Forester’s study reveals that a good UI can increase a website’s conversion rate by 200%, and a better UX can boost it by 400%.
This surge in performance is why the demand for UI/UX designers is on the rise.
If you’re considering entering this creative and lucrative field but don’t know where to begin, you are in the right place.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to become UI UX designer by breaking the process into simple steps.
Whether you are a complete beginner or someone with a bit of design experience, our guide is your key to building a successful career in UI UX design.
What Is UI Design?
UI and UX have become popular topics, but many people are unfamiliar with their meanings. UI, or User Interface, involves designing the visual elements that users see on screens. The goal is to make these screens visually appealing to capture users’ attention.
UI design focuses on combining typography, colours, and graphics to create attractive interfaces. It’s all about making things look great and user-friendly to enhance the overall experience.
What Is UX Design?
UX, short for User Experience, is all about crafting a user-friendly experience for a product. The main goal is to create a smooth and intuitive flow on the screen, aligning with how users naturally think.
UX design follows the human-first design approach, prioritizing the user’s perspective, behaviours, and ideas. It makes everything clear and straightforward for users, enabling easy navigation and helping them achieve their goals efficiently.
What Is A UI Designer?
A UI Designer is responsible for designing the visual elements of digital interfaces. They create layouts, choose colors, typography, and graphics to make websites and apps visually appealing and easy to navigate. UI Designers craft the look and feel of the digital experience, ensuring user satisfaction.
What Is A UX Designer?
A UX Designer is a specialist responsible for enhancing the overall user experience with a product, such as a website or app. They conduct user research, create wireframes and prototypes, and design the product’s structure to ensure it is intuitive and user-friendly. Their goal is to make the user’s journey enjoyable and efficient while meeting their needs.
How to Become UI UX Designer
If you are wondering how to become UI UX Designer, follow these steps:
Step 1: Educational Background
While formal education isn’t a strict requirement, enrolling in design-related courses or obtaining a degree in fields like graphic design, interaction design, or human-computer interaction can provide a solid foundation. This formal education will cultivate your ability to critically evaluate aesthetics and establish a solid groundwork in design thinking.
Step 2: Online Courses
For a more efficient and cost-effective route, consider UI/UX design online courses. These programs provide hands-on training, focusing on UI/UX design skills and tools. Platforms like Hirist, Coursera, Udemy, and General Assembly offer comprehensive UI/UX design programs taught by industry professionals.
Step 3: Self-Study and Online Resources
UI/UX design thrives on continuous learning and self-improvement. Access a wealth of free online resources, such as tutorials, blogs, and design communities, covering design principles, user research, wireframing, prototyping, and more. Platforms like YouTube, Medium, and Behance are invaluable for expanding your knowledge and skill set.
Step 4: Familiarize Yourself with Various Platforms and Design Systems
Platforms like iOS, Windows, and Android have distinct design styles. You can find open-source design systems online, such as Google’s Material Design, Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, and Microsoft’s Fluent Design system.
These systems provide insights into platform layouts and design elements. Design systems are valuable because they encompass various components, style guides, and design patterns, forming a comprehensive design framework.
Step 5: Master Design Tools
Familiarize yourself with design software such as Adobe XD, Sketch, Figma, or other relevant tools. These tools are essential for creating design mockups, prototypes, and final designs.
Step 6: Practice & Practice
Learning and reading alone won’t make you a UI designer. You must put your knowledge into practice. Online UI challenges are great opportunities to start designing. You can also pick poorly designed apps or websites and redesign them. Consistent practice enhances creativity and problem-solving skills, leading to becoming a more proficient designer over time.
Step 7: Expand Your Network
Attend design-related events, conferences, and webinars to connect with fellow designers and stay updated on industry trends. Building a professional network can open doors to job opportunities and collaborations.
Step 8: Create an Impressive Portfolio
Your portfolio is a collection of your best work. Create case studies that detail your design process, the problems you solved, and the impact of your work. A strong portfolio is essential for showcasing your skills and landing job opportunities.
Step 9: Integrate Feedback
UI design revolves around crafting efficient, pixel-perfect designs. Feedback is invaluable, as it streamlines the user experience and helps designers achieve their goals seamlessly. By embracing user or expert feedback and continuously refining designs, the likelihood of reducing errors and enhancing user satisfaction with the product increases over time.
Step 10: Job Search and Career Opportunities
After establishing a robust portfolio and honing your skills, begin your quest for UI design positions. Seek job openings at design agencies, tech firms, or startups. UI design offers diverse career paths, from specializing in mobile app or web design to branching into UX design or managerial roles.
Hirist is an online platform that connects you to more than fifty thousand recruiters from the leading tech companies in India. You can use this website to find suitable UI UX Designer jobs.
Skills Required to Become a UI UX Designer
If you’re aspiring to become a UI/UX Designer, these key skills are essential:
- UX Research
Proficiency in collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative user data through thorough research.
- Wireframing & Prototyping
Mastery in transforming concepts into tangible designs through wireframing and prototyping.
- Creative Thinking
The ability to creatively tackle complex problems and devise innovative solutions is a fundamental skill for UX designers.
- Typography & Color
A deep understanding of typography and colour is essential for creating visually appealing and aesthetic user interfaces.
- Communication
Effective communication, both verbal and non-verbal, is crucial for articulating design decisions and reasoning.
- Product Thinking and Analytics
Constantly monitoring and testing usability data to enhance the user experience, as well as evaluating designs based on analytics, is integral for UI/UX designers.
How to Become UI UX Designer After 12th
To become a UI/UX designer after completing high school (12th grade), you can follow these steps:
1. Choose a relevant bachelor’s degree, like Graphic Design or Computer Science.
2. Learn design software and build skills in graphic design, user research, and prototyping.
3. Take online courses and work on personal design projects.
4. Join design communities and attend workshops for networking.
5. Gain experience through internships or part-time jobs.
6. Create a portfolio showcasing your work.
7. Apply for entry-level UI/UX design positions.
8. Stay updated with industry trends and consider specialization or further education.
How to Become a UI UX Designer with No Experience
Becoming a UI/UX designer with no experience can be challenging, but it’s certainly possible. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
1. Learn the basics online.
2. Take UI/UX design courses.
3. Practice by working on personal projects.
4. Seek feedback and critique from others.
5. Attend design events and network.
6. Apply for entry-level positions or internships.
7. Build a portfolio showcasing your work.
8. Keep learning and adapt to industry trends.
How to Learn UI UX Design for Free
If you are wondering how to learn UI UX for free, here are some great learning resources available:
· Online Tutorials and Courses
Platforms like YouTube, Hirist, Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy offer free UI/UX design tutorials and courses.
· Websites and Blogs
Explore websites like Medium, Smashing Magazine, and Nielsen Norman Group for informative articles and blogs.
· Free Design Tools
Utilize free design software like Figma, Adobe XD (free version), or InVision for hands-on experience.
· Open Source Projects
Contribute to open-source design projects to gain practical experience and collaborate with other designers.
· Webinars and Podcasts
Attend webinars and listen to design-related podcasts for insights from industry experts.
· Personal Projects
Work on personal design projects to build your portfolio and apply your learning.
Conclusion
Becoming a UI/UX designer is a rewarding journey of creativity and problem-solving. Follow the steps we’ve outlined, practice, build a stellar portfolio, and continuously learn. To kickstart your career, explore the best UI/UX courses and job opportunities on Hirist, the ultimate platform for aspiring designers. Your path to success in the UI/UX design world begins here.
FAQs
How to become a UI Designer after 10th?
After 10th, focus on your 12th-grade education, choose a design-related field, like graphic design, for your bachelor’s degree, and continue to build skills in design software and principles to become a UI designer.
Is Google UX design certificate worth it?
Yes, the Google UX Design Certificate is worth it for beginners and those seeking an affordable way to start a career in UX design. You don’t need any relevant experience for Google Career Certificates UX Design.
How to learn UI UX Design from scratch?
To learn UI/UX design from scratch, start with online courses and tutorials, practice on personal projects, gather feedback, and gradually build a strong portfolio.
How to become a User Experience Designer in 3 months?
If you are wondering how to become a UX designer in 3 months, immerse yourself in online courses, focus on core UX principles, practice intensively, and build a compact portfolio.