Dear Beginner UX Designer: An Honest and Encouraging Guide to Navigating Your Journey

Dear Beginner UX Designer,

We want to start off by saying: we get it. If you haven't started your journey yet, we understand it can feel overwhelming and like there is so much to learn. And if you have already started your journey, you’ve likely already noticed how much there is to you. Becoming a UX Designer is a lot of hard work, and it certainly won't happen overnight, but you CAN make it happen. It IS possible and that’s why we made this blog post! We hope this post provides you with some honest advice, encouragement, and support on the incredible journey you’re about to embark on or are already embarking on.

If you’ve already started your journey and are already learning about UX Design, you might be able to skip the next section.

How to Learn UX Design

In general, there are three ways to learn UX Design. However, keep in mind that you won’t learn everything through one method. Most people coming up in UX Design learn through a combination of methods. Here are the main three:

1. College / University Programs
2. Bootcamp Programs
3. Self-Taught Methods

Different methods are good for different people. There are so many factors that one should account for when evaluating these methods. We broke these factors down in this blog post:

Coming Up In Tech: Your Guide to Learning About Technology, Design, and Product

And since everyone talks so much about bootcamps, we wrote a blog post specifically about bootcamps and whether or not you should attend one. Read that post here:

Should You Attend a Bootcamp? An Honest Guide for Tech & Design Beginners

With that said, as we always say, the learning journey doesn’t end once the bootcamp program does. The learning journey begins once the bootcamp program ends. Never stop learning. This may seem overwhelming in itself. Keep in mind that even senior practitioners are “always learning” because this field is ever-evolving. It’s not just you! We are all always keeping up with the latest and greatest.

Skills to Learn

Now let's talk about the skills you'll need to develop along the way. There are two main categories: hard skills and soft skills. It’s not that simple but we’re keeping it that simple for now.

Hard skills include understanding user research, design strategy, ideation, information architecture, wireframing, design, prototyping, usability testing, and other related technical concepts and skills. There are countless ways to learn these skills as we outlined in the previous section. Keep in mind there’s a different between learning and understanding hard skills and actually being able to practice the hard skills. Watching a video once teaching you how to use Figma doesn’t make you an experienced Designer. The key in UX Design is repetition and iteration. Practice, practice, practice! If you find yourself underwhelmed by your output, then focus less on your output and focus more on your input.

Where many tend to fall short is that they over-index on hard skills and forget to pay attention to soft skills. So much of what we do as UX professionals is depending on strong soft skills. These soft skills include collaboration, communication, presentation, storytelling, problem-solving, teamwork, and more. In fact, we’ll go as far as to say that when interviewing beginners, it may be easier to pick up on soft skills than it is to pick up on hard skills. So don’t forget to practice some of these key skills as well!

Immerse Yourself in the Field of UX

It’s super important to engage with the community, connect with others, and stay up to date with the latest and greatest as you navigate your come up. We like to think about this as immersing yourself in the field. Especially as many are learning UX remotely, it can end up feeling like a lonely or isolating experience. We highly advise counteracting this by immersing yourself in the space.

Here are some ideas for how you can do so:

Attend Events and Meetups

Going to events and meetups is a fantastic way to learn from others and build connections in the UX Design community. These gatherings provide a relaxed environment to share ideas, experiences, and insights with like-minded individuals.

Attend Workshops and Online Seminars

Workshops and online seminars are excellent platforms to expand your current and developing UX Design knowledge and skills. They often offer hands-on learning experiences and expert guidance that can help you improve your craft.

P.S. We offer seminars every month. Check out our seminars page for more information by clicking here: Rita Lab Seminars

Join a Community

Becoming part of a Design or Tech community can be incredibly beneficial, as it provides support, resources, and opportunities for collaboration. Engaging with peers can help you grow, solve problems, and stay motivated on your journey.

You can start by joining ours 🙂 We think we have one of the best communities, but we’re bias 😉 You can join our community by joining our Discord server. You can do so by clicking here: Rita Lab Discord Server

Stay Up to Date with the Latest in the Field

Keeping up with the latest trends, tools, and techniques in UX Design ensures you stay relevant and informed. Regularly read blogs, follow industry leaders on social media, and subscribe to newsletters to stay in the loop.

Here are some email newsletters we recommend: Design Newsletters

Here are some podcasts we recommend: Design Podcasts

Network and Meet UX Professionals

Connecting with experienced UX professionals can provide invaluable insights and advice for your career development. Networking can also open doors to new opportunities, mentorship, and collaborations.

If anyone would like to meet with me personally, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @michaelmakesco!

Find Your People

Surrounding yourself with individuals who share your passion for UX Design can make a world of a difference. These connections can offer encouragement, feedback, and inspiration, helping you to grow and thrive in the UX community. We highly recommend to not go at it alone. Even if you start by yourself, eventually find people who will support you and motivate you.

Navigating the UX Designer Roles

As you progress in your journey, you'll discover that there are many different types of UX Designer roles, both generalist and specialist. The kind of UX Designer you aspire to become will determine the specific skills and experiences you’ll need to focus on. So, take the time to explore the various paths in UX Design and find the ones that resonate with you.

Check out our breakdown of the different UX roles: UX Roles

Resumes, Portfolios, Cover Letters, Oh My!

Resumes, portfolios, and cover letters are essential components of any UX designer's job application toolkit. A resume is a concise document that highlights your relevant work experience, education, and skills, providing a snapshot of your professional background. Portfolios, on the other hand, showcase your design projects, demonstrating your creative process, problem-solving abilities, and design expertise through unique case studies. Finally, a cover letter is a personalized introduction, detailing your interest in the position, how your skills align with the job requirements, and what makes you a strong candidate. Together, these elements help paint a comprehensive picture of your abilities and potential as a UX designer, making them crucial for landing that dream job. These won’t come together overnight, but they will come together. Trust the process!

We’ll be sharing a new blog post soon on the projects you want to make sure to include in your portfolio. Stay tuned!

Overcoming a Saturated Job Market and Mass Layoffs

We must be honest: the job market for UX Designers is currently quite saturated, and the tech industry has seen its share of layoffs. This reality may make finding jobs more challenging, but remember that it's still possible to succeed in this field. Many designers make common mistakes, like not tailoring their learning to their goals, not working on projects that align with their objectives, and not investing in their personal brands. If you can avoid these pitfalls and put in the hard work, you'll be well on our way to standing out and succeeding as a UX Designer.

We wrote a blog post expanding on these ideas. Check it out here: Coming Up in Tech and Design in 2023 Amidst Layoffs, Economic Instability, Reprioritizations, and AI Advancements

You Got This

With all of the above in mind, our main point in this blog post is this: the journey of becoming a UX Designer is not easy. It will be filled with challenges, but it is possible! Not only is it possible to eventually get hired, but it's also possible to find great success in this field. No, UX Design isn’t for everyone in that everyone won’t love UX as a profession. But anyone can learn these skills especially if your background, personal skills, interests, and goals align with what you can accomplish as a UX Designer. So dedicate yourself to learning, staying connected with the UX community, working on the right projects, putting together awesome materials, and develop your personal brand. The job market may be saturated and layoffs may be taking place, but your hard work and determination will help you stand out and achieve your dreams. Keep pushing forward, and never give up – the effort will pay off. We promise.

Wishing you all the best of luck in our UX Design journey!