears open, stay humble and curious, work hard, be generous, and keep asking good questions. I’m sure I’ll be adding *you* to my list of experts worth following soon enough.