5 Basic Ways to Become a Better UX Designer
Ah, push it. Push it real good.
With the recent influx of UX designers, it becomes necessary to ALWAYS be improving your skills. If not, you will quickly be left behind and forgotten. It’s a hard pill to swallow but if you aren’t getting better, you’re getting worse. Think of it like your muscles. Do you work on them to make them stronger? Or let them atrophy while you remain docile? Luckily, there are so many ways to improve. Here are five basic ways to get you started.
It’s a hard pill to swallow but if you aren’t getting better, you’re getting worse.
1. Read, read, and read some more
There is a wealth of knowledge from those who have blazed trails before us. While there are many books written specifically for UX design, there are plenty of books outside the industry that can help you out. The pace of change in UX is so high that it becomes imperative to stay on top of what it happening and how things are evolving. It can be overwhelming, but just start and see what path you end up taking.
2. Be open to criticism
While this is true for any profession, it has a two-fold purpose for UX. One is that effective criticism can push you. Second, it will help you learn humility which can increase your empathy toward your users. If you let an over abundance of pride control your work, you will ultimately become weaker over time as you only listen to yourself.
3. Attend applicable events
I’m fortunate to live where there is a thriving community of Product and UX designers. Multiple events are coordinated that focus on the industry and provide invaluable information. Conferences are another great way to connect, learn, and develop. If you aren’t near either of those, many companies hold virtual conferences online that are just as rich and engaging.
4. Read case studies
Browsing UX case studies on portfolio sites or other articles online can give you great ideas that could apply to your own work. There are so many varieties of solutions that it becomes easy to forget elements of your process. Seeing others’ processes can both instruct and inspire you. Creating your own could be just as beneficial.
5. Write your brains out
This is literally why I’m writing this article. Writing stretches your mind and cements your understanding of what you know. It gives you a chance to not just consume, but to contribute. Writing is hard, but (hopefully) gets easier the more you do it. It forces you to get out of your comfort zone and research things you may not have known before. There is power is writing, as long as you do it.
Make sure you are always pushing yourself and striving for excellence.
While these are very basic, they are also very important. Now, not everything works for everyone. You need to discover what works best for you and adapt. Just make sure you are always pushing yourself and striving for excellence. Next week I’ll look at a few unconventional ways to get better.
I am a UX/UI Designer working in Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit me at iamjacobrussell.com.
