Are you considering a career change to UX (user experience) design but unsure what steps you should take to get started? With this lucrative field growing in popularity, there is no better time than now to start your UX design career. The UX design industry is anticipated to grow by 17% through 2030, which equates to around 17,900 new job openings each year in this field.
This growth is considerably higher than the average for all other occupations, highlighting the importance of these professionals standing out from other applicants. This article will cover important information on working in UX design and some steps to follow if you are starting a new career in this bustling field.
What Does a UX Designer Do?
Before starting a career in UX, it’s important to understand the role and what working in this field entails. UX design is the process of creating products, websites, and services that are functional and accessible for users. Essentially, this means that UX Designers are concerned with customer experience functions such as finding information, completing tasks quickly, and ease of use. These creative professionals work to determine what users want and create a design that meets any project requirements.
Learn Fundamental UX Skills
Those who work in UX design should have a variety of both technical and soft skills to excel in this type of role. While most technical skills are learned during training courses, it may be helpful if you are naturally creative or artistically inclined. If UX Designers have empathy and the ability to communicate effectively, they are able to work with clients to determine the best final product for the intended audience.
Some essential UX skills include:
- Wireframing and prototyping
- Visual communication
- Graphic design principles
- Information architecture
- User research
- Understanding of coding/web development
Master the Software
There are several different software that UX Designers use in their daily functions to design mobile apps and websites. These programs make it possible to create these platforms with minimal coding knowledge. Mastering these tools can help make processes faster and help applicants stand out from others in the field. Some of the most popular software options for UX professionals are:
Build a Strong Portfolio
Once you have completed any training courses and are ready to start your job search, the next step is to build a strong portfolio of your work that showcases your unique design style. A portfolio is often the first thing a potential client or employer will see when searching for a UX Designer, which is why it’s so crucial to have a portfolio that is well-balanced and organized.
Adobe Portfolio is one of the most popular portfolio hosting platforms that offers unlimited pages and is provided with a Creative Cloud subscription. Behance, another Adobe hosting platform, can act as an online portfolio and social media site for UX Designers to network and share their work.
Network With Other UX Designers
When you are just starting a career in UX design, networking with other UX professionals is an excellent way to gain referrals and learn new techniques. If you run into a problem or need feedback on your work, there will be like-minded professionals that you can reach out to. Building solid relationships with others in the field allows you to engage, collaborate, and create an accurate reputation for yourself within the industry.
UX Designers often use platforms like LinkedIn and Dribbble to network with others. While LinkedIn allows UX professionals to connect with hiring managers and recruiters, Dribbble has the added benefit of staying up to date with the latest trends in the industry.
Apply for Internships
If you are still taking classes or are recently graduated, securing an internship is an excellent way to jump-start your career in UX design. They provide a chance to gain hands-on experience working in the industry, opportunities for networking, and the chance to take on challenging tasks. You can use reliable sites like Dribbble or LinkedIn to find internship opportunities or inquire if your educational institution has any resources available.
Stay Current With Trends
Once you start your career switch, it’s crucial to stay up to date with any trends in the UX design field or your specific niche. Technology and user needs are changing rapidly every year, meaning professionals in these areas should stay relevant with any trends to ensure their content meets all project goals. A staggering 67% of users say that a poor website experience negatively affects their opinion of a brand, highlighting the importance for UX Designers to remain current in the field.
Immerse Yourself in the Industry
One of the best and easiest ways to start your career in UX design is to immerse yourself in the industry fully. Taking any opportunity to read relevant materials, listen to podcasts, or connect with others on social media can help you learn UX processes and what it is like to work in one of these creative roles. Some of the most popular options for those new to the field include Wireframe, which is a podcast that covers topics across many design careers, and XD Ideas, a blog from Adobe.
Remain Consistent
While it can be challenging to start a new career, keeping a consistent presence in the field will help in many different ways. One helpful way to stay consistent is to set career goals to help you maintain momentum throughout the year. Make daily, weekly, and monthly goals to ensure you remain consistent with crucial processes and use a free online tracker to show your progress towards these achievements.
If you are just starting your career change to UX design, consider UX design classes to boost your training. These courses teach all of the software and skills needed in UX and provide an opportunity to gain real experience on these types of projects. Live online UX design classes from Noble Desktop provide all the same training as traditional courses but can be taken from the comfort of your own home. You can get started by searching for UX design bootcamps in your area to see what options are available.