What background do I need to become a UX designer?
There isn't a prescribed path as various factors can influence your development. A degree in graphic design or psychology isn't necessary, and numerous free training courses are available. Claudia Mocci, a psychology graduate turned UX designer and YouTuber, recommends specific and general books, especially useful for self-learners. She suggests courses from corsoux.it, known for their excellent reviews, along with books like "Survival Manual for UX Designers" by Matteo Di Pascale and "The Masochist's Coffee Maker" by D. Norman.
The training landscape in the field of design offers various intriguing options, including courses and certifications, sometimes free, provided by accredited institutions or YouTube video lessons. For instance, Bikash Joshi, Senior Product Manager and UX Design Lead, proposes a comprehensive resource easily accessible on YouTube for those wanting to delve into the UX/UI design field. This program consists of 8 video lessons, each lasting 30 minutes, enriched with numerous practical examples. Accompanying each lesson is the reading of accessible essays via links, explored independently by learners before each session. The course spans 8 weeks, covering a different topic each week, with flexible online availability for personalized adaptation.
The program covers a wide range of topics, addressing questions like: What exactly does design entail? What is meant by "UX design"? What is the role of user research? And what are frameworks? The practical benefits of undertaking this journey become evident as it provides valuable insights on facing interviews, building a quality project, and approaching the professional world.
In addition to YouTube, numerous online courses, both free and paid, are available today, aiding aspiring designers in gaining clarity and certification.
- Google is a relevant option, issuing certifications in the field of UX through the Google New UX Certificate → https://skillshop.exceedlms.com/student/path/212715-mobile-experience-certification-exam
- IBM stands out by offering courses and certifications in both UI/UX and management through the IBM UX Design program → https://www.ibm.com/design/thinking/page/courses/Practitioner
- Cal Arts, on the contrary, focuses on design fundamentals, web design, and prototyping strategies. Cal Arts' credibility is supported by quality → https://www.coursera.org/specializations/ui-ux-design?action=enroll
- For those interested in exploring the emerging field of mixed reality, the course "Exploring the Mixed Reality Landscape" offered by Kadenze provides comprehensive training with the aim of expanding skills in the rapidly growing augmented reality sector. → https://www.kadenze.com/courses/exploring-the-mixed-reality-landscape/info
- Figma offers free courses and stands out as a prominent platform for UI/UX design. It is valuable in digital graphic design, particularly effective in social media campaigns, and can be considered a valid alternative to established tools like Illustrator and Photoshop in specific design contexts. The use of Figma as a design tool allows the creation of frames, each representing a page in the activity flow, providing a clear organizational structure and facilitating project navigation. → https://www.figma.com/resource-library/design-basics/
Today, the UX designer is one of the most sought-after roles in the corporate world, both as an employee and increasingly as a freelancer. The world is becoming more digital, and the economy relies more on experiential components, leading companies to demand increasingly skilled UX professionals.
The future landscape of design revolves not only around artificial intelligence but also emphasizes the need for highly qualified and proactive designers. Securing a junior-level position is already a challenging task, requiring an exceptional level of expertise in the field. It is crucial to have a forward-looking approach, going beyond mere adherence to tutorials and tool learning, as this approach could limit one's career to mere task execution rather than a visionary perspective.