How to Become A UX Designer
According to Glassdoor, a user experience (UX) designer is one of the top 25 jobs with a 10-year growth rate of 23% and income ranging from $76,000 to $125,000.
Given this boom and the lucrative nature of the field, professionals and students alike are wondering how to become UX designers. And this is precisely what we will explore together today in this write-up.
To become a UX designer, one not only requires UX design experience but also aesthetics for graphic design, market research, and psychology, among other talents. While many UX designers begin their careers in web design or development, anybody with a background in a relevant subject may learn the skills required to become a UX designer.
In this article, we will go through how to become a UX designer without experience, how long it takes, and what qualities you need to get hired.
So, let us start right away!
7 Simple Steps to Become A UX Designer In 2023
To many, it might seem that becoming a UX designer is an impossible journey or requires decades. To correct these misconceptions, we have listed down a step-by-approach to help you answer the question of how to become a UX designer.
- Take A Course in UX Design
- Make Some Designs on Your Own
- Obtain Some Practical Experience
- Establish A Portfolio
- Network
- Apply for UX Designer Jobs
- Continue to Learn
1. Take A Course in UX Design
Almost 70+ UX-related Bachelor’s degrees are available at colleges in the US. These degrees include Interface Design, Information Architecture, and Digital Design. Most take 2 to 4 years to finish.
If you want a speedier and more flexible solution and do not earn a degree in UX design, consider taking one of these best online UX design courses. Numerous online learning platforms provide certificates that make your profile and skillset stand out.
You could also take a course in UX design or enroll in a relevant bootcamp to enhance your skills. Such courses and learning opportunities will help you polish your UX design potential and thus make you more attractive to not only employers but increase gig opportunities as a freelance as well.
Check out the best online learning platforms to help you select where you want to enroll to take a relevant course or earn a certification.
2. Make Some Designs on Your Own
Typically, you will finish at least one project throughout a UX design school or bootcamp. You should continue to create designs outside of the course or bootcamp to gain as much expertise as possible with various tools and types of designs.
After you are satisfied with your designs, consider posting them on sites like Behance and Dribbble to gain exposure and comments. This might be an excellent approach to begin creating your portfolio and network in the UX design community.
Not only that, but we also recommend that if you are taking on the role of a UX designer, just do not stop at the jobs that come your way. Start freelancing or designing some samples to practice and show your creativity.
3. Obtain Some Practical Experience
Consider a design internship or freelancing employment to put your abilities to the test. This will be a valuable experience for your CV and a terrific opportunity to expand your network.
Most significantly, it will assist you in developing strong project management, teamwork, and communication skills. These soft abilities are equally as vital as the technical skills that a UX designer must possess.
Internship and freelancing opportunities can be found on websites such as LinkedIn and Upwork. You can also look at other job posting groups and social media to help trace employment and internship opportunities.
4. Establish A Portfolio
The next step on your journey how to be a UX designer is having your portfolio in place. Portfolios not only help you ensure that your work is all in one place and presented professionally, but they are also very significant in presenting your skill set and employability.
They illustrate all the work a designer has performed and complement all the experience provided on a CV. Therefore, including a range of samples in your portfolio is critical, with as much of the process drawn out as feasible.
Demo work and work performed for clients or a firm during a freelance stint or internship should be included in your portfolio. This is critical for highlighting your abilities and processes for enhancing user experience and your effect. In addition, provide the outcomes of the job you accomplished and any testimonials you may have.
5. Network
Networking is vital because it may lead to discovering mentors and career prospects. Reaching out to seasoned designers with more experience working in the sector may give significant insights into becoming a UX designer without experience. You may find out which technologies are ideal for learning, what trends are emerging, and much more. If you establish a strong relationship with them, they may even tell you about employment possibilities at their company and suggest you.
Join a design community like Design Buddies to locate designers with the talents and experiences you seek.
6. Apply for UX Designer Jobs
You are ready to start applying for jobs with your degree/certification, experience, and portfolio. There are hundreds or thousands of UX designer job advertisements on LinkedIn, indeed, and Glassdoor. Indeed, for example, it presently has around 5000+ UX designer opportunities.
Several titles in the UX design area stress various skill sets, such as coding, content strategy, or usability. Look for any of the following titles in your job search, but be sure to read the descriptions and qualifications to see if it corresponds with your talents and interests:
- UX Designer
- Visual Designer
- UX Architect
- UX Researcher
- UX Engineer
7. Continue to Learn
Once you have landed a position as a UX designer, you must continue studying to develop your abilities, create new design solutions, and keep up with current trends and tools. You may accomplish this on your own by reading and designing your portfolio website, or you can continue to attend design classes.
Search for classes specializing in a topic or area of your field in which you lack experience, such as graphic designing. And then, you can look for the best visual design courses to take to enhance and build your competencies.
How to Become a UX Designer – FAQs
How Do I Start a Career in UX Design?
You can follow the steps that we have mentioned in this article to start a career in UX Design. First and foremost, you need to get a relevant degree in this field at the college level. If you’re already a college graduate, you should look into online UX design courses or bootcamps to help you kickstart your career.
How Long Does It Take To Become a UX Designer?
On average, it takes around 4 years to become a UX designer, that is, a four-year Bachelor’s degree in UX design or visual design. However, if you are already a college graduate, you should take anywhere from 10 weeks to 6 months to become a UX designer through online courses and bootcamps.
Can I Learn UX Design on My Own?
Yes, you can learn UX design independently through online resources, tutorials, and courses. Practicing and building your portfolio with new designs and your creativity also helps in further polishing this skill.
Is It Hard to Become A UX Designer In 2023?
No, it is not. If you take on suitable courses and practice with focus and determination, then becoming a UX designer in 2023 is not difficult.
Conclusion
We hope that through this write-up, we were able to guide you on how to become a UX designer. Because UX designers must understand how programs function and how people think, their skills are diverse, ranging from coding to comprehending responsive design to user research and testing, among other things. Therefore, no one step or suggestion mentioned in this blog is a MUST.
Everyone’s journey is different and might require additional or fewer inputs. Also, developing the necessary abilities may take some time, but there are no official qualifications or a single path to becoming a UX designer. That implies that anyone can make a good living as a UX designer. So why shouldn’t you?
So, explore, focus, and begin this journey of becoming a UX designer with zeal. We wish you the best of luck in your journey to becoming a UX designer!
