What Degree Do You Need to Become a User Experience Designer?

To become a UX Designer, you do not necessarily need a specific degree, as skills and experience are far more important to employers. While a degree in a subject like graphic design or computer science, can be useful, it is not the only way to learn UX design. If you are worried about landing a UX design position, you will want to find a training center that provides different kinds of courses and programs where you can complete hands-on projects and build a professional portfolio. Ultimately, demonstrating your ability to work on different products, understand user needs, apply different techniques, and use various tools will determine your proficiency in UX design.

What is a UX Designer?

A User Experience (UX) Designer is a professional focused on enhancing the user experience when interacting with a product or service. Through conducting research, testing prototypes, and designing different interfaces, a UX Designer can ensure a satisfying experience for the user. UX Designers work to make products functional and optimal as much as enjoyable and accessible, which means they create designs that meet both user expectations and the company’s goals.

UX Designers have a wide range of purposes across different industries, such as technology, finance, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and education. The primary goal is to improve the user’s interaction with any digital product, which means they will usually work on anything from websites and mobile applications to software and games. By enhancing the usability and user experience, UX Designers contribute to the success of products and services in a wide range of sectors. In essence, when businesses achieve their objectives by delivering an acceptable user experience, everyone benefits.

In addition, UX Designers can choose to focus on various specializations, such as UX research. A UX research specialist focuses on collecting and analyzing user data to make more informed design choices. UX research involves using different techniques such as interviews, surveys, and other forms of testing to gain insights into what the user would prefer when interacting with the product. The findings from research help guide the user through different processes and ensure that the final product aligns with the business goals as much as the user’s needs.

Do I Need a Degree to Become a UX Designer?

If you are interested in becoming a UX Designer, you have several routes that you can take. One option is to pursue a traditional university degree in a field such as graphic design, computer science, visual design, and even psychology. While a degree can provide an in-depth and varied understanding of UX design, it is also incredibly expensive and time-consuming. For some, the commitment is not worthwhile or even feasible. As such, they may seek out other options to become a UX design professional.

Luckily, a degree isn’t an absolute necessity to become a UX Designer, even though it can be worthwhile. UX design as a field encompasses a wide range of job positions and entry points, so many designers come from different academic backgrounds. Some may pursue a traditional university degree whereas others gain certifications and certificates. Many successful UX Designers have landed their position by enrolling in and completing bootcamps, certificate classes, and certification exams. The critical requirement for UX Designers is practical experience, continued exposure to the material, and a strong portfolio that demonstrates your skills.

Common Degrees for UX Designers

UX Designers have an advantage when it comes to their education since they have many options. By taking the traditional four-year university route, a UX Designer can major in any number of subjects. While these are some of the most common degrees for UX Designers, this profession does not necessarily require a degree. Many UX Designers opt for bootcamps, certificate classes, and certifications instead of a degree. This allows for even more flexibility in learning methods, course delivery, level of depth, and schedule.

• Graphic Design. Many UX Designers work closely with Graphic Designers and vice versa. This degree focuses on visual forms of communication and the major design principles, which are necessary to learn for UX design as well. 
• Computer Science. This field is not UX-specific but offers designers the technical skills they may need to make their jobs that much easier. This can help when collaborating with other types of designers and developers and can be a solid foundation for creative skills to be built upon.
• Information Technology. An IT degree gives you a solid grasp of how technology systems operate and connect. Moreover, since UX Designers often work with developers, this information will help bridge the gap between the two fields.
• User Experience Design. Although some universities do not offer a UX-specific degree, others may. In this case, you can pursue this degree which will cover the essential skills of wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, design, and research.
• Marketing. A marketing degree can be useful for UX Designers since it provides an understanding of consumer behavior and needs. Plus, you will learn how to conduct research, communicate through visual means, and align projects with the goals of a business.
• Psychology. Strangely enough, some UX Designers major in psychology. This provides insights into human behavior and gives you a greater understanding of how natural thought processes occur. With this insight, you can adjust your project designs accordingly.

Tips for Starting a UX Designer Career Without a Degree

There are several ways to start a UX design career besides pursuing a university degree. Here are a few different ways to reach your goals and build a meaningful 

• Pursue Certificates and Certifications. If you truly want to become a professional, you will want to start by searching for different certificates and certifications. This is a far less expensive option than a university degree but still provides a solid foundation for UX design principles and tools. 
• Acquire Relevant Knowledge. You have to start somewhere, and what’s best is to gain experience through different means. Through training in some form, you will learn any necessary skills to help you become a professional suited for a UX design career. Specifically, you will want to learn how to conduct research and complete projects with various software and tools.
• Develop Technical and Soft Skills. Through hands-on projects and consistent practice, you’ll learn the technical and soft skills necessary to work as a UX Designer. Plus, you need to strengthen soft skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication. You can do this through participating in UX design classes, bootcamps, and workshops.
• Build a Professional Portfolio. Employers look for a candidate with a diverse and well-developed portfolio. You will want to show off any research you have conducted, projects you have created, and presentations you have given. Anything that shows you are capable of serving as a valuable asset to the position.
• Network with Others. Engaging with the UX design community through workshops, online discussion boards, and professional events is a great contributor to starting a UX design career. You can receive feedback on your work, learn about different industries, and stay updated on the latest UX design changes in the field.
• Continuing Education. With the constant shifts in the market, it’s important to always continue learning and seek out new opportunities for improvement. There may be new design standards or tools that help the UX design field evolve, and you will want to stay updated. Take short courses to advance your skills even further or learn how to diversify your design capabilities.

Learn the Skills to Become a UX Designer at Noble Desktop

You can learn various UX design skills by enrolling in the UX and UI Design Certificate at Noble Desktop. Throughout 132 hours of hands-on instruction, students will learn the necessary skills to help them design functional and visually appealing webpages, applications, digital interfaces, and other products. The instructor will guide the students through different UX and UI design concepts, such as user research, data analysis, wireframing, and prototyping, as well as applying design principles. You’ll learn to use tools like Figma where you can develop clickable prototypes that will one day become fully fleshed-out projects. Moreover, you’ll conduct case studies for your projects and build a portfolio website that can display your newly updated resume and design projects. You’ll receive job preparation, one-on-one assistance, and a certificate of completion once the course ends.

In Noble Desktop’s Figma Bootcamp, you’ll spend a total of 12 hours interacting with the tools and features of Figma, one of the most popular cloud-based design applications. Here, you’ll design layouts for web pages, mobile applications, and other digital interfaces. Through building interactive prototypes, you will learn to add graphics, animations, and other imagery to make the project functional and aesthetically pleasing. You will also practice creating designs on grids, extracting image assets, and sharing design concepts with clients and other developers. By the end of the course, you’ll earn a certificate of completion and feel confident in your ability to use Figma for a variety of jobs and projects.

If you’re not quite ready for a lengthy certificate program or a specialized bootcamp, you can enroll in a simple course designed to provide you with a foundation that can be built upon in future classes. For example, Noble Desktop’s 12-hour UX Design Foundations course gives students an introduction to the career, specific terminology, the type of work UX Designers complete, and the entire design process. In addition, they’ll learn how to conduct different research methods like user interviews, observations, surveys, and heuristic techniques. Once the course ends, you will know how to document, present, and share your work with clients and other developers and have a completion certificate to show for all your hard work.