How do Beginners Learn UX Design?

Learning UX design can be both exciting and daunting for beginners, whether they are learning the basics to improve user satisfaction with their current work or planning to start a new career in UX or product design. To build a solid foundation, new learners must master key skills such as user research, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. Many UX design learners begin with free seminars and tutorials on the websites of software companies like Adobe and professional training schools like Noble Desktop. These resources and other free materials like YouTube videos and podcasts can provide beginners with a high-level introduction to UX design. However, beginners wanting to go deeper than this will want to invest in a UX design class where they can learn through hands-on projects with the guidance and feedback of a live expert instructor.

While free resources offer a valuable starting point, the benefits of enrolling in a structured UX design course are substantial. Beginners often struggle to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, such as conducting effective user research or creating intuitive wireframes. An experienced live instructor can help a new UX learner navigate these challenges, ensuring they not only understand the concepts but can also implement them in real-world situations. Investing in an in-person or live online UX design class like those offered by Noble Desktop accelerates the learning process and equips beginners with the comprehensive skills needed to succeed in the competitive world of UX design. This article will discuss the various options beginners have to learn UX design, including free resources, live classes, and on-demand courses, along with additional information beginners will want to keep in mind as they embark on their learning journey.

Getting Started with UX Design

Before diving into UX design, learners will want to ensure they have access to the necessary physical and digital tools. First, they will want to set up a productive workspace with a reliable computer and high-speed internet so they are ready to access web-based tools, online learning resources, and any online classes they may enroll in. Digital tools UX design learners may wish to invest in include the prototyping tools Figma and Adobe XD. Free trial plans are available for Adobe XD, while Figma provides a free tier sufficient for most beginners. However, UX design learners may need to invest in paid versions of various UX design tools as they progress in their studies.

In addition to securing these tools, UX design beginners will also want to familiarize themselves with foundational terminology and concepts that students will be expected to know before attending a class. Some familiarity with Figma or another prototyping tool is helpful, though not always necessary, when planning to attend a class that covers the ins and outs of this software. Beginners to UX design should also be aware that the field is unique in the design world in that soft communication, data collection, and data analysis skills are all must-haves for professionals working in the field. While UX design classes will cover specific methodologies for user research, usability testing, and analysis of the data they collect, awareness of this aspect of the subject and some broad understanding of these skill sets are helpful foundations for a positive UX design learning experience.

The First Steps when Learning UX Design

Beginners in UX design will master a few core skills, which will serve as the foundation for building a professional level of expertise. Below are some crucial fundamental skills most UX design curricula will cover in the first days of a class.

• User research: Empathy-led user research is the cornerstone of UX design. Learners will learn time-tested methodologies and the latest best practices for systematically investigating users’ needs, behaviors, and preferences. Techniques such as interviewing, surveying, and observing are part of the UX Designer’s toolkit for gathering valuable insights that inform design decisions. User research skills enable designers to create products and experiences that effectively meet user needs, leading to higher satisfaction and usability.

• Iterative design: A cyclical process of prototyping, testing, analyzing, and refining, iterative design defines the essential structure of a UX Designer’s job. Prototyping allows designers to create and test low-fidelity models of a digital interface to inform the development of future high-fidelity versions. Beginners will usually learn the concepts behind each step of this process before learning the detailed how-tos of this proven methodology for solving usability issues early and ensuring that a final product is user-friendly and effective.

• Information architecture: Information architecture (IA) involves organizing and structuring content so users can easily navigate and understand it. Beginners will learn how to create sitemaps, organize content into clear taxonomy structures, inventory content assets, and plan intuitive user flows. IA is a crucial concept of UX design, as well-designed information architecture ensures that users can easily find the content they need, increasing user satisfaction.

Free UX Design Tools for Beginners

Those interested in free resources for beginning their UX design learning journey will find several options online and at their local library. These learning materials can be excellent for providing a broad overview of what UX design is or answering specific questions that a beginner may have at the start of their learning journey. While free resources lack the structure, thoroughness, and benefits that a live instructor provides in an in-person or live online UX design class, they can be helpful supplements in a UX design learner’s education.

• Free tutorials and seminars: Some professional training schools and software companies provide high-quality UX design tutorials and seminars on their websites. While these are sometimes geared toward helping experienced designers target one particular advanced skill, they are often designed for beginners with a broad overview of the subject and its most basic foundational skills. Noble Desktop’s free UX design seminars are an excellent place for beginners to start learning about UX design before deciding which UX design class they will attend.
• Articles and blog posts: Noble Desktop’s collection of UX design articles in their Learn Hub provides a solid introduction to the topic and answers many questions beginners may have. These are excellent resources for UX design learners just getting their feet wet in the subject and can help them map their educational path going forward, ensuring they are heading toward their desired learning goals. Meanwhile, several working UX Designers provide excellent blogs on current trends in the field, the state of the job market, and other information beginners may be curious to explore.
• YouTube videos: YouTube offers a wide variety of videos featuring diverse voices on UX design. Noble Desktop and other professional training schools offer instructional videos on the basics, while vloggers working in the field provide up-to-date information on the industry, trends, tools, and methodologies. These videos are a phenomenal resource at the beginning of an individual’s learning journey and for experienced UX Designers to stay abreast of current happenings in their field. They can also offer alternative perspectives and explanations for students throughout their education.
• Books: Resourceful UX design learners can check their local library for classics on the topic, especially “father of UX design” Don Norman’s The Design of Everyday Things. The latest edition of Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think is another text that will help beginners to start thinking like a designer—and a user, one of the most essential skills of UX design. Some learners may learn better than others from reading, but all will require hands-on learning to master the tools, methodologies, and best practices of UX design.

Live UX Design Training for Beginners

Enrolling in an in-person or live online UX design class offers numerous benefits for any learner. Still, beginners will be exceptionally grateful for their advantages over self-learning or on-demand courses. These are just a few of the perks of learning UX design in a live class.

• Personalized guidance and feedback: A key feature of live UX design classes is their live instructors, who can provide personalized guidance and answer questions in real-time. Their immediate feedback on beginners’ work allows them to catch mistakes quickly, understand complex concepts, and troubleshoot any areas of confusion before they become major stumbling blocks in their learning journey. The human element of live UX design classes ensures that learners receive tailored support, making the learning experience effective and engaging.

• Structured learning path: A quality live class follows a proven curriculum developed by experts with years of UX design experience. The structure created by this curriculum introduces concepts, tools, methodology, and best practices gradually and at a pace designed to minimize overwhelm and maximize understanding and effective skill building. Each lesson builds on the previous one, creating a cohesive learning experience that is often missing when learning in other environments.

• Hands-on projects and real-world scenarios: Many live classes incorporate practical projects featuring challenges simulating those UX Designers encounter in real-world situations. Working on these projects allows beginners to apply theoretical knowledge to hands-on exercises, building their confidence and problem-solving skills as they metabolize the concepts they learn considerably faster than through study alone.

• Collaborative learning environment: Whether in-person or online, live classes foster a sense of community among students. Collaboration with peers through discussions and group projects can reinforce UX design learners’ education with diverse perspectives and insights and boost their soft communication skills. This collaborative environment also helps learners build a professional network, which can be beneficial for future career opportunities.

• Portfolio development support: A strong portfolio is essential for securing a job in UX design. Live career-focused UX design classes often include dedicated portfolio development support by expert instructors who can help students curate their best work and present it effectively. Through impactful case studies and impressive project work, learners can showcase their UX design skills and problem-solving abilities by creating a compelling portfolio that will stand out to prospective employers.

The Next Step

Once beginners have mastered the foundational skills of UX design through introductory classes, they may wish to enroll in an advanced course or even a career-focused comprehensive UX design certificate program or bootcamp. These advanced courses will guide learners deeper into UX design topics, often focusing on specific skills like prototyping techniques, strategy, advanced usability testing, and turning user data into meaningful insights. Students should have a solid understanding of basic UX design principles and tools before enrolling in these advanced classes, which will generally provide a helpful note regarding the prerequisite knowledge they expect participants to have before registering.

Advanced classes are often even more hands-on than introductory courses, allowing students to engage in sophisticated real-world UX design projects and case studies. These exercises enable learners to work on complex UX design strategies, advanced user research techniques, high-fidelity prototypes, and other skills that will help aspiring UX design professionals succeed in their future careers. Junior designers already working in an entry-level UX design position may also wish to enroll in advanced classes to build the knowledge and experience they need to transition into more senior roles or to specialize in a specific area, such as mobile app design or enterprise software.

Career-focused UX design certificate programs and bootcamps are excellent options for either beginner or advanced students who know their end goal is to become UX Designers. These programs typically offer a comprehensive curriculum that covers both foundational and advanced topics, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to be stand-out job candidates by the time they graduate. Available both in-person and online, live UX design certificate programs and bootcamps often feature career support in the form of mentorship, interview preparation, and assistance with portfolio development. These services are invaluable for beginning UX Designers who will need to showcase their skills and make an impression to land their first position in a competitive job market.

Learn UX Design with Noble Desktop

Design and coding school Noble Desktop offers a range of live UX design classes packed with features to help you achieve your learning goals. Noble’s UX & UI Design Certificate program is ideal for beginners looking for a career-focused all-in-one UX design class including introductory and advanced training, career support, and other benefits tailored to fit the needs of aspiring UX Designers. In addition to 132 hours of training in user testing, prototyping, Figma, and the essential concepts, methodologies, and best practices of UX design, your live expert instructor will walk you every step of the way through building a portfolio that showcases your expertise. Tuition covers all this, plus eight one-on-one career support mentorship sessions, a free retake option, and a verified digital certificate of completion. Noble Desktop’s UX & UI Design Certificate is one of the few that is available as either a full-time or part-time program, giving students the option to fit their studies into their current schedules and learn at the pace that best suits their lifestyle.

If your UX design education needs aren’t as extensive as a certificate program, Noble’s UX Design Foundations is a primer on the fundamental principles and processes of user experience. This 12-hour course is ideal for you if you’re interested in exploring the topic to see if you may want to chart a career path in UX design in the future. Professionals working in adjacent careers may also use the UX Design Foundations class to strengthen their understanding of user experience so they can apply the concepts in their current work. Whatever the reason you may wish to master the basics of UX design and research, you can learn them through hands-on exercises, lectures, and discussions in this UX design class.

Noble Desktop also provides short courses and bootcamps in individual UX design tools, such as the Figma Bootcamp. If your next step in your UX design learning journey is to learn Figma quickly and thoroughly, this 12-hour course can equip you to succeed with the industry-standard software. In this class, you’ll learn how to use the powerful application to make user-friendly layouts, create animations, build interactive prototypes, export assets, and perform many other crucial tasks of the UX design workflow. Your tuition for the Figma Bootcamp includes Noble Desktop’s proprietary workbook, a free retake option, and a verified digital certificate of completion.