One of your resolutions for the year 2022 should be to have a successful career. That could mean getting better at what you do or totally switching careers.
If you want to switch your career or are just starting in the career world, it is best to go for a career that is in-demand, creative, solves problems, and has good remuneration. One of the careers that fit this description is UX design. UX design is a creative field focused on solving problems for people and is currently one of the in-demand skills in 2022.
The USA's 2021 statistics on job offers revealed a staggering increase in how organizations demand UX designers. Adobe study reported that 87 percent of managers said hiring more UX designers was their priority in 2021, and 73% vowed to engage more in the next five years.
The demand for UX designers is not about to go down anytime soon. There is no better time than now to learn UX design.
You are probably reading this article because you want to know where and how to start. You are in the right place!
This article gives you a roadmap you can follow on your journey to become a UX designer.
How to become a UX Designer
A UX designer is the bridge between humans and digital products. As a designer, you are responsible for creating a good user experience for users when they relate to products.
Your job is to discover the users’ pain points, feelings, and emotions and help them create a product that solves their problems and appeals to their emotions.
It is a job that requires dedication, time, and effort. So, if you want to get into UX, you need to know the basics. Where should you start from? What are the things to learn?
Here are some steps you can follow in your quest to become a UX designer.
Start reading materials on UX design.
Reading about UX design equips you with the proper knowledge of what UX is all about. UX is a broad field, and you don't want to dive in without knowing what it entails. Reading about UX will also fuel your interest in learning it more. Read every material you can find on UX design.
Get yourself familiar with the industry. Read about the statistics on UX design and read about the job requirements.
Then, read UX e-books written for enthusiasts and beginners, search for UX experts on social media and follow them to read their posts on UX design.
The first step to learning is reading. The more you read and research UX, the more you are sure UX is the right career path for you.
Reading will also help you understand the design thinking process used by UX designers. The design thinking process guides designers in their approach to any project. You can learn it first-hand by reading, so it can be easier for you when you start practicing with example projects.
Learn how products solve problems
UX design is about solving problems with digital products. Reading about UX would have made this clear to you.
Now, to develop your mind thinking about solutions, try and view the digital products you use daily from a UX designer's view. Which problem are they solving? How are they designed to solve those problems? Drawing examples from things you use will help your thought process on how to think about solutions through design.
Learn how to use design tools.
It might take time to learn and perfect if you don't have previous experience with design. You can start learning by drawing sketches on paper first.
Think on paper. You can take a problem and design a feature that solves that problem. Sketch it on paper. It doesn't have to be perfect initially, but this process will allow you to connect with users' pain points. After sketching on paper, try your hands on design tools.
Don't expect it to be perfect at first. Watch as many tutorials as you can on how to use the tools. Then, reproduce your paper sketch digitally using any design tool you choose to learn.
There are tools for different aspects of UX design. There are tools for wireframing, tools for sketching, tools for testing, etc.
These are some of the design tools you can learn.
Adobe
Figma
Sketch
Invision
Sketch
UserTesting
Learn Design Principles
User experience design is its name because of the importance of creating positive experiences for users. Your design skills are an avenue to develop solutions and a fantastic experience for digital product users.
So, it won't suffice that the only thing you are keen on learning is how to use design tools. It would help if you also understood the principles behind design. These principles will help you in creating usable designs.
Learn UX methodologies
UX designers use different methods to create a positive user experience for users. These methods inform people what they design and how they design. Some of the methodologies to learn in UX are User research, Usability testing, Card sorting, etc.
Start Practicing
It's time to start practicing. Theoretical knowledge is good, but it is better to put your knowledge into practice. Practice is how to test the knowledge you have gained from everything you've learned.
Give yourself mock-up projects. You can also collaborate with software developers to create designs for their projects.
These projects will come in handy as you build your UX portfolio to get your first job in UX.
OR
You can simplify these processes by attending a Bootcamp, where you will be taught by industry professionals and have a good grasp of the UX methodologies.
Attend a UX Design Bootcamp
Attending a Bootcamp will save you from the information overload on the web. You can get caught up in the web of confusing information while trying to learn on your own. There are several opinions on the web, and it will be challenging for a beginner to know which idea to follow.
For example, attending a Bootcamp like the GoCreate USA Bootcamp will take you through the learning process in a logical manner. Learning from experts in the field gives you an advantage. You get to learn from the best and learn current industry trends.
Also, you will have the opportunity to share ideas with others and get involved in teamwork. The truth is if you want to simplify your learning process, attending a Bootcamp is better. Register for the GoCreate USA Bootcamp here.
Final words
Learning the processes involved in UX design takes time. One thing is required: Consistency. Even if you learn in a Bootcamp, you still need to be consistent with practice to improve.
Bootcamps have activities that can make you compatible with learning. If you are considering attending a Bootcamp, the GoCreate USA Bootcamp is there for you. You can register for the Bootcamp here.