It’s gonna be a bumpy ride or… how to get started in UI/UX Design?
Every day I get emails from young designers asking what software I used to make my portfolio, what they should learn to become a designer, or if I have tips and tricks for them to be successful.
After having countless private conversations I’m gonna sum up the most asked questions.
“Do you have any tips and tricks?”
The first tip is that you shouldn’t look for tips. (This looks like a fight club rule). You are getting started and you shouldn’t worry about anything except what to learn next. It could be overwhelming but the answer is: it doesn’t matter! As long as you enjoy the process of learning new things, you are on the right path. Sometimes people ask for tips but they are mostly looking for shortcuts or for a recipe to make it overnight.
A chef could give me the exact recipe of his secret dish and I’d still miserably fail 100% of the time.
If you want to rush through the learning phase to “make it”, then you might be here for the wrong reason. In this career, learning will never stop.
“How do I know if I like designing or not?”
If you have butterflies in the belly, you can’t stop what you are doing to go eat and you are pushing the bathroom break up until the last minute: Good news, you like it! 😄 I feel great writing those things because almost 10 years later, I still feel the same every day. If you passed the butterflies test, then this article is for you. Otherwise, don’t hustle on something you don’t enjoy. It will be painful and not worth it! Try to find something where you pass the butterflies test.
Remember that in order to be good at something, you need to be bad at it for years but keep doing it anyway.
“How do I get started on UI/UX Design?“
One great exercise is to take screenshots of popular apps on the market, put them on Figma (or sketch, or adobe XD or even Dreamweaver if you are adventurous) with opacity, and then redraw on top of it. This would teach you key things like spacing, font size, color combination, etc...
Nothing in life is black or white (except every designer outfit🖤), so you can also learn in books and courses but your focus should be on creating literally anything.
If you want to be good at playing piano, you could watch videos of people playing, read books about the history of music and how a piano is built or… sit in front of your piano and play.. what method would make you a better pianist?
This being said, I heard good things about ShiftNudge and Figma Academy . I didn’t follow those courses myself so I can’t 100% recommend them.
You should never reach the level you want to be at. What makes you good is the difference between where you are and where you want to be.
“What should I work on to improve my skills?”
Anything, literally Anything. If you are just getting started take any opportunity and make a project out of it.
- Do you use an app that you wish would be designed better? Do it!
- Do you have a hobby and you’d like to make a project around it? Do it!
- Your classmate’s uncle has a restaurant and he needs a website? Do it!
Basically, do anything that will make you excited to wake up on a Sunday morning and push some pixels. This is your time to create and learn what you like and what you don’t.
“How do I build my first portfolio?”
Did you work on ANYTHING and EVERYTHING as stated above? Then combine a few of those projects into a portfolio.
The projects you put in your portfolio impact the type of projects you will do in the future.
1- Choose projects wisely
I repeat if it isn’t clear enough: the projects you put in your portfolio impact the type of projects you will do in the future. If you are proud of a project but you don’t want to do more of them, then don’t put it. Only put projects that you love 😍 and that you want to do more often ✋
Storytime: Many years ago, during my first internship in London, at night I challenged myself to redesign the French version of IMDB (left image). This unsolicited redesign made the cut in my first portfolio and then attracted many paid clients including Eagle Films, a movie producer (right image).
2- Know your target
It is super important that you don’t design your portfolio for other designers but for potential clients. It’s great to have a shiny portfolio but potential clients need to understand it. If you are selling crazy websites, yes make your portfolio crazy. If you want to show that you know how to design great products and marketing websites, go lower on the craziness. This doesn’t mean you can’t add your touch. It still needs personality.
The best judge of your portfolio is your inbox.
3- Write case studies
Pretty images aren’t enough. Clients will want to understand your thought process and what were you trying to solve. Try to go in-depth about the problems you were trying to solve, show the results, and some key stats proving that you solve those problems. Don’t show EVERYTHING because no one wants to read a case study the length of a lord of the rings book.
Extra tips: Like in a recipe video, show a glimpse of the final result first and then show how you got there. It will make your visitor want to scroll until the end.
4- Add testimonials
Always get testimonials at the end of a project, it would be the best way for you to stand out from the crowd. Add them on your about page and in each case study (one per case)!
Make sure you do it right at the end of the project, otherwise, later on, it will be way harder to re-contact old clients to ask them for reviews.
“How do I get known as a designer?“
Be present online
Post on Dribble, LinkedIn, Behance, whatever you want but be present online.
If you are hesitating between two products on Amazon, one is from a brand you know and one is unknown, which one would you pick? Same for designers!
Reach out for guidance
Do you look up to a few designers? Contact them! Describe how they inspired you (that will make their day), ask for advice, and build a network at the same time.
“How do I find a good internship?“
Mentor > Company
When you are looking for internships, always put the person that would be in charge of you at the epicenter of your searches.
Putting a nice company name on a resume is nice but learning things that will make you stand out while building a network is far more beneficial.
I got lucky enough during my early career to work with and learn from some of the best designers out there like Haraldur Thorleifson, Chad Tafolla, Mira Sestan, Robbin Cenijn, Jenny Johannesson, and more…
Be lucky and don’t screw up!
You’ve worked hard to get this internship but everything else was training days. THIS IS GAME TIME!
Do your best, be up for anything that needs to get done and bring the chocolate (shameless plug) 🍫.
No pressure, I deleted a folder worth millions in my internship at Ueno and they didn’t fire me! So you are good to go (No worries, we recovered that folder 🤭)
“How do I know I’m made for design?”
In 2019, a client flew me from France to New York City. My Airbnb host asked me that naive yet powerful question: “ What is so special about you that they fly you in from France?”. That made me think about two things: First, why do people you don’t know ask deep questions? The second, am I special? I’m not.
No one is special, everyone starts from the bottom as you can see in this previous article I wrote showing early designs of some of the best designers!
Anyone who follows those steps (while having a bit of luck) will have a chance at being a good designer. :
- Work Hard
- Put your school/unsolicited redesign/free projects into a portfolio
- Apply for an internship where you’ll be able to learn from peers
- Put your internship projects into a 2nd portfolio
- Apply for a full-time job
- Keep working hard during the 5 first steps.
- Keep having fun during the 6 first steps.
I was lucky enough to find something I liked early on, worked hard on it, got very lucky, met the right people, and didn’t screw up (too much).
I wish you the same because life is beautiful when you love your job.
✉️ I hope this was helpful, ask me anything, and most importantly keep me updated about your progress on Twitter or at hello@robin-noguier.com
- Always bring The Chocolate
