I’ve been the first (and for a while, the only) UX writer at two companies where I built processes from scratch. So, I decided to gather the lessons I’ve learned. There are tons of articles on this topic, so there are no claims to game-changing insights here — just sharing personal experience. Let’s dive in!
If you’re new to content design or UX writing, here’s a quick rundown.
💡 The textbook definition
A Content Designer is someone who writes interface copy to help users navigate a product. The goal? Make interactions effortless and intuitive.
🛠 The real job
Writing is actually the last step. First, you:
After that, compliance, localization, and release notes kick in. But this is the foundation.
If you want a deeper dive into UX writing, plenty of folks have written about it. For now, let’s get to the fun part.
Short answer? You won’t be. At least, not instantly.
I’ve been the first UX writer in two teams, and my task was not just to plug into a well-oiled machine and quickly write a style guide. While this is important, the real work lies beneath the surface — moving too fast can backfire.
What to do instead
✅ Start with the product managers. Most people run straight to designers (which is fine), but PMs are where the gold is. They’re the bridge between the team and the business. They know why things are the way they are, what’s working, and what’s broken.
✅ Go through the product like a user. Seems obvious, but too many people jump straight into Figma or the backlog. First, experience the product. Where does it break? Where do you get confused? What wording feels off?
✅ Figure out how the team actually works.
✅ Map out existing pain points. Before suggesting significant changes, gather insights. What problems have already been flagged? Where do users struggle? Then, present your findings — this instantly shifts how the team sees you. You’re not just here to “fix some words.” You’re here to improve the product.
✅ Propose a workflow. In that same presentation, set expectations:
This saves you from sitting around waiting to be looped in (or, worse, being forgotten).
❌ Jump into writing right away. Without context, you’re just guessing.
❌ Kick down the door with your rulebook. You might have strong opinions (which is great), but first, listen. Understand what’s possible to change and what will just frustrate the team.
❌ Try to work with every team at once. Been there, crashed, burned. It’s tempting to prove your value ASAP, but taking things one step at a time is smarter. For example, at QIC, there was a clear divide between web and mobile when I joined. I focused on mobile first, then gradually expanded to the web. Much smoother.
Surviving as the first content designer is a marathon, not a sprint. Pace yourself, pick your battles, and take it step by step.