Whether you are a beginner looking to enter the field of user experience (UX), or a professional in an adjacent domain who wants to learn more about what UX is, getting up to speed can be overwhelming. There is no single book that distills UX design into easy-to-follow rules. Learning about the field involves three elements: gaining core UX/UI knowledge, actively practicing UX/UI, and building a network of people in the UX space. In this resource, we will dive into each of these items so that you can become more knowledgeable about the field of UX.
Learn the basics of UX/UI
Many people think they understand UX, but there is more beneath the surface than they could ever imagine. Spend time understanding what UX is and mastering basic UX concepts.
Understand the design process
Designing digital user experiences can be more challenging than traditional design. As a result, the process is also more complex. An understanding of the digital design workflow, design thinking methods, and common deliverables can go a long way.
Understand the UX design industry
The burgeoning UX design space has not yet reached its full maturity. Organizations are only now realizing how UX can unlock value. Understand how UX fits into a business so that you can advocate for UX and position yourself.
Grow UX design knowledge/skills
The most effective UX professionals are constantly learning. They realize that today's skills are no match for tomorrow's problems. Level up your knowledge daily, whether through reading, taking a course, or studying other companies and digital products.
Study design references to stay inspired
There is nothing new under the sun. Innovation is simply the combination of pre-existing ideas. Studying design references will provide a source of ideas to shape your work. Start by collecting links of websites that inspire you and following the work of other designers.
Study common design patterns
Common design patterns offer proven solutions to common design problems. They build on a user's mental models about the web and commonly accepted UI structures. This is great because users love consistency and businesses love successful users.