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The Most Important Tech Boom Designers Are Ignoring
Article

The Most Important Tech Boom Designers Are Ignoring

Fast Company, 2019

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Concrete Examples
  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

More than half of US households will be using voice assistant platforms by 2022, a new study by Juniper Research predicts. Although demand for voice assistant designers will be growing rapidly, as of 2019 not enough professionals are mastering these design skills. In this Fast Company article, Mark Webster – Adobe’s director of product – explains how to set up a voice design project and how designers can get a foot into the door of this booming field. 

Summary

Between 2018 and 2023, the number of voice assistants in use will more than triple to eight billion. Designers, even if they haven’t received formal training in voice design, should familiarize themselves with this rapidly growing field. Here are some starting points:

  • “Do your homework” – Study different smart speakers on the market, and consider the implications of the different interface designs. If you are talking to Amazon Alexa, for example, you won’t be able to distinguish whether you are talking to Alexa directly or to a third-party app. On Google Assistant, by contrast, a different voice signals to the users that they are engaging...

About the Author

Mark Webster is director of product at Adobe, focusing on voice integration for Adobe XD.