Is 30 Too Old to Learn UI Design?

If you’re in your thirties and planning to learn UI design, there’s no reason to worry about your age. You can start learning UI design at any age. In fact, some people argue that you may be more likely to thrive as a UI Designer when you start learning in your thirties, because you have had more time to develop the confidence and skills that can help you succeed in this career. No matter what your age, UI design skills can lead to a secure, lucrative, and fulfilling career. Keep reading for more information about how long it takes to learn UI design, and some tips about making the learning process easier.

Why Learn UI Design at 30?

UI design is an in-demand field, offering strong job prospects and good job security, making it a valuable career to pursue at any age. There are millions of different websites and mobile applications in existence, with the number growing larger every day. The visual and interactive elements for these websites and apps are created by UI Designers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a government agency that reports a variety of U.S. labor market statistics, web development and digital design jobs--a category that includes UI design--are experiencing strong growth, and will continue to do so in the future. The agency predicts that jobs in this field will grow by 16 percent over the next ten years, which is significantly faster than the average U.S. job growth rate of 3 percent. 

According to BLS, two main factors are driving this growth. One is ecommerce. The agency says, “Employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow as ecommerce continues to expand. As retail firms keep increasing their online offerings, demand for these workers is expected to grow.” In addition to ecommerce, BLS reports that growing reliance on mobile devices is creating demand for Web Developers and Digital Designers. It says, “The continued use of mobile devices to search the web is expected to generate demand for web developers and digital designers to create websites and interfaces that work on mobile devices with many different screen sizes.” The average salary for a UI designer is between $89,000 and $91,000 per year.

How Long Will it Take to Learn UI Design?

The amount of time it takes to learn UI design depends on your experience, your education, and your goals, but in general, you can learn some fundamental skills within a few months, and you’ll be able to work on some simple projects. You should be able to get a basic understanding of the principles of design, such as how things like color and typography work. To be a UI Designer, you’ll need to develop an understanding of what design elements work and why they do. You can also be able to start learning about human psychology--or how users think--since UI design is about meeting the wants and needs of your users. This includes things like knowing how to encourage users to make certain choices, and understanding how different structures, colors, and other design elements influence users. It also includes developing empathy, which means being able to put yourself in users’ shoes.

Within a few months, you can also get fairly comfortable with some of the tools that you’ll need to use. UI Designers use a variety of different applications, such as Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD to create and modify designs and prototypes. They also use graphic design programs like Adobe Photoshop for creating visual elements. Finally, applications play an important role in collaboration, allowing team members to work together to create a final design.

For most people though, it takes a number of years to really master UI design. If you already have web development or design experience, you’re likely to learn a lot more quickly than if you’re a beginner. Knowing design applications like Figma and Adobe design apps can also speed up the process. Another factor that will influence how much you can learn in three months is how you learn. Self-teaching is usually much slower than taking a live class. If you do take a class, a full-time one will help you progress more quickly than a part-time option.

Ways to Make Learning UI Design Easier and Quicker

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.

Some UI design classes come in both full-time and part-time options. With a full-time class, you can focus all of your attention on learning and complete your training as quickly as possible. However, if you have a busy schedule or other obligations, then a part-time program can be a good alternative because it allows you to learn at the same time as holding a job or meeting other obligations. In addition, with a part-time class, you’ll have more time to absorb all the new information you’re gaining, practice your editing skills, and develop a portfolio of projects. You can also spread out the cost of your education over a longer period of time. Further, when you learn part-time you may also have more time to accrue relevant work experience.

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.