Can I Learn UI Design On My Own?

If you’re thinking about learning UI design and you’ve started to research class options, you may have already discovered another learning option; self-teaching. There are a variety of UI resources--like free online tutorials--that you can use to teach yourself some of the fundamentals of UI design. This can be an effective way to start learning about this field and pick up some basic skills and gives you a lot of flexibility. However, self-teaching also has drawbacks, like a lack of feedback or group interaction. Most people who are serious about learning UI design end up enrolling in a live course where they can receive guidance from an expert.

Advantages of Self-Teaching UI Design

If you’re interested in learning UI design, self-teaching can be a good starting point because it’s a way to learn some basic skills without committing a lot of time or money to a formal class. Many UI design courses cost thousands of dollars, so you don’t want to sign up for one and then realize that this is not the field for you. Instead, by teaching yourself, you can get an idea of what UI design is all about, maybe even working on some simple projects. If you decide that you do want to pursue this discipline and you want to get more serious about learning, you can take the next step and enroll in a live class. 

Another benefit of self-teaching is that you’ll have a lot of flexibility. When you take a class, you’ll have to follow a set curriculum. In contrast, when you teach yourself you can create your own educational program and make sure it meets your needs. You won’t be forced to spend a lot of time on concepts that you already understand. For example, you might already be fluent in a tool like Figma or Photoshop--which are covered in many UI design classes--and you won’t need to spend more time learning it. With self-teaching, you can also put more time into learning about specific areas that interest you. For instance, maybe there will be a particular area of UI design that you want to specialize in. In addition, you can learn at a pace that works best for you, progressing as quickly--or slowly--as you want. Finally, you’ll also have time for other responsibilities like a job or family. 

UI Design Self-Teaching Tools

You’ll find a wide range of different free resources online that you can use to teach yourself some UI concepts and skills. This includes tutorials, seminars, and forums. Many different websites offer these free resources. For instance, you’ll find dozens of tutorials on YouTube, covering a wide range of different UI design skills. Schools like Noble Desktop also offer free UI design resources like seminars and blog posts. Some on-demand schools also offer certain UI classes for free. In addition, if you’re trying to learn a specific design application, you may be able to find free tutorials specific to that application. For example, Adobe provides many free tutorials for its design programs, which are posted on its website. The Figma website also contains free resources. Finally, there are many online design forums where people with more experience in UI design are often happy to share tips and insights.

However, while the wealth of free UI design resources will give you a lot of options, the sheer number of options available can also be problematic. It can be time-consuming to find resources that fit your needs, and it can also be a lot of work to verify that your resources are up-to-date and accurate. In a Georgetown University Library article titled “Evaluating Internet Resources,” the author stresses, “Information available on the Internet is not regulated for quality or accuracy. . . . Keep in mind that almost anyone can publish anything they wish on the Web. It is often difficult to determine authorship of Web sources, and even if the author is listed, he or she may not always represent him or herself honestly, or he or she may represent opinions as fact.” As a result, the author says, users need to always evaluate the quality of their information.

Drawbacks to Learning UI Design on Your Own

While self-teaching has benefits, it also has a number of drawbacks. One of the biggest is the fact that when you teach yourself, you won’t get feedback and advice from an experienced instructor. When you don’t know much about UI design, it can be hard to figure out where to start, what to learn, and whether what you’re doing is right. It can be extremely helpful to have the guidance of an expert instructor who knows about UI design and also understands how the industry works. There are a lot of free online resources that you can use to learn UI design, however, it can be challenging to separate the good resources from the bad, and you might become overwhelmed by just how much material there is. Another thing you may miss out on without an instructor is the opportunity for mentorship, which can be a valuable part of the learning process. 

Some people also find it difficult to stay motivated when they teach themselves. When you take a formal class, there will be schedules and deadlines, and an instructor to be accountable to, which can help you stay on track. In contrast, when you teach yourself, you won’t have any of these things so you’ll need to be more disciplined and motivated, setting your own schedules and making sure you follow them. Because there is no accountability or commitment, self-teaching is often associated with low rates of completion. In general, self-teaching usually works better with students who are independent learners, who are comfortable figuring things out by themselves, and who are good at working alone.

Another thing that can be difficult about teaching yourself is that you may feel more isolated. You won’t have the interaction and sense of community that comes with being part of a class. That interaction can enrich the learning process, and it can also be helpful just to be able to talk to other people who are going through the same thing as you. In addition, the interaction that you get with a class can lead to valuable networking opportunities.

Alternatives to Learning UI Design on Your Own

While learning UI design on your own has some advantages, and some UI Designers are completely self-taught, most people who are serious about learning UI design decide to enroll in a paid class with a live instructor. There are many advantages associated with a live class. One is that you’ll follow a structured curriculum that covers all of the important topics in UI design, such as research methodologies, prototyping, design principles, and usability testing. Most UI design classes cover both theory and its practical application, giving you a well-rounded education that will prepare you to use your UI design skills in real-world situations. Having access to a comprehensive curriculum is a significant benefit. 

Another advantage of a class is that you’ll receive expert guidance throughout the learning process. Most classes are led by experienced instructors who also have professional industry experience. They can answer your questions and provide feedback. They can also share their insights about industry trends, best practices, and challenges that you are likely to encounter. In addition, they can help you network within the field of UI design. Most people find that when they learn from an instructor, they master UI design much more quickly than when they try to teach themselves.

Taking a class also means that you’ll be learning along with a group of peers, which can also help you learn more quickly and more effectively. Most classes involve a high degree of collaboration, with activities such as group discussions, projects, and workshops. These group activities can help broaden your experience and deepen your understanding. They can also help you prepare for collaborative work in the future, which is common in the field of UI design. Finally, peer interactions can lead to networking opportunities, which can also be valuable in the future.

Learn UI Design with Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop is based in New York City and offers a number of different UI design-related classes, with both short courses that can help you quickly master the basics, and longer, more comprehensive programs that are intended to prepare you for a career in this field. Its classes can be taken in person at its Manhattan facility or in a live online format. Noble Desktop is licensed by the New York State Education Department. All courses include a certificate of completion and the option of a free retake within one year.

One of Noble’s most popular UI design classes is the UI Design Certificate, which is a multi-week course where you’ll learn about composition, typography, color, interactivity, user interface elements, best practices, and all the other things you’ll need to understand in order to work in UI design. You’ll learn to retouch photos in Photoshop, use Adobe Illustrator’s drawing tools to create graphics, icons, and logos, and create UI designs and prototypes using Figma. You’ll also create a portfolio of website and app designs that you can show to potential employers or clients. This class also comes with eight one-on-one mentoring sessions that you can use to work on challenging concepts, review your portfolio, or receive professional advice about applying and interviewing for jobs.

Noble Desktop also offers a UX & UI Design Certificate. This course covers the fundamentals of both UI and UX design. You’ll learn how to conduct user research and testing. You’ll also learn to design digital products and build clickable prototypes using Figma. In addition, as part of the class, you’ll work on projects that you can include in your design portfolio. The class comes with six one-on-one mentoring sessions.

Another option is the Web Design Certificate, which includes instruction in UI design. In this class, you’ll learn to use Figma for designing UI, you’ll build websites with WordPress, and you’ll work on a variety of coding skills. You’ll also learn how to use Git to track changes in your code and to collaborate with other developers, JavaScript for animation and interaction, and Bootstrap for building layouts. Eight one-on-one mentoring sessions are included.

Noble Desktop also offers classes in Figma, which is a popular UI design tool. The Figma Bootcamp takes a number of days to complete. In this bootcamp, you’ll learn a variety of Figma skills including optimizing designs for mobile, tablet, and desktop screens, extracting image assets, designing on grids, and sharing designs with clients. You’ll also learn to create animations and build interactive prototypes. In addition, the class covers components, and working with team libraries.

Another Figma option is the Figma Masterclass, which will take you from a beginner to an advanced level. In this class, you’ll learn to create UI and UX designs for websites and apps, designing layouts that are optimized for various devices. You’ll also learn to build interactive prototypes, make animations, use components, work with team libraries, and use conditionals.