6 things to do if you want to become a UX Designer in 2023

My Advice for Navigating Your Career Change

I’ve had more and more people reaching out, seeking advice for how to switch into UX Design. Here’s my advice for anyone looking to make that change:

1–Learn the basics: 

Before making the switch, make sure you have a solid understanding of the principles of design and user-centered design. And figure out what part of UX design you want to do — there’s a very wide range (see the visual below). Find what part aligns well with your natural strengths. There are infinite resources out there for you. Leverage online courses, books, tutorials, etc. to learn the basics. (Good resource: The best (free) resources for new UX/UI designers).

(Free advice: Before you spend a lot of $$$ on a course or explore grad school, try using free resources and redesign part of a website you frequently use (maybe the home page or a product detail page). See if you enjoy it. Seek design feedback from friends and family if you don’t know any designers. And then ask the program to speak to a few of their alum to interview them about their experience.)

2–Learn one program: 

There’s Adobe XD, Sketch,… Figma is a great tool and place to start. Create a free Figma account and learn the tool. There are plenty of youtube videos, forums, etc. to help you master it. But! If you have a company in mind go to their job posts and see what software they want you to know. The truth is, the UX field is constantly evolving, so it’s important to be open to learning new tools and techniques. (Want help deciding? Read Figma vs. Sketch vs. Adobe XD: Which Design Tool Is Better?)

3–Build a portfolio: 

A strong portfolio is essential for landing a job in UX design. Start building one by creating case studies of a redesign of the site or app of your choosing — include research (secondary research at a minimum), wireframes, and mockups. You could even try pitching it to the company.

4–Build off of what you know: 

Take your current work experience and leverage it! When I was in undergrad and interning in sales roles during the summer I used that experience to design products for the workspace when I went back to school. What problems do you see in your current space and how can you design a better experience to address them? You aren’t starting from a blank slate.

5–Learn the terminology: 

This will be particularly important once you start interviewing or doing client work. Learn how to speak the language of UX design and stay up-to-date with the latest terminology to stay competitive and relevant in the field. (Check out — UX Design 101: Jargon You Need to Know in 2023 to get started)

6–Start now (!!): 

We can often fall into the trap of thinking it’ll take months or a year to build out a portfolio but the truth is the takes as long as we allow it to take. So give yourself a deadline and start executing. And then iterate! A blessing and curse of digital is that you can always iterate. Plus our users are always changing. So remember, done is better than perfect. See the first interview you land as a learning experience. Don’t wait until you’re ready — find some practice rounds). And ask for feedback and then incorporate it!

Finding your first job in UX design can take time, so be patient and don’t get discouraged! Keep learning, working on your portfolio, networking, and eventually, the right opportunity will come along. Rooting for you!