Whether you are new to the field or have experience working as a UX Designer, it can be difficult to stay current with industry trends. Technology is advancing at a rapid rate each year, meaning important career elements like software and practices are constantly evolving as well. If you are not enrolled in refresher courses or some form of a workshop each year, you may be missing out on important updates and an opportunity to grow your skill set.
In addition to technology, the job market for creative designers is anticipated to grow 3% through 2030. This equates to around 20,000 new openings each year for those in the creative design field. It’s important for designers to stay relevant in practices and maintain a vast skill set to help stand out from the crowd. Below you can read eight helpful resources UX Designers can use to find informative articles or meet other creative professionals.
UX Magazine
UX Magazine is a free platform that provides designers with the latest in the industry and has an online community of over 500,000 users. This unique “webzine” is crafted by experts in the field and explores multiple areas of UX design. Another added bonus of checking out UX Magazine is the ability to find workshops, classes, and meetups based on location. This is a great tool for new designers looking to build their network, as well as seasoned design professionals.
UX Matters
First formed in 2005, UX Matters is an online resource that strives to cover every aspect of user experience. The site states its goal is to provide insight and inspiration to designers working in the UX field, while also providing a platform for professionals to share their experiences and advice. Experts in the field of User Experience craft articles and columns that cover every topic, ranging from best practices to anticipated trends for the future. The web magazine has been credited as a leading platform for user experience matters.
Smashing Magazine
Smashing Magazine is a website and eBook publisher for creative designers and web developers. The platform has countless resources for users, which include access to books, workshops, and practical articles. There is a specific category for UX Design that has articles covering usability, design patterns, research, and web development. These articles are designed to be useful, as they contain important guidelines and best practices in the field. There are different “community memberships” for users to choose from, each providing discounts on print and digital content.
The UX Blog
First founded in 2015, The UX Blog is another unique resource that provides creative professionals with helpful content across different platforms. In addition to the blog portion of the website, there is also a Medium Publication and Podcast on iTunes for users to utilize. The blog topics cover ideas and updates on the areas of UX design, user research, and UX strategy. It also stands as a community hub where users can share ideas and discuss their experiences working in the industry. Most articles and podcast episodes discuss current events and relevant news updates in the field.
Awwwards
Awwwards is a great resource for UX Designers looking to gain feedback or recognition for their web design and development work. It is an online competition where designers can submit their work to be judged by a panel of industry experts. There are a wide variety of different competitions and awards, including Site of the Day that focuses on aesthetics and usability, and the Developer Award that was created in partnership with Microsoft. Awards are presented at conferences held across the United States and Europe, and also feature presentations from prominent figures in the design industry.
UX Collective
This weekly free newsletter is designed to help UX Designers stay current with industry trends while thinking critically about their own projects. The platform has over 400,000 subscribers who use the platform to access articles and read through posts that cover different areas like research, design, anticipated trends for the future, and countless other topics. The UX Collective is one of the largest design publications on the Medium platform and is a great resource for UX design professionals.
XD Ideas
Adobe XD Ideas is a unique forum that provides UX Designers with insights into the industry and different business impacts of design. There are a wide variety of articles posted for users to read, including some that feature interviews with design industry experts. Adobe XD also has a blog for creative professionals with a large library of articles on UI/UX topics. Many of the articles feature helpful tips and tutorials for using Adobe XD to enhance your unique skill set.
Nielsen Norman Group
Nielsen Norman Group is a UX research and consulting firm that is used by companies across the globe. First formed in 1998 by two experts in the UX field, Nielsen Norman Group has a vast library of research articles and books for users to learn from. The company also performs important research in the field and publishes its findings for users to read through and determine best industry practices.
Utilizing these online resources can help UX Designers stay current with industry trends and network with others in the field. In addition to these resources, creative professionals should also consider taking some type of educational course once or twice per year to build on skill sets. Some designers prefer to take classes that focus on one specific software, while others branch out and take courses like the Visual Design Certificate. Learning how to design modern web interfaces with software like Adobe XD and Illustrator is a great way for designers to stand out from other applicants. Designers can also learn additional software or gain wider experience taking graphic design classes from providers like Noble Desktop.
If you are looking for immersive training in UX design, try searching for a UX design bootcamp in your area to see what options are available locally. If you prefer learning virtually from home, a live online UX design bootcamp from Noble Desktop provides the same curriculum as in-person courses with added flexibility.