How To Learn UX UI Design:
This five-step tutorial will show you how to study UI/UX design, covering everything from fundamental theory to real-world implementation.
It's fun and difficult to learn UI and UX design. It's great because you get to pick up new abilities and go on a stimulating career. It's difficult since there is a lot to learn and a lot of information available, and you may easily become lost.
We've created this guide to help the process go a little more smoothly. It has five doable steps, each of which has a specific learning aim and a list of helpful resources.
Contents:
- 1) Learn the basics with free resources
- 2)Learn the most popular UI and UX tools
- 3) Develop your designer mindset
- 4) Advance with a UI/UX design course
- 5) Apply your burgeoning skills to practical projects
Here’s how to learn UI/UX design from the very beginning.
1. Learn the basics with free and low-cost resources
It's crucial, to begin with, the fundamentals if you're new to UX/UI design. Make sure you understand the theory supporting this huge and intricate topic before you even consider producing your first wireframe.
Have a clear knowledge of what UX and UI design are, how they differ from one another, and how they complement one another. After that, educate yourself on the steps that UX/UI designers take, including user research, prototyping, and testing.
Investigate the concepts that guide designers' work (such as user-centricity, usability, and visual hierarchy), the many approaches and strategies they employ, and the numerous deliverables they produce (such as user personas, wireframes, and prototypes).
Learning objective
Your current objective is to get a thorough theoretical understanding of the subject. Jumping from one resource to the next may feel unorganized and methodless, but that's okay. Just read, watch, listen, and learn as much as you can; there is a tonne of free stuff available. When you can firmly describe what UX/UI design is and what UX/UI designers do, consider this phase to be finished.
Useful resources
Here are some guides and tutorials to get you started:
- A Complete Guide to UX UI Design
- UX vs UI Design: Differences and Similarities
- 15 Must-Have UX UI Design Skills & How To Develop Them
2. Learn the most popular UI and UX tools (with the help of tutorials)
As a UI/UX designer, almost everything you do will require specialized equipment. User research tools, wireframing and prototyping tools, analytics software, usability testing programs, and more are all available.
Even the most seasoned designers might become overwhelmed by the sheer quantity and variety of UX/UI tools. So don't worry, you don't have to know them all. To practice the skill of "sketching" on a digital canvas, start with a basic wireframing program like Balsamiq or Wireframe. cc.
Focus solely on one or two of the most well-liked programs, such as Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch, next. Figma offers a simple, intuitive design and a wealth of instructional materials, making it one of the most beginner-friendly tools out there. A bit farther down, in the "Resources" section, we've provided a few links.
Learning objective
Your objective is to test out one or two well-known UX/UI tools so that you can become accustomed to how these products normally seem and work. You can also try making your first simple wireframes if you feel up to it. Just play about and experiment; you'll get the hang of it in no time!
Useful resources
Follow these tutorials to help learn your chosen tool(s):
- Figma’s library of free lessons and design exercises
- Figma’s 4-part tutorial for beginners
- A beginner’s introduction to Sketch by Jesse Showalter on YouTube
- Getting to know the Sketch interface (free tutorial)
- Getting to know the Sketch toolbar (free tutorial)
- Adobe XD YouTube tutorial for beginners
- Getting started with Adobe XD (free tutorial by Adobe)
3. Develop your designer mindset
Every day, we come into contact with UX/UI design. We utilize it in every app, website, and digital product we use, yet sometimes we don't even realize it (especially when it works effectively and gives us a good experience).
Pay close attention to all the various examples around you as you get more knowledgeable about UI and UX design. Consider this question the next time you use a website or mobile app: What user problem is it resolving? How has the user interfaced been made to aid in navigation? What elements of the experience are difficult or confusing? Are there any further features that could be included to benefit the user more?
Search the web for examples of good and awful UX/UI design at the same time. There is a tonne of information available on the subject, and understanding how expert designers evaluate various products can teach you a lot. As usual, the 'Resources' section will provide some helpful links.
Learning objective
Your goal in this situation is to begin thinking like a UI/UX designer and to develop a sense of both good and bad design. You'll learn how designers use specific concepts to produce successful products as well as what happens when the fundamental principles of UX and UI are broken. All of this will be helpful when you're creating your own designs.
4. Take it to the next level with a UX/UI design course
You can only advance so far on your own. Take your study to the next level with a UX/UI design course if you're serious about turning yourself from a self-taught beginning to a skilled professional.
An excellent course will assist you in transitioning from theory to practice and teach you the abilities required to work in the area. You'll have a set curriculum to follow, and depending on how your course is set up, you'll be taught by professionals in the field. When comparing self-taught choices vs. those that provide more hands-on education, keep in mind that this kind of advice is vital if you're new to the subject.
In certain courses, there is also a practical component where you use your newly acquired abilities on actual tasks. This promotes a "learning by doing" methodology, ensuring that what you're learning truly sticks—getting you ready for a career in the industry and, most importantly, aiding in the development of (or addition to) your portfolio.
A UX/UI design school can help you get your first job in addition to teaching you important skills. The finest courses will offer you intensive placement support, or even a job guarantee, and you'll graduate with a credential to certify your new skills (which can help employers identify you from other applicants).
Learning objective
With a formal UX/UI design course, you want to give your learning greater structure. Free materials are still helpful, but enrolling in a course will help you focus and hold you accountable. Take your time to pick the best course because this phase will involve substantial study.
5. Learn by doing: Apply your budding skills to real projects
The time when you can take on a genuine design project and put your UX/UI talents to use has been the culmination of all of your prior studies.
You might not be able to secure paid tasks from clients while you're still learning, but that shouldn't stop you from gaining real-world experience. A project will probably be a part of the UX/UI course you end up doing, but there are also many additional opportunities to hone your abilities. You can create your own project by identifying a user issue and designing a solution, or you can rework an existing product.
Your learning curve will stall without practical experience. You need to make mistakes in order to develop and hone your talents, and the more diverse the projects you may work on, the more chances you'll have to do so.
Learning objective
Here, you have two goals. First, practice using the entire design process as you put your newly acquired UI/UX skills to the test. Second, to make mistakes and grow from them, which will hasten your development and better equip you for life in general.
Check out Briefz, a design brief generator to spark practice projects, for a helpful tool to start putting your knowledge into action.
Ready to learn UI/UX design? These are your next steps
Here’s a quick recap of what we’ve covered above:
- Start with the basics and make the most of free resources
- Get familiar with some popular industry tools (with the help of tutorials)
- Develop your designer mindset and explore examples of both good and bad design
- Structure your learning with a professional UI/UX design course
- Apply your burgeoning skills to practical projects (and learn from your mistakes)
Now, if you’re ready to start learning UI/UX design, it’s time to put those five steps into practice. In doing so, here are some resources you can take advantage of:
- Watch the session by industry leader Shiva Viswanathan and design professional Naman Singh.
- Talk to a course advisor to discuss how you can transform your career with one of our courses.
- Pursue our UX UI Design course, which is taught through live, interactive classes by industry experts, and comes with a Job Guarantee.
- Take advantage of our scholarship and funding options to overcome any financial hurdle on the path of your career transformation.
