UX training is an organized method of learning how to use the UX design process, UX methods, and UX design tools to create design solutions that solve users' problems and also give them a positive user experience.
UX training is meant to help aspiring UX designers acquire the necessary skills they need to thrive in the UX design industry. The UX design industry is a multifaceted one, and there are quite a number of both soft and technical design skills that are required for an aspiring UX designer to start his career path in UX design.
Moreso, UX training is not only about user experience design as a skill, but about understanding all it takes to create a user-centered design that will elicit a positive user experience for users.
Thus, it involves learning user interface (UI) design, learning how to use design tools, and conducting research to test your designs. The interesting thing is you can learn UX design at any stage you are in your life.
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A quick guide to UX Training for beginners
UX research
UX research is the process of studying prospective user groups of a product to gain insights into their needs, pain points, and motivations, then using these insights to improve the design process to create products that will solve those user needs.
UX research is a key aspect of UX design that you cannot afford to ignore in your quest to be a UX designer. UX research helps designers discover how to create a user-centered product, instead of designing based on their own personal feelings.
UX research is not just a singular process, it is a general term for the different methods of user research in UX design.
There are different UX research methodologies, and they all have unique purposes. Some of the methodologies are user interviews, user testing, card sorting, usability testing, etc.
However, before I explain the aforementioned UX methodologies, it is important that we discuss the major types of UX research which are: quantitative research and qualitative research.
Types of UX research
Quantitative research
Quantitative research deals with figures. It seeks to answer the question of "how many". For example, "how many people clicked the submit button?", "how many people noticed the alert button?".
Quantitative research is not concerned with why your user group clicked a button or ignored another button. It only seeks to know how many people did what. This research is useful for testing the success or failure rate of a feature.
Qualitative research
Qualitative research seeks to answer the "why" question. It is more of understanding why users desire a feature and it helps to develop an in-depth understanding of users' needs.
Qualitative research uncovers the thoughts, motivations, needs, and pain points of users. It strengthens quantitative research by providing reasons for the statistics.
UX research methodologies
UX research methods are different ways of conducting user research on the target audience to gain insights into their pain points, their needs, and their behaviors.
These research methodologies help UX designers know the things to prioritize in their design process as it relates to designing the user interface and the overall user experience of the product.
Here are some of the methods employed by a UX researcher:
User Interviews
A user interview is a type of qualitative research that is structured in a question-and-answer format usually between one user at a time and an interviewer.
User interviews are mostly used to gain insights into a particular user's behavior. It could be to understand the reason behind users' pain points, and the way they reason before designing for them.
User interview results are helpful for developing user stories, storyboards for project designs, and user personas to bring the reality of the user to the fore when designing.
Surveys
Surveys are quite different from interviews. A survey is quantitative research that is mostly carried out within a user group through the use of questionnaires. A survey involves getting information from many users at the same time.
Usability testing
The usability of a product is described as how easy it is for a user to navigate through it. Hence, this testing is considered an important aspect of user experience design.
Usability testing is also known as User Experience (UX) Testing. It is a testing approach for determining the user-friendliness of a design.
It involves getting real people (groups of target customers) to use your product as you walk them through a guided test. The goal is to get their honest feedback in order to ensure that your designs are relatable and address user problems.
The two methods applied here are laboratory and remote usability testing. Always ensure you test the product and not the user.
Card sorting
Card sorting is a research technique that UX designers use to arrange the contents in the user interface. This method involves creating cards that represent a feature or design concept and telling users to sort the cards into different categories as they deem fit.
Tree testing
Tree testing is a technique that allows you to understand how to create a relatable site structure for users. This technique allows you to present the structure of your website's menu to users in the simplest format.
During this testing session, users are required to complete some tasks using the menu structure. This is a key aspect of usability testing in the overall UX design process.
User persona
User personas are fictional characters that you create to represent your user, highlighting their pain points and behavioral patterns.
User personas help UX designers focus on the character of their users, and keep them in check whenever they have ideas that are beyond the scope of the user's need.
Information Architecture
Information architecture deals with the arrangement of content on the website. The way content is arranged goes a long way in determining the user experience of a website.
Creating Wireframes
Wireframes are layouts that showcase the functionality of your UI (user interface) design. Wireframes provide a structural view of the style, information architecture, functionality, user flow, and expected user behaviors.
In creating wireframes, you can use design tools or free-hand sketching. This depends on how detailed you want to be in your wireframe.
Wireframes enable all relevant parties to agree on the structural view of the design before the developers come on board.
Prototyping
No UX training is complete without learning how to build prototypes. A prototype is a sample model of the original product as designed by the UX designers. Unlike wireframes, it is clickable.
Before building the final product by the developers, a prototype is designed to evaluate the functionality of a design concept, and user flows. It is also used to collect feedback from internal and external sources.
Tom and David Kelly, founders of IDEO gave us the importance of prototype in their quote "if a picture is worth 1000 words, a prototype is worth 1000 meetings"
Responsiveness
A major part of your UX training should involve learning how to create products that can work on all screen sizes, especially on a mobile device.
The digital world continues to evolve and mobile devices are on the increase in circulation. This implies that more users are more likely to interact with your products using their mobile screens. Thus, learning to employ responsiveness in your design process ensures that your design contents are visible across many devices and increased user experience.
Building the mobile app version of website products also becomes a necessity for companies as the digital world continues and more users relate to mobile.
User journey maps
User journey maps detail the users' flow through your design. It is a diagram that reveals the user's journey from his point of discovering your product, to his clicks, product engagement, and eventual loyalty to your product. User journey maps seek to answer the question of 'how do people use our product?'
Design thinking
Design thinking is an iterative process used by UX designers to find solutions to a problem. It is made up of a five-step non-linear process which are: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.
Is structured UX training necessary?
The internet has become a hub of knowledge such that there is almost nothing you want to learn that you won't find online. This availability of information on the internet has made prospective UX designers question why they need a structured learning method to learn UX design.
While it is true that there are myriads of information about UX design online, many times it is hard to filter the core from the non-essentials. So, it is wise to learn from professionals in the industry with an organized format that allows you to monitor and measure your growth.
There are different ways of getting trained in UX design. You can either go for online training or in-person training.
The former route has two major options which are the online professional certification or the online Bootcamp training.
Online Certifications
The internet has provided us with rich access to online courses. Tertiary institutions and top tech companies are now offering their professional courses online. For example, Google launched its Google Career Certificate Program in 2018 with the aim of making technical skills available online. It is noteworthy the Google UX design certificate is one of the google career certificate programs.
There are several online certificate courses for entry-level UX designers, but most learners shy away from these forms of structured training because of their high cost. . This is why you need to check out the GoCreate USA fully funded UX training, where you'll be trained by professionals.
How much does a UX certificate cost?
The cost of a professional certificate program for an entry-level UX designer range from $3000 to $19000. This high cost of UX education has made it difficult for talented individuals from indigent backgrounds to access quality UX education.
However, you don't need to spend that much on a UX certificate when you can access free in-demand quality UX training.
UX Bootcamps
A UX Bootcamp is a form of intensive UX design training that teaches the foundational concepts of UX design. It guides an individual to mastery of the skills of UX design within 3 months to 12 months.
Why Online Bootcamps?
Firstly, like other online training, online Bootcamps afford the opportunity of learning at your pace while you also continue with other life activities. This is because you can schedule your learning time to work best for you.
In building a career in tech, many find it difficult to land their first job. Structured learning like boot camps guides learners through hands-on projects designed to build their UX design skills and create their professional portfolio. They also offer UX design certificates. These in turn increase learners' opportunity to be considered for entry-level jobs.
Have you read 5 reasons to consider an online Bootcamp
High UX Design Training Cost; What Is the Way Forward?
More people consider Bootcamp over a degree program because of the time frame and flexibility. As earlier said, available boot camps require a huge capital. The cost of quality training has been a challenge that limits many promising individuals.
This is why the GoCreate USA Bootcamp by Brave Achievers exists. The Bootcamp offers quality UX training taught by professionals in the UX industry at no cost.
It is a fully-funded program with formal training that equips you with the design skills to upskill yourself and break into the tech industry.
How to get an entry-level job after your UX training
Create A professional UX portfolio
A UX portfolio is a collection of past projects worked on by a designer. It shows his abilities and design process. As a beginner, your training project is a good case study to start with.
You can also volunteer to work on real-life projects as you network with other UX designers. This helps to sharpen your learned skills, while you also increase the relevance of your UX portfolio.
Join a UX design community
There are several online communities on different topics. Finding a good community with a focus on UX design is a good way to network with other learners and user experience professionals in the field.
Employers looking for entry-level designers usually look within such communities to hire. Also, senior colleagues post available job openings on such platforms.
In building connections in these communities, remember to be engaging. Ensure to participate in design exercises and challenges organized in your community. It registers your name in the mind of prospective employers.
Write on UX design and design process
A good way to amplify your voice about what you know is blogging. It enables your audience and potential employer to see into your thought process.
You can also consider documenting your learning process via writing on social media. It creates an engaging community, sharpens your writing skills, and presents you to the world of prospective employers.
Cold email prospective employers
This works like magic even though many underrate it. Platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter have made connections quite easier. With your built UX portfolio, you can show yourself off.
Search for the profiles of prospective employers. Send them a cold email stating your potential and abilities. Your initially prepared portfolio will be a tool to showcase your skills.
You might consider building a connection with them by continuous engagement on their post a week before you cold email.
Final Words
Truly learning never ends. However, you can become a professional UX designer without having a higher education in user experience design. Taking structured online courses and certificate programs will equip you with the needed skills to start out in your UX design career.
If learning UX has been a desire without breaking your bank, now you got the opportunity to learn UX design through the GoCreate USA Bootcamp by Brave Achievers. You will also earn a UX Design certificate upon completing the program.