How to Start a Career in Behavioral Design
Nir’s Note: This guest post is by Erik Johnson. Erik applies behavioral design principles as the founder of Behavioral Strategies and in his earlier work on The Behavioral Insights Team at Morningstar.
Several years ago, I was in a position that many people early in their careers find themselves in: I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. My first job out of college took good care of me and was interesting enough, but I knew it wasn’t the career I wanted in the long term. I needed something else, so I started reading and exploring what was out there. One day, as I was reading a blog post on psychology, I discovered a book called Nudge that caught my eye. I bought it immediately and devoured it. The book opened a whole new realm of psychology and economic thinking that I had no idea existed me in a way nothing else had. This was what I was looking for in my search.
Fast forward to the present day and I’ve fully made the transition. I cut my teeth in the field working on Morningstar’s Behavioral Insights Team, where we applied behavioral science research and methods to help people with their finances. Then I opened my own consultancy—it’s been amazing and I’m constantly energized by not only the work I do, but also the greater potential in this field.
Whether called behavioral design (“behavioural design” in the UK), product psychology, or behavioral science, there’s never been this level of interest, excitement, or opportunities to understand the quirks of the human mind and use this knowledge to change how people live. From the highest levels of government to the C-suite, behavioral science is being applied in the real world and tackling big problems. (more…)
