UX design for beginners.
UX design and where to start?
If you are planning to start your learning path in UX field, the very first thing you have to do is to make a research from where to start learning properly. If you will surf the net with the standard words like “What is UX?” you will find just a short explanations of what it is and how it works, what is good, but lying on my experience i would recommend you to start with 2 books, which are easy to read and understand from the first chapters a lot about UX and its branches:
- “Don’t make me think” by Steve Krug.
I bet that during your very first search in Google you already saw this book in search results.
This book is short, easy to read and written in the most understandable language I’ve ever seen. Author gives you small tips at the very beginning (with the pictures!) about how website should look like and how “comfortable in use” web page looks like from psychological perspective of an average “internet surfer”. This book is useful not only for beginners but also can become a table bible for professional UX designers of all times.
- “A Project Guide to UX Design” by Russ Unger and Carolyn Chandler
I can bet second time that you’ve seen this book in search result also. That’s great, because it is one of the best UX guides with the explanation of every part of the theory what is important for beginners. What kinds of website exist and what is the difference between a content centered website and brand-support website and what is the goal of each of them? Which features and skills you have to improve or develop before starting to work with the client? Brief and concrete answers you will definitely find in this book.
Grab some inspiration!
You can find some interesting works on Behance and define which style fits you more and which artistic marks you can use in your works, to make projects recognizable. One more important source of inspiration and knowledge is Udemy. Udemy is an online platform where you can find courses from lead UX and graphic designers and even receive a certificate after finishing learning process.
Which tool to pick and how to use it properly?
There are lots of different tools exist for UX designers. You should try to use all of them to pick the one that will be more comfortable in use for you. Of course it is a great skill if you feel yourself confident in using every tool and can even survive on inhabitant island with it. Some of the tools are working on-line, like Figma, which i strongly recommend to you as for the beginner. Figma is simple and you can learn how to use it properly in less than one day. Moreover, most of the tools are common, so if you will start with Figma you will get how to use more complicated tools faster.
If you know that you can be out of Wi-Fi zone, think about future and download on your laptop Adobe Experience Design.
Want to start?
This is your showtime! Don’t be afraid to start with something small like Landing Page of a marketing website. You will not do great or terrible from the first attempt, just imagine the client or ask your friend to be a client with the need to create a website. Ask about details, make a research by the simplest UX design research plan, grab some inspiration from UX designers and just do it! You will learn tool interface and upgrade your skill by making your first project. Don’t be afraid to use simple pencil and paper to visualize what is in your head.
If you have a lack of inspiration get back to Behance and grab it, or take an existing business and make something stylish.
Start making your portfolio.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and make from 1 to 3 full website prototypes of business from your imagination.
Define the main purpose of the website. You should make this website as much unique and recognizable as it is possible. Design should talk to customer back and make this client able to remember and return to this website again and again. Don’t be afraid to experiment with Photoshop tool or Canva, where you can find a bunch of different fonts and backgrounds. Remember that you are a digital artist here.
The products or categories should be understandable and easy to access.
Main rule by Steve Krug:” Users don’t read, they scan.”
Don’t waste your time and start.
