What would I tell someone looking to transition to a career in UX Design?
I’ve written about why you would want to transition into the field of UX design. I’ve written a little about what UX is and why it might be a good field for you. I’ve also written about my own journey from Graphic Design to UX Design. I get asked a lot from students and others about what they can do to get into the field or to simply learn more. Below is where I would start, it’s certainly not an exhaustive list and next week I’ll discuss the particular skills you’ll need to grow in order to be a great designer. These are simply some pieces of advice to get you going.
Practice
Practice, practice, practice. But seriously. Practice. If you've never designed a website or an app. Start today. Doesn't matter where you start, just try something. Then try something else tomorrow and so on. If you need some inspiration to start here is a great article with links to a number of design challenges to get you moving. Keep a sketchbook with you, sketch out some ideas as wireframes. Redesign your favorite app. Redesign the app that you despise using but have to. Something like your banking app. Give yourself an hour a day and complete something you’d be proud to show off in a week’s time. Doesn’t have to be a whole app or website, maybe just a screen.
Watch, Read and Listen
Start by checking out some youtube channels that talk about the basics. What UX design is, what it isn't and how it uses tools like Human-Centered Design and Design Thinking to empathize and iterate towards building innovative products.
Here are a few youtube channels I like.
Crack open some books or start scrolling on Medium. These organization’s blogs are a great place to start as well.
But there is nothing like a good book to dive into the deep end. Here are my top 5.
Universal Principles of Design
Also, I want to give a shout-out to your public library. I'm listening to a great book by the author of Lean UX called Sense & Respond right now through the use of the Hoopla App and my public library card. Amazon doesn't need all of your money, but they have great books as well. The library is still a great resource and it's free. Tons of books on design and anything else you may ever need to know.
Here are some great Instagram accounts to follow as you're mindlessly scrolling. Might as well learn something while you double-tap.
If you're a driver, a walker, or someone who has their headphones in all day. Here are some great podcasts to look into.
Design Matters with Debbie Millman
Examine Everything
Asides from reading and going down the old youtube rabbit hole. A practical piece of advice is to start examining your everyday experiences with technology. Websites you use often, apps you use to complete tasks every day, and the overall experiences of connecting with brands in one way or another in the real world. Why do you think they've been designed the way they have? What are they trying to communicate to you and get you to do? Are they helping you get the job done you've gone to them for? Is the experience seamless, is it lacking in any way. Does it meet the expectations you had before you called it up? Who, what, why, when, and where? Just make it a habit to think about what you’re experiencing and examine the why behind it.
Also, ask a lot more questions
Why do friends and family use the products they use. How do they help them, how do they let them down? Start to examine and notice how things have been designed and most importantly. How they could be improved. Go beyond the surface level too. Yes, everything could be made to be a little better looking or fit into the paradigm of what you’d like to see more and more. But get down to how it works, and how you would make it better. These observances are what lead to product improvements or new products altogether. Watching a group of people fail to complete a simple task or struggle to complete a very complex task, is a great opportunity for a designer to reimagine that experience and simplify it.
Make a project out of it
Once you've made some observations. Turn it into a project. Make the line at Chipotle better. Make an app better, create a new one. Take on a project for a family member, an acquaintance, or even a new project at work that's out of your typical duties. Take what you're learning and put it into practice. Work on your process until you've refined it in a way that you can always pull it up and put it into use. Document everything as you go along, this documentation will work its way into the story you tell in your portfolio which we'll get to.
Consider taking a course
There is no youtube channel or medium post that is going to give you everything you need to know. In fact, nothing will, but a course will give you a good deep dive into the full design thinking process. Immerse yourself in best practices and give yourself lots of project experience by working on practice projects and problems.
Check out the courses offered through groups like General Assembly or Springboard. These courses are a great place to start and will ground you in the basics. Some also go a long way in helping build the skills you'll need to land a job. I don't have any experience personally with General Assembly, but I've worked with a few graduates of their course and I've also hired a few. They knew what they were doing and I’d hire them again.
Full transparency, I've begun working as a mentor on the Springboard UX/UI Course program. Mentoring young designers in the midst of a career transition to UX Design. I haven't gone through the full course with a single student yet, but from what I've seen thus far. The program seems excellent and I love the fact that attendees get paired with a professional mentor and a career mentor so they get a good grounding not only in the fundamentals of the job but also get taught how to put their best foot forward in landing a job. Learn more about Springboard and maybe we'll get partnered together one day.
As a side note, a designer I highly respect has recently partnered with The Interaction Design Foundation. I have not worked with them or know anyone who has gone through their course, so I can't recommend them but I'll let Tony do so.
Learn a Design Tool
Doesn't matter which one. Honestly! Doesn't matter. You'll hear designers argue endlessly over Sketch vs Figma vs Adobe XD, vs whatever. Just find a tool you can master. All that matters is how fast you can think about it. I would stick to one of the big programs like Sketch, Figma, or XD though as you’ll end up using one of them wherever you end up working. If your future employer uses a program you haven't, don't sweat it. Any of them can be learned through YouTube, LinkedIn Learning, and practice in a couple of weeks or so.
Learn Some Code
A lot of designers will hate me for saying that, but learning the basics of how the internet works are absolutely fundamental. You don't have to go to a code boot camp or start learning React or anything like that, but you should know the basics of HTML, CSS, and simple JavaScript. Practice by building a single-page website on your own. Google your way through it. You’ll be a better designer in the end and you’ll be able to communicate with developers easier as well.
Create a portfolio
The final step of getting a job is going to be an interview. In that interview, there is a 99% chance you're going to be asked to share one of your projects. Having your project well laid out and in a simple storytelling pattern that engages the interviewer and shows the kind of value you can bring will make the difference between an offer and a door hitting your ass on your way out. Start by examing successful designer portfolios. Also, use this Facebook guide for structuring your project portfolio and story during an interview process. If you have no design experience, this will make a great first visual and UX design project for you. If you're a seasoned design professional in transition, this will make a great first UX project for you.
Last but not least
Don't let anyone tell you, you can't do this. Don't be intimidated by the big words some designers throw around. Design is a process anyone can master. It helps to have talent sure, but you won't know how talented you are until you try. Good luck and as always if you have any questions in your journey. Feel free to reach out and ask.
