8 answers
Briana
Student
Richmond, Virginia
1
Question
Asked
910 views
how to break through UX design?
How do I start and or break into UX design? Also having a hard time getting any type of job in the art world without graphic design experience, where do I start? I am a recent graduate with a BFA.
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8 answers
Isabel Dominguez
Student
98
Answers
Corning, California
Updated
Isabel’s Answer
Hi Briana,
Kickstart your journey in UX design by building a portfolio that showcases your unique skills and value to potential clients. It's all about demonstrating your understanding of user experience principles. You can brush up on your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest tools, like Sketch, Adobe XD, and Figma, by taking online courses or participating in workshops.
Don't forget to make connections! LinkedIn is a great platform for networking, and attending local meetups with other UX design professionals can open up new opportunities. Consider applying for internships at companies that prioritize user-centered design, or look for entry-level positions.
Freelancing can also be a great way to gain practical experience and add more projects to your portfolio. If you're interested in graphic design jobs, internships, freelancing, or even volunteering can help you build a robust portfolio.
Networking is equally important in the art world. Connect with local artists, galleries, and art organizations to find opportunities and possibly even a mentor. You've got this, Briana!
Kickstart your journey in UX design by building a portfolio that showcases your unique skills and value to potential clients. It's all about demonstrating your understanding of user experience principles. You can brush up on your skills and stay up-to-date with the latest tools, like Sketch, Adobe XD, and Figma, by taking online courses or participating in workshops.
Don't forget to make connections! LinkedIn is a great platform for networking, and attending local meetups with other UX design professionals can open up new opportunities. Consider applying for internships at companies that prioritize user-centered design, or look for entry-level positions.
Freelancing can also be a great way to gain practical experience and add more projects to your portfolio. If you're interested in graphic design jobs, internships, freelancing, or even volunteering can help you build a robust portfolio.
Networking is equally important in the art world. Connect with local artists, galleries, and art organizations to find opportunities and possibly even a mentor. You've got this, Briana!
Ji Sun Stetson
Principal Product Designer
3
Answers
Mission Viejo, California
Updated
Ji Sun’s Answer
Hi Briana
Even though you have a BFA, taking online courses through learning platforms like Coursera or the Interaction Design Foundation will really help you get the fundamentals down. They cover everything from understanding user needs to crafting user-friendly interfaces. Plus, many online courses incorporate tool training and even help you start building your own portfolio, which is super important.
When you're ready to work on your portfolio, think about any apps or websites you use that could be better. Tackling a redesign as a case study can be a fantastic way to showcase your skills.
As for design tools, Figma and Sketch are big in the UX world. If you're not familiar with them, there are tons of free tutorials out there that can get you up to speed quickly.
Also, connecting with mentors can be a game changer. Check out ADPList.com where you can find experienced UX designers willing to give advice and help guide your career.
Hope this gets you started on the right foot!
Even though you have a BFA, taking online courses through learning platforms like Coursera or the Interaction Design Foundation will really help you get the fundamentals down. They cover everything from understanding user needs to crafting user-friendly interfaces. Plus, many online courses incorporate tool training and even help you start building your own portfolio, which is super important.
When you're ready to work on your portfolio, think about any apps or websites you use that could be better. Tackling a redesign as a case study can be a fantastic way to showcase your skills.
As for design tools, Figma and Sketch are big in the UX world. If you're not familiar with them, there are tons of free tutorials out there that can get you up to speed quickly.
Also, connecting with mentors can be a game changer. Check out ADPList.com where you can find experienced UX designers willing to give advice and help guide your career.
Hope this gets you started on the right foot!
Steven Weintraub
User Experience
5
Answers
Monroe Township, New Jersey
Updated
Steven’s Answer
Build a portfolio of your work. Volunteer work is fine as long as it inspires you to create exciting work.
Build deep skills in various tools such as Figma
Browse jobs on LinkedIn and see what kinds of skills are in demand now.
Be persistent!
Build deep skills in various tools such as Figma
Browse jobs on LinkedIn and see what kinds of skills are in demand now.
Be persistent!
Rebecca Phillips
Senior Product Designer
6
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Rebecca’s Answer
Internships and volunteering are great ways to start building a portfolio. See if your favorite nonprofits need help. Try connecting with a coder group through meetup maybe there is a project you can help with
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
5667
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Briana,
me - my programming in art and health
52 years experience
https://www.youtube.com/user/yimi90125/videos
AI
Breaking into UX Design and Starting a Career in the Art World
1. Understand UX Design: To break into UX design, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of what UX design entails. User Experience (UX) design focuses on creating meaningful and relevant experiences for users when they interact with products or services. Familiarize yourself with the principles, processes, and tools used in UX design.
2. Gain Relevant Skills:
Education: Since you have a BFA, you already have a foundation in art and design. Consider taking courses or obtaining certifications specifically related to UX design to enhance your skill set.
Portfolio Development: Start building a portfolio that showcases your projects related to UX design. This could include case studies, wireframes, prototypes, and any other relevant work that demonstrates your understanding of user-centered design.
3. Networking and Building Connections:
Attend Events: Participate in industry events, workshops, and conferences related to UX design. Networking with professionals in the field can open up opportunities for mentorship and job prospects.
Online Communities: Join online platforms like LinkedIn groups or UX design forums to connect with other professionals and stay updated on industry trends.
4. Gain Experience:
Internships or Freelancing: Consider internships or freelance projects in UX design to gain practical experience. This can help you build your portfolio and demonstrate your skills to potential employers.
Volunteer Work: Offer your services for non-profit organizations or community projects that require UX design assistance. This can be a valuable way to gain experience while contributing to meaningful causes.
5. Transitioning from Graphic Design: If you are finding it challenging to secure jobs in the art world without graphic design experience, consider the following steps:
Skill Transfer: Highlight transferable skills from your graphic design background that are relevant to UX design, such as visual communication, layout design, and understanding of aesthetics.
Additional Training: Consider taking courses or workshops specifically focused on bridging graphic design skills with UX design principles.
Portfolio Adjustment: Modify your portfolio to showcase projects that emphasize your ability to transition from graphic design to UX design effectively.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used in Answering this Question:
Nielsen Norman Group: Known for their expertise in user experience research and consulting, Nielsen Norman Group provides valuable insights into best practices in UX design.
Interaction Design Foundation: A reputable online platform offering courses and resources on interaction design, usability, and user experience.
Adobe XD Ideas: Adobe XD Ideas is a platform that offers inspiration, tutorials, and resources for designers working on user experience projects using Adobe XD software.
By following these steps and leveraging resources from authoritative sources like those mentioned above, you can start building a successful career in UX design while navigating the challenges of transitioning from a BFA background without graphic design experience.
God Bless You,
JC.
me - my programming in art and health
52 years experience
https://www.youtube.com/user/yimi90125/videos
AI
Breaking into UX Design and Starting a Career in the Art World
1. Understand UX Design: To break into UX design, it’s essential to have a solid understanding of what UX design entails. User Experience (UX) design focuses on creating meaningful and relevant experiences for users when they interact with products or services. Familiarize yourself with the principles, processes, and tools used in UX design.
2. Gain Relevant Skills:
Education: Since you have a BFA, you already have a foundation in art and design. Consider taking courses or obtaining certifications specifically related to UX design to enhance your skill set.
Portfolio Development: Start building a portfolio that showcases your projects related to UX design. This could include case studies, wireframes, prototypes, and any other relevant work that demonstrates your understanding of user-centered design.
3. Networking and Building Connections:
Attend Events: Participate in industry events, workshops, and conferences related to UX design. Networking with professionals in the field can open up opportunities for mentorship and job prospects.
Online Communities: Join online platforms like LinkedIn groups or UX design forums to connect with other professionals and stay updated on industry trends.
4. Gain Experience:
Internships or Freelancing: Consider internships or freelance projects in UX design to gain practical experience. This can help you build your portfolio and demonstrate your skills to potential employers.
Volunteer Work: Offer your services for non-profit organizations or community projects that require UX design assistance. This can be a valuable way to gain experience while contributing to meaningful causes.
5. Transitioning from Graphic Design: If you are finding it challenging to secure jobs in the art world without graphic design experience, consider the following steps:
Skill Transfer: Highlight transferable skills from your graphic design background that are relevant to UX design, such as visual communication, layout design, and understanding of aesthetics.
Additional Training: Consider taking courses or workshops specifically focused on bridging graphic design skills with UX design principles.
Portfolio Adjustment: Modify your portfolio to showcase projects that emphasize your ability to transition from graphic design to UX design effectively.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used in Answering this Question:
Nielsen Norman Group: Known for their expertise in user experience research and consulting, Nielsen Norman Group provides valuable insights into best practices in UX design.
Interaction Design Foundation: A reputable online platform offering courses and resources on interaction design, usability, and user experience.
Adobe XD Ideas: Adobe XD Ideas is a platform that offers inspiration, tutorials, and resources for designers working on user experience projects using Adobe XD software.
By following these steps and leveraging resources from authoritative sources like those mentioned above, you can start building a successful career in UX design while navigating the challenges of transitioning from a BFA background without graphic design experience.
God Bless You,
JC.
Di A
UX Designer
2
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Di’s Answer
Adding to the fantastic guidance already here, I'd suggest honing your presentation skills by starting with your own projects and portfolio. Discussing your designs, the problems you're addressing, your target audience, and the choices you've made is a crucial daily task. It might seem intimidating initially, but once you overcome the initial nervousness, it becomes an enjoyable process.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Wishing you the best of luck!
Joshua Smith
UX Designer
5
Answers
Duluth, Georgia
Updated
Joshua’s Answer
I know the feeling. It feels impossible to land a job in the field. And when you look at Dribbble or other sites where people post art, that stuff can be daunting; and not to mention that ENTRY LEVEL job posting say, "Must have 5 years experience" 🤯 (And sorry, but college studies do not count as experience — however, any projects you made, DO count).
First off: Don't pay for any courses.
🤫 There's too many free resources out there.
Having a background in art (like drawing or painting) can be a "nice-to-have," but is by no means necessary.
UX Design = PROBLEM SOLVING. That's it. No artistic skill necessary.
The programs where you create UX (or rather UI designs), are based in drawing circles and squares. Any amount of "fancy-fance" beyond that is just experimentation and time spent working in a program such as Figma(free), Penpot(free) or Canva(free) ( or maybe even Blender, if you want 3D software — also free).
Back to what I was saying about "don't pay." Figma's Youtube channel teaches you how to use Figma — along with thousands of other youtube Figma tutorials by other creators.
Free online courses that let you "audit" classes such as (but not limited to) EDX.org are also a great place to develop skills. I personally took a UX course through Michigan state (after my time at Canisius College) from that website...I think it helped me get a job(🤷?)
Here's what you're going to want to do to actually land the job.
RESUMÉ
• Polish up your resumé; make it look impressive.
• Keep it to ONE page. Especially as a designer, if you can't keep it simple, then circle back around and try again.
• Cover letters are USELESS — don't bother.
• Add metrics (I know...that's a tall order for an art-minded person). Try something like, "My team and I A/B tested this email, and version A performed better with our target audience by a margin 46% ," OR "Changing the color of this button boasted a 3% increase in sales conversions"... and if you don't have data and statistics to back-up your previous work, well then, just go ahead and "Make-up" — take your best, educated guess — at what impact your work has had on prior projects.
(e.g. "My client asked for a new logo, and after working with them and talking to some of their current customers, after switching their logo to the one provided as the final product, the client saw an increase in weekly sales: from 2, to 6 per week.")
PORTFOLIO:
Your portfolio doesn't have to be "touched by the grace of God," in order to stand out.
Add your projects to it, but most importantly craft a STORY around your project:
• Tell the person viewing your project, WHY you decided to (fro example) "redesign this app."
• Talk to your audience about the challenges faced, before, during and after the project was completed, and the hurdles you had to jump through to overcome adversity.
• Gloat and exaggerate about how your contributions helped to make this project the success it was, and took what was once and problem, and solved for it.
I would also suggest checking out the Figma youtube channel and watching some of their "portfolio review" uploads. If you do, take note how they skim right past some gorgeous looking portfolios, simply because the thumbnail is unclear, or the person spent too much time making the graphics beautiful, but not actually saying, "what it is, and how it's useful."
NETWORKING:
(it literally means, call, text, chat, or email someone who works where you may want to work, or who does the type of work you want to do). Don't beg for a job, but rather, be inquisitive about the nature of the field/profession you want to go into, and ask questions from other professionals about how to get there.
A Quote: "To be interesting, you must be interested." Show interest in others, and they'll like you more for it.
I also suggest joining the "100 Devs" discord group (or look up a recorded replay on their youtube channel). It's a group that aims to help "people of color break into the tech world," but that's not the point. The group promotes Networking and supports each other, offering advise and anecdotes about how "networking your way into a job" really works — especially in this economy.
Good luck. Don't give up. You have what it takes to make it 👍
First off: Don't pay for any courses.
🤫 There's too many free resources out there.
Having a background in art (like drawing or painting) can be a "nice-to-have," but is by no means necessary.
UX Design = PROBLEM SOLVING. That's it. No artistic skill necessary.
The programs where you create UX (or rather UI designs), are based in drawing circles and squares. Any amount of "fancy-fance" beyond that is just experimentation and time spent working in a program such as Figma(free), Penpot(free) or Canva(free) ( or maybe even Blender, if you want 3D software — also free).
Back to what I was saying about "don't pay." Figma's Youtube channel teaches you how to use Figma — along with thousands of other youtube Figma tutorials by other creators.
Free online courses that let you "audit" classes such as (but not limited to) EDX.org are also a great place to develop skills. I personally took a UX course through Michigan state (after my time at Canisius College) from that website...I think it helped me get a job(🤷?)
Here's what you're going to want to do to actually land the job.
RESUMÉ
• Polish up your resumé; make it look impressive.
• Keep it to ONE page. Especially as a designer, if you can't keep it simple, then circle back around and try again.
• Cover letters are USELESS — don't bother.
• Add metrics (I know...that's a tall order for an art-minded person). Try something like, "My team and I A/B tested this email, and version A performed better with our target audience by a margin 46% ," OR "Changing the color of this button boasted a 3% increase in sales conversions"... and if you don't have data and statistics to back-up your previous work, well then, just go ahead and "Make-up" — take your best, educated guess — at what impact your work has had on prior projects.
(e.g. "My client asked for a new logo, and after working with them and talking to some of their current customers, after switching their logo to the one provided as the final product, the client saw an increase in weekly sales: from 2, to 6 per week.")
PORTFOLIO:
Your portfolio doesn't have to be "touched by the grace of God," in order to stand out.
Add your projects to it, but most importantly craft a STORY around your project:
• Tell the person viewing your project, WHY you decided to (fro example) "redesign this app."
• Talk to your audience about the challenges faced, before, during and after the project was completed, and the hurdles you had to jump through to overcome adversity.
• Gloat and exaggerate about how your contributions helped to make this project the success it was, and took what was once and problem, and solved for it.
I would also suggest checking out the Figma youtube channel and watching some of their "portfolio review" uploads. If you do, take note how they skim right past some gorgeous looking portfolios, simply because the thumbnail is unclear, or the person spent too much time making the graphics beautiful, but not actually saying, "what it is, and how it's useful."
NETWORKING:
(it literally means, call, text, chat, or email someone who works where you may want to work, or who does the type of work you want to do). Don't beg for a job, but rather, be inquisitive about the nature of the field/profession you want to go into, and ask questions from other professionals about how to get there.
A Quote: "To be interesting, you must be interested." Show interest in others, and they'll like you more for it.
I also suggest joining the "100 Devs" discord group (or look up a recorded replay on their youtube channel). It's a group that aims to help "people of color break into the tech world," but that's not the point. The group promotes Networking and supports each other, offering advise and anecdotes about how "networking your way into a job" really works — especially in this economy.
Good luck. Don't give up. You have what it takes to make it 👍
Hi Joshua, this is good advice! I noticed that you think cover letters are a waste of time and while on a personal level I agree (isn't the resume enough?!). On the other hand, sometimes cover letters are mandatory for job applications. In which case, we have to put our personal beliefs aside and send one.
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Mitchell Song
User Experience Designer
2
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Mitchell’s Answer
Hi Briana,
Lots of great advice in this thread.
I would echo familiarizing with common design tools like Sketch and Figma. As mentioned, there are a lot of free tutorials to learn the basics - that is how I first got started with using those tools.
Having case studies or examples of work will also be very helpful, but could be challenging if you are looking for your first UX job. You can consider volunteering your services or picking a website or app and performing your own re-design of it to help simulate a design project. Being able to explain your approach to user-centered design is important for potential opportunities and having examples of work to talk through is great for that.
Lots of great advice in this thread.
I would echo familiarizing with common design tools like Sketch and Figma. As mentioned, there are a lot of free tutorials to learn the basics - that is how I first got started with using those tools.
Having case studies or examples of work will also be very helpful, but could be challenging if you are looking for your first UX job. You can consider volunteering your services or picking a website or app and performing your own re-design of it to help simulate a design project. Being able to explain your approach to user-centered design is important for potential opportunities and having examples of work to talk through is great for that.