UX/UI Starter Pack: Recursos para empezar
Are you trying to get into web design, but do not know where to start? Well, as a Junior UX Designer, I will share with you a complete guide based on my experience to help you take your first steps.
Very often, people with no experience in design ask me how to start, since I took a professional turn from business management to design. Whereas my advice may not sound that simple, there are many ways that do not require university or postgraduate studies.
This is my “UX/UI Starter Pack” for those who want to begin working in this world, based on my experience and my current knowledge.
Where to Study
If you are looking to start with a solid basis and have a start guide, taking a course or Bootcamp taught by expert mentors may be the right option.
These are some available courses (in Spanish) online:
- UX Design, basic concepts for beginners – Udemy (free)
- Introduction to UX/UI Design – Polo TIC Misiones (free)
- UX Design Principles – Crehana (Free access for 7 days)
- UX/UI Design – Coderhouse (Paid) It includes 3 courses that can be taken separately UX/UI Design, Advanced UX/UI, and UX Research.
- User Interface Design – EducaciónIT (paid)
- School of Product Design – Platzi (paid – annual subscription)
- Professional Google UX Design Certificate – Coursera (paid)
Learning Path
To answer the big question “What should I study?” I designed a plan with the steps I advise you to take to get and develop the skills and knowledge that you need to become a UX/UI designer.
- Introduction to Design
- Graphic Design
- Interfaces Design (UI)
- Design Thinking
- Mobile Prototype Design (UI)
- Tools: Figma
- Tools: Adobe XD
- Tools: Sketch
- Design System
- UX research
- Information Architecture
- Design Sprint
- UX writing
Read, investigate, and learn
Books and articles related to design help starters get introduced to the industry most-used terminology and vocabulary. A good thing would be searching glossaries on the internet so that you can learn UX technical terminology. This one from Academia Edu is a great one and it is free! Academia Edu es genial y puedes descargarlo gratis.
Another good thing to do is to learn from experts in the area, especially when they talk about design-related topics, to set future expectations and to keep updated on the latest trends.
Books Top Five
- “Don’t Make Me Think” – Steve Krug (Web usability)
- “Miro y entiendo” – Daniel Mordecki (Usability basic guide)
- “This is service design doing” – Marc Stickdorn, Adam Lawrence, Marcus Hormess and Jakob Schneider (Source of activities and Design thinking resources)
- “The design of everyday things” – Don Norman (UX bible)
- Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All – David and Tom Kelley (This book is key to adopt an inventive mind to start designing)
Blogs
Reading blogs on a regular basis will help you keep updated on the latest industry changes, and to develop your UX skills. Many UX bloggers share their study cases and explain the development of an app or web. Reading case studies helps you boost ideas. You should follow two or three blogs and sign up to their weekly newsletter to receive the articles in your inbox.
Some UX blogs:
- UX Collective
- Nielsen & Normal group
- Just in mind
- IDEO
- UX Matters
- UX Magazine
- UX Planet
- Think with Google
There are many more! If there is one thing that you need to bear in mind in the Software world, it is that your job will be based 50% on looking for innovative solutions and learning to make effective internet searches.
This is my Medium Top 5 (in Spanish). Do not stop reading!
- Introduction to product design
- UX Design Complete Guide
- UX/UI: Design Process
- Intensive Course: User interface design
- Skills that beginners UX designers should master
Talks
Listening, watching, and attending to talks is a way of keeping updated on industry trends and developing new skills in the amazing UX universe.
These are four talks that will make you think.
- “The surprising truth about what motivates us” A good user experience design motivates users to reach their goals. In this video, Daniel Pink quotes clear examples of how intrinsic motivation works.
- “Three Ways Good Design Makes You Happy” In this TED talk, Don Norman, the father of UX, lists three emotional steps that a good design needs to be successful.
- “Responsible design: UX + Privacy” This presentation highlights the emerging challenges and practical examples of how user experience design contributes to a more private, safe, transparent, and ethical future.
- “The complex relationship between data and design in UX'' Rochelle King (User Experience VP Global and Spotify designer) guides us through a redesign process of a major website. He reveals the best practices to keep the relationship between designers, data, and users.
Community and Events
There is nothing better than sharing and getting feedback from a huge collaborative community like ours. Today, technology allows us to remain connected from any spot of the world. Take advantage of that, become a part of this wonderful professional network!
We welcome you in these sites:
From theory to practice
Una vez que hayas terminado con los pasos anteriores, es hora de que comiences a ponerlo en práctica. Hay un montón de herramientas para elegir, Sketch , Figma , Principle , XD , Photoshop , Invision (Aquí Figma lover)
I think that if you know how to use Photoshop, Illustrator or any other design app, it will be easier to understand the rest of the tools.
You have no idea about design? We all have been there. The process to get inspiration is long and tiresome. Think of an app you would like to redesign. By redesign I mean improving some aspects, changing the interface or even adding a new function to the app. You can even create an Android version of an iOS native app? Options are endless.
You need to find a style you like. Styles are numerous and varied (neomorphism, minimalism, galssmorphism, etc.) Find inspiration on Dribble and Behance. Go for it! Design, design, and design.
Algunos consejos:
- Do not reinvent the wheel: There is a reason why most sites and apps are designed in a certain way. Because it works. People are used to it. Do not try to change user behaviour, avoid such an effort, and adapt to it instead.
- Keep it simple: Try simple screens. Avoid creating distractions by adding elements, which will only lead to drop-offs.
- Design for humans: Acknowledge your target users’ needs and demands and base your design on those insights. Listen and learn from the user; make surveys, forms, see how they interact with the product.
- Start working on paper. Drawing your wireframes on paper is a good practice to develop your ideas in a quick and simple way. It takes less time, you do not need to learn to do it, it makes communication easier, and you get immediate feedback.
