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2020 will mark 4 years since I made a career change into UX/UI Design with little/no previous experience designing apps & websites.
In case you’re thinking of making the switch, here’s a couple of resources to help you get started - a thread.
In case you’re thinking of making the switch, here’s a couple of resources to help you get started - a thread.
1. First up, we have online courses.
Coursera has loads of courses from universities that you can access for FREE.
Here’s a good design course from the University of Michigan:
https://bit.ly/2QISAS4
Click ‘Audit Course’ to get access to the course content for free
Coursera has loads of courses from universities that you can access for FREE.
Here’s a good design course from the University of Michigan:
https://bit.ly/2QISAS4
Click ‘Audit Course’ to get access to the course content for free
2. All of these courses will teach you the foundations of design, here are some less traditional ones:
UX Design Curriculum by Springboard
https://bit.ly/2N3WEeX
UX Crash Course by The Hipper Element https://bit.ly/2FbkXmE
UX Design Curriculum by Springboard
https://bit.ly/2N3WEeX
UX Crash Course by The Hipper Element https://bit.ly/2FbkXmE
3. Once you know the basic principles, you can challenge your creativity by doing design challenges (it's good practice for interviews too.)
These sites generate challenges for you to design to:
http://briefz.biz
https://sharpen.design
https://www.dailyui.co
These sites generate challenges for you to design to:
http://briefz.biz
https://sharpen.design
https://www.dailyui.co
4. Always start low fidelity, with wireframes (rough sketches of screens)
The most important thing is getting the idea down, working out how you get the user from screen A to screen B and how the experience feels for them.
The most important thing is getting the idea down, working out how you get the user from screen A to screen B and how the experience feels for them.
5. Next, pick a tool to bring your concepts to life. There are currently 4 tools dominating the space.
• Sketch
• Figma
• Adobe XD
• InVision Studio
What you use matters way less than what you create, so play around with them and go with the one you like best.
• Sketch
• Figma
• Adobe XD
• InVision Studio
What you use matters way less than what you create, so play around with them and go with the one you like best.
6. Now you’ve picked your tool, here are some beginner-friendly tutorials on Youtube you can use to get started.
Sketch
Figma
Adobe XD
InVision Studio
Sketch
Figma
Adobe XD
InVision Studio
7. Post your designs from the challenges on Dribbble to start building your online design presence.
https://dribbble.com/
It's invite-only but have a look at #dribbleinvite on Twitter to find someone that'll invite you.
https://dribbble.com/
It's invite-only but have a look at #dribbleinvite on Twitter to find someone that'll invite you.
8. When you feel confident enough, move on to real projects.
One of the easiest & most underrated ways to find your first real project is by reaching out to a non-profit/charity.
Find one with a cause that you’re passionate about & offer them your skills.
One of the easiest & most underrated ways to find your first real project is by reaching out to a non-profit/charity.
Find one with a cause that you’re passionate about & offer them your skills.
10. Once you have a few case studies in your portfolio, you can start looking for your first role. Update your CV and search for roles on LinkedIn, AngelList & company websites.
When you get the interview, Medium is a goldmine to help you train for it..
https://uxdesign.cc/search?q=design%20interviews
When you get the interview, Medium is a goldmine to help you train for it..
https://uxdesign.cc/search?q=design%20interviews
11. Bonus tip. Get into the design community.
Download Meetups and go to hackathons, design talks, events & network.
https://bit.ly/2trsA60
Join slack groups for designers. Here are two good ones:
Triangles
https://triangles-slack.com/
Candles
https://slofile.com/slack/withcandles
Download Meetups and go to hackathons, design talks, events & network.
https://bit.ly/2trsA60
Join slack groups for designers. Here are two good ones:
Triangles
https://triangles-slack.com/
Candles
https://slofile.com/slack/withcandles
12. Throughout this process, keep learning & getting your skills up.
The High Resolution Podcast by @erondu & @ghoshal is great for designers at any stage of their career.
They interviewed design leaders from companies like Google, Spotify etc. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/high-resolution/id1204941994
The High Resolution Podcast by @erondu & @ghoshal is great for designers at any stage of their career.
They interviewed design leaders from companies like Google, Spotify etc. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/high-resolution/id1204941994
Incase you can’t see number 9:
As you're doing the project, document the process so you can build out a case study.
Case studies are soo important when job-hunting & you get extra points if they're based on live projects..
https://bit.ly/2QuliHA https://bit.ly/36x4LZ9
As you're doing the project, document the process so you can build out a case study.
Case studies are soo important when job-hunting & you get extra points if they're based on live projects..
https://bit.ly/2QuliHA https://bit.ly/36x4LZ9
13. Lastly..
Don't be afraid if you don't have a ton of experience, portfolio is KING & you’ve got this.
Most product designers I meet are self taught (myself included!)
There's so much I’ve skimmed over, but my DMs are open in case anyone needs help or more clarity
Don't be afraid if you don't have a ton of experience, portfolio is KING & you’ve got this.
Most product designers I meet are self taught (myself included!)
There's so much I’ve skimmed over, but my DMs are open in case anyone needs help or more clarity
