How to have a self-taught UI/UX career

User interface and user experience are practical ways that use various tools to bring visual content to light. This content is then programmed or used for marketing.

The development of interface designs is not just about creativity or colors, but also about functionality and usability. The UX road map is associated with how the product works and the level of satisfaction a user gains while engaging with the product. UI design is concerned with the visual aspect, or how the product appears to the user. The UI design and the UX design are two sides to a single consumer experience with a digital product.

Below, I have given some necessary considerations and concerns that one should have while on the career path for UI and UX design.

What are the roles?

The UX role is much different than the UI role, although both collaborate to create a single product.

• The UX role is more concerned with functionalities and the way the product works. An interest in concepts or behind-the-scenes realities of digital products can be a cue for the UX path.

• The UI role is concerned with how the product appears to the users. An interest in colors, typography, and web interfaces is a cue for the UI design path. Accessibility guidelines should also be put into consideration here.

Both UI design and UX design work hand in hand to help easily understand problems and create subsequent solutions. This enhances teamwork.

Tools used in these roles

The UI design tools consist of tools that help us create visual designs. Examples include Figma, sketch, inVision, and Marvel. These tools have plugins for creating desired designs of any kind.

The UX end is concerned with the behavioral aspect of design and the user’s interaction with the design. The tools here help to analyze data from user research and to prototype tools as well. These tools could be sketch boards, software that aids prototyping, or survey tools to gather user opinions on a particular product.

Seek mentorship

The need for someone who has a wealth of experience on the design path is important. Engaging in conversations from time to time would help increase confidence and keep one focused.

Both the user experience role and user interface role require communication skills, so a community is important. This would give you the opportunity to work on real-life projects with like minds and help build a team spirit.

Find examples

Inspiration is an important aspect of learning and growth. There is a need to invest time in searching for the work of other established designers out there. It’s proper to take out time to reach out to platforms that show off different shades of designs. You will be able to immerse yourself in the design process and get inspiration from time to time. This would also help one stay up to date with the latest design trends and tools, so as to stay valuable in the design ecosystem. One can check out design platforms like Dribbble or Pinterest for finished design works as inspiration.

Make your own projects

The design space is about solving problems, the more you go through the design process the better you become. At this point, virtual internships or online courses would be of great importance as they present opportunities for one to engage in real life problem-solving.

Here, you try to engage in personal research to gather data concerning a particular problem and create solutions. You should keep a portfolio of projects to track your progress. This would show your current skill and also display progress when other projects are added to the list. You can keep your projects on Dribbble or a personal website.

Social media presence is also of the utmost importance as one’s presence and appearance is an opportunity to share value on the digital space and build valuable connections. Connections with fellow designers are important as they can inform one about possible opportunities for the purpose of growth and relevance on the ecosystem.

Conclusion

The tech space, especially the design space, are quickly evolving. There is a need for every designer to stay current with the latest technology as it keeps evolving. Stay current with design tools and design trends by staying active on various design platforms and social media sites as well.