Careers about making life simple

July 17, 2009 12:50 AM

What are some careers that involve making life simpler?

About a year ago I discovered the field of human factors and usability. I'm taking the steps to pursue that field, but I've been noticing some other career fields that are related in that they strive to make things simpler, more efficient, and/or easier to use. Some examples:

- usability specialist
- interface designer
- interaction designer
- human factors engineer
- ergonomist
- information architect
- industrial engineer
- technical writer
- professional organizer

Can you guys come up with any other career fields like the ones above?

posted by NeoLeo to work & money (11 comments total)

Lots of writers and editors fit this category: all about simplification.
Designers of most sorts too: architects, graphic designers, industrial designers.
Cleaners.
posted by rongorongo at 1:08 AM on July 17

Life coach/declutterer
posted by ceri richard at 2:04 AM on July 17

Copywriter.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:09 AM on July 17

closet organizer

church pastor / preacher
posted by amtho at 4:24 AM on July 17

Process Engineer.
Transportation/ Urban Layout (Civil) Engineering.

...and then there is an anecdote I heard from an old contractor a while back:

"If you want to find out the easiest way to get something done, hire the laziest, most worthless daydreamer you can find. Give him something to do and watch how he does it, fire him, then hire a solid worker and show him what you learned."
posted by EnsignLunchmeat at 5:34 AM on July 17 [5 favorites]

Urban Planner
posted by JJ86 at 5:48 AM on July 17

any teacher or instructor.
posted by runningwithscissors at 7:03 AM on July 17

I'll go the opposite of the spectrum and the real basic roles that make life easier/simpler... Errand runner, dog walker, babysitter, personal assistant, landscaper, house cleaner.
posted by jerseygirl at 7:23 AM on July 17

Meditation coach?
posted by birdsquared at 8:33 AM on July 17

Any number of DoD think tank professions:
Systems analyst
Operations research analyst
Professional logistician
posted by aquafortis at 8:46 AM on July 17

Librarian!

I have used my library degree to get jobs with titles like "taxonomist," "information architect," "user experience designer," "usability professional," and "interaction designer," and really, the basic principles of information organization, task completion, and findability are the same.
posted by librarina at 6:27 PM on July 17