For my second job in London I chose between a role that mixed project management and information architecture (IA), as we referred to it back then, and pure IA roles. I chose the latter.
I’ve always loved juggling multiple things at the same time and getting under the hood of what’s not really being said, but what’s implied. I like challenges and finding a way around problems. And I like to have a say as well as be in a position where I can make decisions, there’s no denying that. But more than anything I love building relationships.
Throughout my soon to be 10 years in London I’ve at times “argh’ed” when a client or a project could have been looked after better. I’ve also worked with some amazing project managers and account people and those projects have, without a doubt, been the best ones.
Good project managers and account people are few and far between, but when you come across them they make everything just work. Clients are happy and the team is happy and that makes for the best of working conditions. Even if, or should I say particularly if, the client is “tricky”, a good account person and project manager will save the day.
Over the years I’ve become glad that I chose IA and UX rather than project management. It fits me better and through the varying UX roles I’ve had, relationship building has always been a big part of it.
Being the founder of Glimt.it I find myself doing both. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I wish I had those amazing account people and project managers by my side. But, I’m also cherishing this early phase where I get to build relationships with the well established brands that we work with and the independent designers we’re coming across. As we grow I’m handing over more and more of the day to day communication and in many ways this is great. There are other people who are much better than I am at sales and managing projects, and with our growing client list, we need more dedicated people.
Today part of our team went to Top Drawer over at Olympia, to get inspired, meet new people and to say hi to brands and designers we already now. These kind of events are fairly new to me but I love them. You get to put a face to the name you’ve only been emailing or speaking to over the phone, and you get to talk to the people behind all the amazing products we come across. Making these new connections and building up relationships, it’s one of the best parts, if not the best part, of this job.
Image via Flickr user David Goehring
