It can feel overwhelming when you are trying to break into a new field like UX design, but if you make a plan and follow it, you can land those first few jobs that will get you on your way. Here are ten tips for shifting to a career in UX design.
Do Some Research
When you are considering something big like changing careers, it is wise to do some research before making the big step. There are many videos on YouTube of UX Designers talking about how they started their careers, including problems they encountered and things that went well. Watching some videos will give you some perspective on what it is like to work as a UX Designer. Some channels to check out are The Futur, High Resolution, and Awwwards.
Join the Community
Once you have an idea of what working as a UX Designer is like, it is helpful to join the community and do some networking. Community connections are one of the best ways to find jobs in UX design. LinkedIn is a great place to make professional connections and ask questions of people who are working in the field. Look for Meetups in your area to meet other people interested in UX design. Another way to connect with UX professionals is through Instagram. Many designers post examples of their work on Instagram and many are happy to answer questions.
Learn the Theory
After you decide to start your UX design journey, it helps to become familiar with the vocabulary and theory behind the field. There are many free tutorials on YouTube to get you started designed for UX beginners. The more tutorials you watch, the more familiar you will become with how UX design works.
Take a Class
It’s great to get started on your own, but if you are serious about changing careers, formal training is the best way to go. This doesn’t have to mean four years of college. Although many people working as UX Designers have college degrees, few of them are in subjects directly connected to UX design. Bootcamp and certificate courses can give you the technical knowledge you need to change careers in a few weeks to several months for much less cost than a four-year degree. The important thing is to choose a program that offers a certificate of completion that demonstrates to prospective employers that you have successfully completed the program.
Learn Some Tools
Familiarizing yourself with some of the most popular design tools is another step you can take toward becoming a UX Designer. These tools can be used to design mobile apps and websites often without having to do any coding. Some of the most common are listed below.
Adobe XD
Adobe XD is a design tool based on vector graphics that allows you to create digital designs for everything from mobile apps to websites. XD is part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud and works well with other CC apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Animate. There are many repeating features that make your workflow move faster, and XD also includes collaboration features that make it easy to share and test prototypes. You can run XD on both macOS and Windows.
Sketch
Sketch is a Mac application that doesn’t work on Windows. You can use vector editing tools or design at the pixel level. It allows you to scale to any screen size and speed up your workflow with mathematical shortcuts. As with XD, there are repeatable components and you can organize your design so everything is easy to find. Sketch recently added real-time collaboration, so now it is easier for a team to work together, and you can also create libraries of the elements the team is using. There are also many plugins available to customize your workspace.
InVision
InVision works to support the design process from brainstorming and collaborating with Freehand, or prototyping with Cloud, or designing with Studio. You can create design libraries for the team. InVision works on the web, Android phones, and on iPhones.
Figma
Figma is another design application. It includes FigJam which provides an online whiteboard for collaboration to let your design team plan, define, and workshop together. You can use the pen tool for vector graphics or plugins like an instant arc design. Auto Layout moves and stretches items automatically, and Figma makes the work move along efficiently. Figma runs on a browser so it will work with macOS, Windows, or Linux systems.
Build a Strong Portfolio
A strong portfolio is your best ticket to a job as a UX Designer, but how do you put together a portfolio if you are new to the field? Many training courses are designed to provide you with a portfolio after you have completed all of the assignments. This hands-on collection of work will demonstrate what you know of the design process and show what you can do.
Find a Mentor
In addition to building a portfolio, another helpful tip is to find a mentor. This is a more experienced person who has worked in UX design for a while. Mentors can be very helpful when it comes to finding a job or tackling your first few UX jobs. Some training programs assign mentors to students as part of the instruction.
Become a Life-long Learner
Many employers are looking for people who are curious and engaged to fill UX design jobs. Include other information about interests and experience when you apply for jobs, even if it is not directly related to design.
Think Like a Designer When Applying for Jobs
Rarely will your experience be a perfect fit for jobs you apply for. If you know how to use Sketch, but the job advertisement lists Adobe XD as a requirement, you can mention some of the general similarities and the fact that you enjoy learning new applications.
Make the Change
If you would like to learn how to use software like Adobe XD to switch to a career in UX design, one of the best ways to do that is to sign up for classes. You can choose classes that meet in-person or online to learn XD, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Some people prefer to attend brick-and-mortar sessions when learning new information, but that isn’t always available. Live online classes have a similar set-up with a real-time, remote instructor who can answer questions and take control of your monitor—with permission—to show you how to do things. Training is part or full-time and available weekdays, weeknights, or weekends.
The best way to prepare for a career shift to a field like UX design is to enroll in a bootcamp or certificate program. These are intensive training courses that run from a few weeks to a few months and will cover the design process and software in much more depth than tutorials can. Another plus of training is that you will leave class with a professional-quality portfolio that you can show to prospective employers.
It’s easy to take UX design classes and start a new career. Choose between in-person sessions in NYC at Noble’s location or sign up for live online UX design courses and attend from anywhere. Find UX bootcamps in your area and get started in a new direction today.