How to Learn UX & UI

UX & UI design is the practice of designing digital applications with a focus on user ease and experience. The practice involves a combination of technical and creative skills, which have applications in other fields pertaining to graphic design and customer communication. The number of options for learning UX & UI design might be overwhelming at first glance. There are books, video tutorials, classes, and more to choose from; it all depends on your learning style and personal preferences. 

Here, we’ll discuss the various methods of learning UX & UI design so you can make an informed decision about how you’d like to get started.

What is UX & UI Design?

User interface (UI) design involves the development of a digital application’s interface and how it appears to users. Interface designs need to not only look appealing but also effectively communicate information to audiences. UI Designers create graphic assets and use them to build menus and layouts, among other aspects of a user interface. UI design relies heavily on principles of visual and graphic design.

UI design pairs closely with user experience (UX) design. Rather than building the look of a digital application, UX Designers focus on how an application feels to use. A user’s experience should be simple and engaging in ways that allow them to easily navigate the program. UX Designers conduct focused tests and analyze data to understand their audience’s behaviors.

UX & UI Designers work closely together. The fields also overlap so that it’s not uncommon for one designer to fulfill aspects of each role, particularly at small firms. 

Read more about what UX & UI design is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with UX & UI Design?

There are many skills gained through studying UX & UI design. UX & UI designers learn how to identify and solve problems. They form hypotheses, conduct research, engage with customers, analyze data, and build prototypes. They know how to build a long term project plan, follow through, and iterate. Even if not pursuing UX & UI design as a career, the skills gained through studying the field are useful for Department Managers, Project Managers, and entrepreneurs. 

UI design specifically focuses on creating text, images, and graphics and combining them into a digital interface that must be both visually appealing and functional. These skills are essential for marketers and entrepreneurs looking to build websites, social media content, and other digital media.

UX Designers work closely with customers through focus groups, user surveys, and interviews. Many UX Designers spend more time interacting with the public than with their team of designers. Building the skills needed to understand your audience is useful in any field that works closely with people such as hiring, general management, marketing, campaign strategy, and market research, among others.

UX & UI Designers are ultimately responsible for crafting the experiences of the digital products we use in our everyday lives. They work to ensure those experiences are accessible and enjoyable. Choosing to pursue a career in UX & UI Designer can be exciting as these designers play a large role in influencing how the world around us works.

In-Person UX & UI Design Training

There are a number of perks to in-person training. Physical classrooms can eliminate the distractions a student might encounter when learning online. A physical classroom also offers more direct engagement with the instructor. Thus students may feel more inclined to ask for help, or it may be easier for a teacher to identify when a student is struggling. In-person learning also allows students to engage with and learn from each other in a set environment.

There are a number of in-person UX & UI design training options. To truly learn UX & UI design, an individual will need to attend a comprehensive class, likely lasting several weeks. However, short classes, lasting only a day or two, are available. These classes are ideal for beginners wanting an overview of UX or UI design techniques or wishing to learn the fundamentals of an interface design tool. Noble Desktop offers short classes in Sketch, Adobe XD, and UX design fundamentals. These courses are offered in person in NYC at Noble’s Manhattan campus.

Live Online UX & UI Design Training

The main perk of live online training is its availability. Students can learn from anywhere they find convenient, provided they have a reliable internet connection. This removes the commute time from a student's schedule and allows them to learn in an environment that they find comfortable. Online courses also often offer more flexible programs than in-person classrooms, which can work well for parents and workers with busy schedules. In terms of engagement, live online classes try to replicate physical classrooms with hands-on projects and live instructors and students interacting together in real time.

There are a number of live online UX & UI design training options. An individual wishing to jump start a career in UX & UI design will need to attend a comprehensive course, likely lasting several weeks. However, short classes, lasting only a day or two, are available. Noble Desktop offers live online courses in Sketch, Adobe XD, and UX design fundamentals. These classes are ideal for beginners wanting an overview of UX design techniques or wishing to learn the fundamentals of an interface design tool.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

If you’re interested in UX & UI design but aren’t ready to dive into a full course, you can start learning for free online. Some ideal places to start include Noble Desktop’s free Intro to Figma and Intro to UI Design seminars. In these introductory courses, you’ll learn what Figma can do and how its features integrate with UI and UX design. You’ll also learn about UI design, how it relates to UX design, and what the visual design process entails. These courses are perfect for giving you an overview of UX & UI design before deciding to attend a full course.

Free online courses are ideal for beginner learners to start their journey as they often feature overviews of a program. You can find additional free courses through skill-sharing websites such as Youtube, Coursera, or Udemy. While these classes can be valuable and cost-effective for beginners, their main purpose is to provide overviews of a program. Professionals looking to comprehensively learn UX & UI design skills to advance their careers will need to attend more advanced, professional development classes. 

Read about more free UX & UI design videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand UX & UI Design Classes

On-demand and self-paced UX & UI design training options are often free and ideal for students who prefer to learn at their own pace or are too busy to attend regular training sessions. On-demand training on beginner and advanced techniques for UX & UI design is available through skill-sharing websites such as YouTube, Udemy, and Coursera. However, a disadvantage of this method is that students must rely on self-motivation to progress through the material. They also lack an instructor to turn to for guidance if they encounter any problems. Free training is also often out of date.

Which Learning Method is Right for Me?

With so many different resources available to help beginners learn UX & UI design, you might be unsure about which one is best for you. Everyone has different learning styles and preferences, and you can experiment with multiple tools to see which one feels right for you. One of the great things about directing your own learning is that you get to pick which combination of tools you prefer; you don’t have to stick with what a teacher chooses.

It’s also essential to consider your current schedule before selecting a learning method. If you have a lot of responsibilities like a full-time job or family commitments, you may not be able to devote time to a structured course that requires you to attend at the same time every day. In this case, a self-paced class or video tutorials may be better since you can access them when your schedule allows. On the other hand, those with a more flexible schedule may prefer a structured course offered in-person or live online. 

Why Learn UX & UI Design?

In today’s digital world, a company’s digital presence is paramount for customer outreach. However, possessing a website or mobile app that is unappealing or difficult to use can be worse than having nothing at all. UX & UI Designers are needed across industries to build accessible web applications that create memorable impressions and drive conversions. This makes UX & UI design a lucrative and extremely versatile field for individuals of nearly any interest. Demand for UX & UI Designers continues to grow.

If you’re unsure about pursuing an education in UX & UI, doing so can still aid in honing digital skills applicable to a variety of professions. Graphic and visual design skills learned through UI design are essential for nearly any digital career, such as marketing, digital design, graphic designers, and freelancing. UX design teaches techniques in behavior research, research planning, data analytics, and product testing. These skills are useful for careers in project management, product development, software development, and marketing. Data analysis training in UX design can be a stepping stone to more advanced careers in data science. Learning UI design could lead to a career in more creative graphic design careers. The UX & UI design field is truly versatile and valuable. 

Read more about why you should learn UX & UI design.

Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost 

UX & UI design can be fairly simple to start learning but difficult to master. There are a number of UI design tools that are used for creating illustrations, manipulating photos, building prototypes, and designing experiences. UX design requires learning how to collect and analyze data and research user behavior. Each of these skills can be picked up by novices individually. However, mastering all of them collectively to pursue a career in UX & UI design can be rather challenging due to the many different aspects of training required. 

There are no upfront costs to begin learning UX & UI design as free resources and seminars are available. However, those who wish to master design concepts to start a new career will need to attend professional classes. Comprehensive courses that teach UX & UI design as combined topics generally cost from $3,000-$5,000. Outside of class, there are a number of tools used by UX & UI Designers. Common tools include Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, and Sketch. All of these programs cost money if not provided through your job or school.

There are no required prerequisites to begin learning UX & UI design or attend professional classes other than basic computer comprehension skills. Students who know a little about graphic design principles or basic HTML and JavaScript coding will feel more comfortable when faced with UX & UI design concepts and tools. 

Read about how difficult it is to learn UX & UI design.

Learn UX & UI Design with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

If you’re interested in learning UX & UI design, Noble Desktop offers several classes for you to choose from. These classes are available both in-person and live online. Classes are small and are taught by instructors who are experts in their fields. Free retake options are also available. 

In Noble’s UX & UI Design Certificate program, you’ll learn both UX & UI design concepts, build a professional portfolio, and gain one-on-one job preparation assistance. This is the perfect course to jump start a new career. Additionally, you may wish to enroll in the Figma Bootcamp. While Figma is taught in the UX & UI Design Certificate, the bootcamp dives in depth into the program. You’ll thoroughly learn the leading application for interface design from beginner to advanced techniques applicable to both UX & UI design. 

Additional classes can be found through the Visual Design and UX Design categories. The UI Design Certificate teaches graphic and interface design for websites and mobile applications. You’ll also learn essential software used by professionals including Figma, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator. The Digital Design Certificate teaches design techniques for web, print, and mobile. You’ll learn Figma for interface design along with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for designing digital and print materials. The Visual Design Portfolio Bootcamp teaches interface design through hands-on and multi-project courses. You’ll need to feel comfortable using Figma before enrolling in this course. 

Whether you know you want to start a career in UX & UI design or want to explore how UI design principles can be utilized in more graphically inclined careers, Noble Desktop has the classes you are looking for.

Key Insights

• In-person training features professional instructors and comprehensive learning.
• Live online training shares the benefits of in-person training without the commute.
• On-demand training allows you to work at your own pace but with little direction.
• Free courses and tutorials can be great resources to start your learning journey.
• Those looking to advance or start a new career would gain the most from professional training. 
• Ultimately, only you can choose the training method that is best for you.
• You can receive comprehensive UX & UI design training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.