How to Become a UI/UX Designer in 2024 - Step by Step Roadmap 💯| Saptarshi Prakash

Summary

This video script offers a comprehensive roadmap for aspiring UX designers, covering essential skills, tools like Figma and XD, and the importance of observing the world as a designer. It suggests free resources for learning, the use of AI tools to enhance design processes, and emphasizes the significance of understanding user psychology. The script guides on building a strong portfolio, applying for jobs, and the continuous advancement of skills to stay relevant in the ever-evolving field of UX design.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The field of UX design is open to everyone, regardless of their background, as long as they have the intent and mindset to learn.
• 💻 Basic hardware prerequisites for UX design include a computer or laptop with an internet connection.
• 👀 Designers should cultivate the habit of observing and analyzing the world around them, asking questions like 'who', 'what', 'why', and 'how' to understand and improve designs.
• 🎨 Figma is the industry-standard software for UX design, but exploring other tools like Adobe XD, Sketch, and Webflow can make a designer more versatile.
• 📚 Understanding the difference between UI, UX, and product design is crucial, with resources like Figma's resource library and case studies available for learning.
• 🆓 There are numerous free resources for learning UX design, including Design Systems.com, Figma's resource library, and YouTube playlists.
• 🤖 AI tools like Chat GPT and Mid Journey can assist in the UX design process, helping to generate ideas and streamline tasks without replacing the designer.
• 🧠 Understanding user psychology and empathy is vital for creating user-friendly and enjoyable experiences.
• 🔍 Case studies are essential for learning how users interact with digital products and for understanding the thought processes of established designers.
• 🚀 Starting with passion projects or redesigns can help build skills and portfolios, which are key to landing a UX design job.
• 💼 Networking on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter, as well as applying to startups and design-focused companies, can open up job opportunities.
• 💰 Salaries for UX designers can vary widely based on location and experience, with tools like Glassdoor providing estimates, and continuous skill development can lead to higher paying roles.

Q & A

What tools should I use to build a UX portfolio?

Figma is the industry standard and good enough for most cases, but trying other tools like XD, Sketch, and Webflow can also be beneficial.

Are there any free resources to learn UX design?

Yes, there are many free resources like DesignSystems.com by Figma, Figma's resource library, and various playlists on Figma's YouTube channel.

How can AI tools like ChatGPT and MidJourney be used in UX design?

ChatGPT can generate personas, interview questions, and survey prompts, while MidJourney can generate visual concepts for UI designs.

What is the future of UX design?

The future of UX design is promising with the rise of VR, AR, and AI technologies, offering new and innovative ways to create user experiences.

Will AI replace UX designers?

AI is not here to replace designers but to assist them by streamlining processes and enhancing efficiency.

Can anyone become a UX designer?

Yes, anyone from any walk of life can pursue a career in UX design if they have the intent and the right mindset to learn.

What are some essential skills for a UX designer?

Understanding user psychology, effective communication, and the ability to analyze and improve designs are crucial skills for a UX designer.

How can I build a strong UX portfolio?

Include three to four detailed case studies that showcase your design thinking and problem-solving abilities, and share your work on platforms like Medium, Behance, and Dribble.

Where should I apply for UX design jobs?

You can apply to VCB startups, agencies, and design-focused MNCs. Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and AngelList (now Wound.com) are great for finding opportunities.

How much can a UX designer expect to earn?

Salaries vary by location and experience. In India, a well-funded startup can pay 15-20 lakhs per annum for a beginner UX designer.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Building a UX Portfolio and Embracing Design Mindset

This paragraph introduces the topic of building a UX portfolio and the importance of adopting a design mindset. It emphasizes the versatility of tools like Figma, XD, Sketch, and Webflow, and mentions the availability of free resources for learning. The speaker assures the audience that a comprehensive UX roadmap will be provided, covering free resources, software, tools, job applications, and career advancement strategies. The paragraph also addresses common eligibility concerns, stating that UX design is accessible to everyone with the right intent and mindset, and highlights the importance of observing and analyzing the world as a designer would, using the 'who, what, why, and how' questions to develop a deeper understanding of objects and their design.

05:02

🛠 Tools and Resources for Enhancing UX Design Skills

The second paragraph delves into the tools available for UX design, starting with Figma as the industry standard and suggesting Protoype for high-fidelity prototyping without coding. It breaks down the learning process into manageable parts, emphasizing the distinction between UI, UX, and product design, and directs viewers to resources like Figma's resource library and Design Systems.com for articles, tutorials, and case studies. The paragraph also recommends Figma's YouTube playlists for beginners and advanced users, and introduces the concept of AI tools like Chat GPT and Mid Journey to assist in the UX design process, highlighting their potential to streamline work and generate insights.

10:03

🌟 Leveraging AI in UX Design and Understanding User Psychology

This paragraph discusses the integration of AI tools in the UX design process, suggesting their use for generating text and visual concepts to enhance efficiency and user experience. It reassures that AI is not a replacement but a tool to assist designers. The speaker then shifts focus to the importance of understanding user psychology and empathy, recommending the study of case studies from sources like Figma's Medium page and growth.design to learn how users interact with digital products. The paragraph also mentions the value of reviewing case studies through 'Sapta Reviews' on YouTube and emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and portfolio updates for career growth.

15:05

📈 Career Advancement and the Future of UX Design

The final paragraph focuses on career advancement strategies for UX designers, including the importance of applying to startups, agencies, and MNCs, and utilizing social media platforms for networking and job opportunities. It touches on salary expectations and the importance of continuous skill development, communication, and persuasion skills. The paragraph also highlights the need for adaptability in the face of emerging technologies like VR, AR, and AI, and encourages designers to stay updated with trends for a successful career in UX design. The speaker concludes by inviting viewers to use the provided resources and to revisit the video for clarity, and ends with a call to action for likes, shares, and subscriptions.

Keywords

💡UX Portfolio

A UX (User Experience) portfolio showcases an individual's skills and experiences in the field of user experience design. It is crucial for demonstrating one's ability to create intuitive and user-friendly designs. In the script, building a UX portfolio is a central theme, with various tools and resources suggested for its creation, such as Figma, XD, Sketch, and Webflow.

💡Figma

Figma is a cloud-based design tool used for creating user interfaces and prototypes. It is an industry standard and is mentioned in the script as essential for mastering UX design skills. The video suggests using Figma for its ease of use and collaborative features, which are vital for building a strong UX portfolio.

💡Prototyping

Prototyping in UX design refers to creating a representation of the final product to test and refine its functionality and user interface. The script mentions Protopie as a tool for high-fidelity prototyping, allowing designers to create realistic app-like prototypes without writing code.

💡Design Systems

Design systems are a set of reusable design components and guidelines that ensure consistency and efficiency in product design. The script refers to Design Systems.com by Figma as a resource for learning about design systems, including style guides, component libraries, and documentation.

💡UI/UX/Product Design

These terms represent different aspects of design. UI (User Interface) design focuses on the visual elements and interactive aspects of a product. UX (User Experience) design is about creating meaningful interactions and enjoyable experiences. Product design is a broader term that includes both UI and UX, as well as other aspects like market research. The script distinguishes these terms to clarify the scope of a UX designer's role.

💡Case Studies

Case studies are in-depth analyses of specific instances or projects, often used to demonstrate a designer's process and outcomes. In the script, case studies are highlighted as a critical component of a UX portfolio, showing how a designer thinks and solves problems.

💡AI Tools

AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools can assist in various aspects of UX design, from generating personas and interview questions to creating visual concepts. The script mentions Chat GPT for text-related tasks and Mid Journey for visual ideation, emphasizing how AI can streamline the design process and enhance user experiences.

💡Spatial Design

Spatial design is a field that focuses on creating user experiences in three-dimensional spaces, often used in AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) applications. The script suggests spatial design as an emerging area for UX designers to explore, indicating the growing importance of immersive experiences in the field.

💡Soft Skills

Soft skills are personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. In the context of the script, soft skills such as effective communication and persuasion are emphasized as crucial for a UX designer's success, both in the workplace and during interviews.

💡Immersive Experiences

Immersive experiences are those that engage users deeply by creating a realistic and engaging environment. The script discusses the trend towards more immersive experiences in UX design, enabled by technologies like VR and AR, which allow for interfaces that are more realistic and interactive.

💡Adaptability

Adaptability refers to the ability to adjust to new conditions or changes. In the script, adaptability is highlighted as a key trait for UX designers, as the field is constantly evolving with new technologies and trends. Being adaptable allows designers to learn new skills and stay relevant in the industry.

Highlights

Building a UX portfolio can be achieved using various tools like Figma, XD, Sketch, and Webflow, and there are free resources available for learning these skills.

AI tools such as chat GPT and mid journey can be integrated into the UX design process to enhance efficiency and user experience.

The future of UX design involves the potential of AI but it is not here to replace designers, rather to assist and speed up redundant tasks.

UX design is open to everyone from any walk of life, and having the right mindset and intent to learn is crucial.

Developing the habit of observing and analyzing the world as a designer is fundamental to understanding good design.

Mastering Figma is essential, but exploring other tools like Protopie for high fidelity prototyping can make you more versatile.

Free resources such as design systems.com and Figma Resource Library can be valuable for beginners in UX design.

Understanding the difference between UI, UX, and product design is crucial for a UX designer's learning process.

Case studies are vital for learning how users interact with digital products and for understanding the thought process of established designers.

Passion projects and redesigns are excellent ways to practice and showcase creativity and problem-solving abilities in UX design.

A strong portfolio with detailed case studies is essential for landing a UX design job and demonstrating design thinking.

Applying for jobs in startups, agencies, and design-focused MNCs can be a good start for a UX designer's career.

Soft skills such as effective communication and persuasion are crucial for a designer's career advancement.

Exploring new technologies like spatial design used in AR and VR can prepare UX designers for the evolving industry.

The future of UX is exciting with trends towards more immersive experiences using VR, AR, and AI technologies.

Adapting to new skills and staying updated with emerging trends is key to preparing for the future of UX design.

Continuously updating your portfolio, creating new case studies, and developing new skills will lead to career growth.

Transcripts

how do I build a ux portfolio should I

only use figma or try other tools like

XD sketch and web flow are there any

free resources to learn this skill how

can I use AI tools like chat GPT and mid

journey in ux design what is the future

of ux design will AI replace me if this

is what you're asking yourself time and

again don't worry I've got you covered

today I'm going to give you a complete

ux road map that you can follow for your

upcoming design Journey here I'll share

free resources softwares tools that you

can use I'll also talk about where you

can app app for jobs and internships and

how you can advance as a designer this

road map is essential for you because

without it you may have difficulty

advancing in your career securing better

opportunities or standing out in the

design field so if you're ready let's

get into the video one of the frequently

asked questions regarding the ux design

is about eligibility I am XYZ and I have

been doing ABC can I be a ux designer

now so let me tell you whether you you

are a recent high school graduate or a

seasoned professional looking for a

career change this field is open to

everyone anyone from any Walk of Life

can pursue ux design as a career if you

have the intent and the right mindset to

learn it in the right way of course

there are some Hardware prerequisites

you'll need a computer ideally a laptop

with internet connection so please get

yourself on if you don't have it already

next one of the first and the foremost

things that I would want all of you to

do is to start looking at the world like

a designer confused let me explain every

human being who can looks at the world

but that's about it as a designer you'll

have to do more than just looking at

something you'll have to look observe

and analyze like a designer whatever you

see around let's take this bottle for

instance make it a habit to ask some

questions in your head what is this what

is it supposed to do who is it made for

why is the shape and form like this

could it be some other way as well how

is someone supposed to use this when I

look at it do I understand what it is do

I feel good seeing touching and feeling

this what'll happen if my hands are

dirty soapy or slippery what if I

accidentally drop it what else can I do

with this these are some sample

questions you'll see most of this

question starts with the who what why

and how the common question words some

of you might be thinking why do I need

to do this it's because whenever you

designing as a professional you are

focused thinking in your Zone when you

are in this Zone thinking you're

essentially having a conversation with

yourself inside your head and if you

start doing this over time you will see

this becoming your habit so whenever you

see anything around these questions will

automatically start popping in your head

and also the answers to them and based

on these questions and answers you will

be able to analyze how good or bad the

design of the object is in which

situations it'll work where it will not

work and how you could make some

modifications to make it better this is

what I mean by looking at the world like

a designer it should become a natural

process for you every good designer in

this world does it and it's a natural

process for them all right now let's

talk about something exciting tools that

you can use to level up your design

skills figma is the industry standard

software so make sure to master it it's

very easy figma is good enough to get

you going for 90% of the cases where you

are doing Hands-On design but if you

want to go beyond that I would

definitely recommend you try out protoy

which is a great tool for High Fidelity

prototyping that can make real app like

prototypes nope you don't need to write

a single line of code for it the more

skills you possess the more versatile

you become as a designer I made a video

about these tools which you can check

out to better understand them all right

now let's break down our ux learning

process into bite-size pieces first up

it's crucial to understand the

difference between UI ux product what

the hell are these fig Ma's resource

library has an awesome article on this

topic additionally I've also made a

video which is ux design versus product

design because many people get confused

with this titles that's by the way the

first video I ever made on this channel

so highly recommend you go check that

out as well you would also want to

explore the significance of ux design

and its impact in the success of

products it's all about creating

intuitive user experiences you see from

my side I made two videos on this topic

one video is about design process and

another one goes by the name 10 ux laws

terms and principles everyone should

know now let's talk about some free

resources which you can use to get

started in ux design the first one is a

website called design systems.com by

figma the website features a number of

Articles and tutorials that explain the

different components of Design Systems

such as style guides component libraries

and documentation the case studies on

design systems.com highlight how

companies like Google Airbnb and Spotify

have used Design Systems to improve

their product development process and

create more consistent user experiences

next is figma resource Library it

includes a number of pre-built

components and templates that can be

used to create basic user interfaces

quickly and easily this can be a great

way to get started with ux design even

if you have no prior experience one of

the best things about figma resource

library is that it is constantly being

updated with new assets from Top

designers around the world this means

you can always have the latest and the

greatest Trends in design you can also

check out the playlist figma for

beginners on figma's YouTube channel the

playlist takes you on a quick tour of

key features through a rough

approximation of the design process

where you design a mobile app together

then you can check out this playlist

where you dive into the figma features

and learn how to speed up your design

workflow figma also has another playlist

where you learn to create fluid and

responsive designs to save time bring

design close to Technologies like

flexbox the tutorials will guide you

through the process from a blank canvas

to a complete component all right so we

have been talking about tools but I

would also want to talk about another

kind of tools before we get into some

more interesting stuff the next set of

tools are AI tools when you're done with

the videos I mentioned above I want you

to learn how to use AI tools to help you

in your ux design Journey AI tools can

be a GameChanger for you AI can help you

streamline processes gather valuable

insights and enhance the user experience

you can use chat GPT to generate

personas interview questions and Survey

promts essentially anything that has got

to do with text and for visual ideation

you can use mid journey to generate

visual concepts for UI designs for

example you could ask it to generate a

mockup of a new landing page or to

generate different design options for a

particular illustration and so on chat

GPD has a free option but mid Journey

they've recently made it paid so yeah

you'll have to Shell out some money if

you want to be used mid Journey as an

alternative you can go with other image

generation tools like Jasper art and

leonard. a all I want to say is that AI

tools can be a valuable asset for you as

a designer by using AI tools you can

save time improve efficiency and create

more userfriendly in accessible designs

in a very short time it's not here to

replace you it's here to speed you up by

doing some redundant pieces of work so

that you can focus on the things that

really really matter now what are the

things that really matter let's get

there along with design softwares and

tools which we have just spoken about

it's equally important for a ux designer

to understand user psychology now don't

get scared by the word psychology it's

nothing but an understanding of how

other human beings that is your users

think feel and behave it's basic empathy

this understanding of humans will help

you to design experiences that are both

easy to use and enjoyable to interact

with something that are more likely to

be adopted and used by your users for

this you'll need to dive into case

studies to learn how users interact with

digital products and more importantly

how other established designers think

figma has its medium page where they

share some of the case studies but one

of my favorite destinations for case

studies is growth. design well these are

not traditional case studies they're

more of tear down of existing apps and

products they are written in a

non-conventional way but they are very

well analyzed and very detailed I also

review case studies on this YouTube

channel on a weekly basis I have a

separate playlist for that which goes by

the name sapta reviews you must go

through every video in that list to

understand how industry reviews case

studies and how your work will be

reviewed when you appli to a company

also make sure to subscribe to this

channel to get the latest case study

reviews along with that I've also shared

my my own case study on this channel my

first case study which helped me to get

my first design job there were so many

mistakes that I made in that case study

which I openly criticized so that you

don't make those mistakes in your case

studies these are all available for free

all right once youve got the knowledge

it's time to put it into practice start

with passion projects or dummy projects

to hone your skills redesign existing

websites or apps for free just out of

Interest showcasing your creativity and

problem solving abilities and don't

forget to show off your work online

platforms like medium behance and

dribble are excellent for sharing your

designs and insights creating before and

after comparison in case it's a redesign

that you have done and video breakdowns

of your work can give you a real Edge

this not only showcases Your Design

skills but also demonstrates your

thought process you can check out my

profiles if you want some inspiration

I'll leave the link of the medium and

the dribble profile now building a

strong portfolio is essential for

landing a ux design job include your

best work in the form of case studies

three to four case studies should be

ideal in your portfolio it's also fine

if you have one or two of them but make

sure they're detailed and it reflects

your ability as a designer both from a

thinking and Hands-On aspect these case

studies provide a deep dive into your

design thinking which potential

employers would love to see you can

check out this video to build your

portfolio I've shared some insights in

it which will be really helpful to you

all right now let's talk about where to

apply where do you apply for the jobs

VCB startup agencies and design Focus

mnc's are excellent places to start your

career if you want to work with startups

you can check out wound. comom

previously it was called Angel list.com

you might have heard here you will get

to see VCB startups who need interns or

employees another great way to apply is

via social media platforms like LinkedIn

and Twitter now this could be a slightly

long-term strategy all that you need to

do is follow and connect with designers

from companies where you would want to

work one day observe and interact with

the post that they make if they post

about design you can drop a well-thought

comment expressing your point of view

that way they will start knowing you as

a designer and whenever there are

openings in those companies they will

also post about that and by then if you

had already established your identity as

a designer in front of them there's a

higher likelihood of them going through

your portfolio before others of course

you'll have to back it up with some

great work there's another way as well

which is sending cold mails I've made a

dedicated video on this where you could

draft a c mail using chat GPT and also

send it to people and also how to find

the email IDs of those people I

mentioned everything in the video so

please make sure you check that out now

you might be wondering um what about pay

I need to get paid how much will I make

as a ux designer well it varies

depending on your location and

experience websites like glass door can

give you a rough estimate of what you

can expect but an average number can

only do so much good in India a

well-funded startup can pay 15 to 20

lakhs perom for a beginner ux designer

of course to land a job in a companies

like that you'll have to be that good

and I strongly feel that you should

definitely aim for the best but let me

also remind you that your Journey

doesn't end when you land in your first

job it's crucial to keep updating your

portfolio with work and creating new

case studies and developing new skills

consistently demonstrating your growth

as a designer will open doors to bigger

responsibilities and higher paying roles

take me for an example when I got my

first design job I was all happy and

cheerful but just after 3 to 4 weeks a

senior executive of design called me in

his office and told me that I was not

delivering the results as expected at

first I tried to escape but eventually I

understood that that I need to get

better because that's the only way to

move forward I learned new technologies

and softwares which helped me excel in

my career and yes please don't take the

soft skills on a lighter note they are

crucial very very crucial so crucial

that they can make or break your career

effective communication is really a key

not just for chatting with your

co-workers but also justifying Your

Design decisions to your co-workers to

your leadership people to your managers

and everyone which is an important part

of design your design doesn't just and

on figma you'll also have to explain why

have you taken that decision good

communication also increases your

chances of clearing interviews watch

this video by Chris do to learn the

basic elements of communication next you

also need to learn how to get people to

say yes and master the art of persuation

these skills will set you apart in the

competitive world of design you can

check out this video to increase your

chances of clearing interviews or

closing clients now with time as you

gain experience you can explore

full-time offers or continue freelancing

and remember working working with teams

is an essential part of ux design build

your confidence improve your leadership

skills and even consider mentorship as

you advance in your career I will link

on videos that you can go through to get

to know these skills I just spoke about

confidence speak more confidently and

introverts guide to working with clients

I will leave it linked leadership how to

build expertise while learning

management I strongly believe after

doing all this you can be a designer who

can be a great fit into any company but

that's not where you stop keep advancing

your skills be an expert of your subject

as you do that you will simultaneously

see your salary growing if you want to

see my salary growth as an Indian

designer check out this video it's a

2-year-old video though but it'll still

give you an idea about what is possible

it has everything that you need to know

here all right so we are talking about

advancing as a designer but how do you

do that the simplest answer is obviously

to take higher designing roles while

working on your craft another way to

advance in your career is to learn

Technologies like spatial design it's an

existing area to explore which is often

get used in AR and VR spatial design is

a field of design that focuses on

creating user experiences in

threedimensional spaces spatial

designers considers factors such as the

physical environment the users movements

and the users's interaction with the

objects and the users you'll see it's

just the form which is different the

fundamentals of design do not really

change so all that questioning when you

look at anything all that brainstorming

and thinking remains same it's just that

the form in which it is getting

translated for the end user is different

in case of spa design you've heard of

apple design Pro right it is designed

for spatial Computing Apple's own human

interface guidelines provide valuable

insights regarding spatial design so I

highly recommend you go check that out

as well stay up toate with emerging

Trends and you'll be well prepared for

the evolving world of uxix speaking of

which the future of ux is incredibly

exciting with the rise of new

technologies such as virtual reality

augmented reality and AI designers will

have new and innovative ways to create

user experiences another Trend in ux

design is the move towards more

immersive experiences VR and AR can be

used to create user interfaces that are

more realistic and engaging for example

a VR interface could allow a user to

virtually explore a product before they

buy it to prepare for the future of ux

you need to be adaptable and willing to

learn new skills and I hope this video

was helpful to teach you how could you

do that all the resources I mentioned in

this video will be there in the

descriptions go check them out and if

you feel confused don't hesitate to

watch the video again so that was all

from my side if you found this video

useful please like and share it in your

network and please hit that subscribe

button it motivates me to create more

content for you this is sapta see you

folks in the next

one