You’re Not Behind — A Calm, Practical Way to Start Learning UX Design

If you’re feeling confused, unsure, or even a little overwhelmed right now, pause for a moment. That feeling is normal. It doesn’t mean you’re late. It doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong. It usually means you’re standing at the beginning of something new.

Almost everyone who learns UX design goes through this phase. The difference between people who move forward and people who quit isn’t talent — it’s clarity and patience.

Let’s simplify things.

First, Don’t Start With Tools

This is where most beginners get stuck.

It’s tempting to jump straight into tools like Figma, thinking, “If I learn this, I’ll become a designer.” Tools are important, but they are not the foundation. Tools are easy to learn later. Design thinking takes time.

UX design is not about screens.

It’s about people, problems, and decisions.

Before you worry about software, learn how to see design.

Start Simple: Train Your Design Eye

You don’t need a course to begin. You already use dozens of products every day — apps, websites, dashboards, booking flows.

Here’s a simple daily habit that builds real UX thinking:

Every day, pick one product you use and write down:

• 3 things you like

• 3 things you would improve

That’s it.

Don’t overthink it. Use plain language.

This exercise trains you to:

• Notice patterns

• Question decisions

• Think from a user’s point of view

Do this consistently, and your design perspective will grow naturally.

Learn the Basics Slowly (This Matters)

Good UX starts long before visuals.

Before colors, fonts, or layouts, focus on:

• Who the users are

• What problem they’re trying to solve

• How they move from start to finish

Understanding flows and intent is more important than making things look nice.

If you want to build this foundation, one book is especially helpful:

The Design of Everyday Things.

It teaches you why designs work or fail — using everyday objects, not jargon. Read it slowly. Let it change how you see the world around you.

If You Want Structure, Use It as a Guide — Not Pressure

Some people learn best with a clear path. If that’s you, the Google UX Certificate can help.

Think of it as:

• A framework, not a finish line

• A way to understand process, not mastery

Don’t rush through it. Don’t compare yourself to others. Take what’s useful and move on.

When You’re Ready, Then Learn Tools

Once you start understanding users and flows, tools will make sense.

At that stage, Figma is enough to begin:

• It’s free

• It works on Mac

• It’s widely used

You don’t need to master everything. Learn just enough to express your thinking.

Your Background Is Not a Weakness

If you come from Fine Arts or a creative background, you already have valuable skills:

• Observation

• Sensitivity to detail

• Visual balance

• Empathy

UX design builds on these — it just adds structure and problem-solving.

Go Step by Step — and Stay Curious

You don’t need to know everything today.

You just need to take the next small step.

Observe.

Write.

Question.

Learn slowly.

And remember: feeling unsure at the beginning isn’t a sign you don’t belong.

It’s a sign you’re learning.

Stay curious.

Breaking the “I” Habit: Building Better Products Together

Many UX leads struggle with decisions that are too focused on personal preferences. When discussions include phrases like “I think,” “I prefer,” or “I designed,” they limit the conversation to one person's viewpoint. This not only stifles creativity but also moves the product away from actual user needs. A major obstacle in UX is the word “I.”

Great design comes from shared understanding, evidence, and teamwork, not just individual opinions. When teams use insights instead of assumptions, they find solutions that are more innovative, inclusive, and centered on users.

In this post, we will discuss how relying on personal opinions weakens UX outcomes and how using collective insights can create better, more meaningful products.

Why “I” Limits User Experience Design

Designers are creative people with unique skills and preferences. However, when one person makes design choices based only on their own likes, the result often shows their personal biases instead of addressing the needs of a wide range of users. When someone says, "I think this works best," they overlook the complexity of how users behave and the context they are in.

The "I" mindset can lead to several problems:

• Narrow solutions that fit only one viewpoint

• Missed user needs because of assumptions

• Resistance to feedback that challenges personal ideas

• Reduced innovation due to lack of diverse input

  
  

For example, a designer might choose a minimalist interface because they find it stylish. But users with different backgrounds or accessibility needs may have trouble using it. Without input from others, these issues often go unnoticed until after the product is released.

The Power of Collective Understanding

Collective understanding means combining different perspectives to create a shared view of user needs and goals. It requires teamwork among designers, developers, product managers, and, most importantly, users.

This approach offers several benefits:

• Broader perspectives uncover hidden challenges

• Shared ownership encourages open feedback and iteration

• Stronger empathy for users through diverse experiences

• More creative solutions from combining ideas

  
  

Teams that value collective insights often use workshops, co-creation sessions, and user testing to gather input. This creates a feedback loop where ideas develop based on real-world evidence instead of assumptions.

Team collaborating on user experience design with sketches and notes

Team collaboration around user experience sketches encourages diverse input and shared understanding.

Practical Steps to Shift from “I” to “We” in UX Design

Transitioning from an individual mindset to a collective approach in UX design requires effort. Here are some key strategies:

1. Involve Users Early and Often

Engage real users from the start through interviews and usability tests to ensure designs meet actual needs.

2. Encourage Cross-Functional Collaboration

Include diverse team members, such as developers and marketers, in design discussions to gain valuable perspectives.

3. Use Data to Guide Decisions

Use analytics and user feedback to support design choices, reducing reliance on personal preferences.

4. Facilitate Open Discussions

Create a safe space for team members to challenge ideas and explore options through brainstorming sessions.

5. Document and Share Insights

Maintain a shared repository of user research and feedback to keep everyone aligned and informed.

Examples of Collective Insights Improving UX

Example 1: Redesigning an E-commerce Checkout

A team learned that users preferred a step-by-step checkout process, resulting in a 15% increase in purchases after adjusting their initial design.

Example 2: Accessibility Improvements in a Mobile App

Collaborating with users with disabilities revealed issues with color contrast and navigation, leading to improvements in app ratings and user base.

What You Can Do to Shift From “I” to “We”

Making this shift starts with how you approach design every day. Here are practical steps you can take to reduce reliance on personal preference and bring more collective insight into your work:

1. Catch Yourself When You Start With “I”

Notice when you say “I think” or “I prefer.” Pause and replace it with:

• “Users told us…”

• “The data shows…”

• “The team observed…”

This small habit change redirects the conversation toward evidence, not assumptions.

2. Bring Others Into Your Thinking Early

Share sketches, ideas, and flows before they feel polished. Invite quick feedback from peers, developers, PMs, or researchers. Early collaboration creates better solutions and prevents tunnel vision.

3. Validate Your Assumptions with Users

Run a quick test, short interview, or small experiment. Even light-weight validation is more powerful than internal preference. Let users confirm—or reshape—your direction.

4. Ask More Questions Than You Answer

Shift from defending ideas to exploring possibilities. Questions like:

• “How might this work for different user types?”

• “What constraints am I not seeing?”

• “What would success look like for the user?”open the door to collective problem-solving.

  
  

5. Keep a Personal Insight Library

Instead of relying on memory or opinion, build a lightweight repository of:

• user quotes

• recurring pain points

• test results

• design decisions and the reasons behind them

  
  

This becomes your go-to source when forming or explaining design choices.

6. Practice Letting Go of Your Favorite Ideas

Not every idea you love will serve the user. Releasing attachment makes it easier to evolve concepts based on feedback or evidence.

7. Model the Shift for Others

When you consistently reference insights, invite feedback, and acknowledge what you don’t know, others follow your lead. You influence the team by example, not authority.

Moving Forward as a Designer

The shift away from “I” isn’t about silencing your expertise—it’s about strengthening it with broader input. When you combine your skill with collective insights, your work becomes clearer, more inclusive, and more effective.

Every time you choose curiosity over opinion, or evidence over preference, you create better outcomes for your users—and you grow as a designer in the process.

Essential UX Books to Level Up Your Design Skills and Knowledge

User experience design is a field that blends creativity, psychology, and technology. Whether you are just starting or looking to deepen your expertise, the right books can guide your learning and inspire your work. This post highlights five essential UX books that cover fundamental principles and practical approaches. These books provide a solid foundation for anyone aiming to improve their design skills and create user-friendly products.

A collection of essential UX books stacked neatly on a wooden surface

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug

This book is a classic introduction to intuitive web design. Steve Krug explains how users interact with websites and why simplicity matters. The main idea is that good design should make users think as little as possible. The book is full of practical advice, such as:

• Use clear navigation and labels

• Avoid unnecessary elements that distract users

• Test designs with real users to find problems quickly

  
  

Krug’s writing style is straightforward and often humorous, making complex ideas easy to understand. This book is perfect for beginners and experienced designers who want to refresh their approach to usability.

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

Don Norman’s book explores the psychology behind how people use objects and interfaces. It reveals why some designs work well and others fail. The book introduces key concepts like affordances, signifiers, and feedback, which help designers create products that communicate their function clearly.

For example, a door handle that invites pulling rather than pushing improves user experience. Norman’s insights apply beyond physical products to digital interfaces, helping designers anticipate user behavior and reduce errors.

This book is essential for understanding the human side of design and building empathy for users.

Lean UX by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden

Lean UX focuses on fast, collaborative, and iterative design processes. It encourages teams to build products based on real user feedback rather than assumptions. The book outlines methods to:

• Create hypotheses and test them quickly

• Work closely with cross-functional teams

• Use minimal documentation to speed up design cycles

  
  

This approach suits startups and agile teams that need to adapt rapidly to changing requirements. Lean UX helps designers stay user-centered while delivering value efficiently.

About Face by Alan Cooper, Robert Reimann, David Cronin, and Christopher Noessel

About Face is a comprehensive guide to interaction design. It covers everything from basic principles to advanced techniques for creating effective user interfaces. The book explains how to design for different platforms, including desktop, mobile, and emerging technologies.

Key topics include:

• Goal-directed design to focus on user needs

• Designing for different user personas

• Creating clear and consistent navigation patterns

  
  

This book is a valuable resource for designers who want to deepen their understanding of interaction design and build sophisticated, user-friendly products.

Hooked by Nir Eyal

Hooked explores how products create habits and engage users ethically. Nir Eyal presents a model called the Hook Model, which describes four steps that encourage repeated use:

• Trigger: A prompt that initiates action

• Action: The behavior performed by the user

• Variable reward: A reward that varies to keep users interested

• Investment: The user’s contribution that increases future engagement

  
  

This book is useful for designers who want to build products that users return to regularly without relying on manipulative tactics. It emphasizes motivation and ethical engagement, helping designers create meaningful experiences.

How These Books Work Together

Each book offers a unique perspective on UX design, combining theory and practice:

• Don’t Make Me Think teaches simplicity and usability basics.

• The Design of Everyday Things builds understanding of human behavior.

• Lean UX introduces agile, user-focused workflows.

• About Face provides detailed interaction design techniques.

• Hooked explains how to create engaging, habit-forming products.

  
  

Reading these books will give you a well-rounded view of UX design. You will learn how to design intuitive interfaces, understand user psychology, work efficiently in teams, and create products that users love.

Applying What You Learn

To get the most from these books, try applying their lessons in your projects:

• Conduct usability tests inspired by Don’t Make Me Think to identify confusing elements.

• Analyze everyday objects using concepts from The Design of Everyday Things to improve your designs.

• Use Lean UX principles to run quick experiments and gather user feedback.

• Develop user personas and scenarios based on About Face to guide your design decisions.

• Incorporate the Hook Model to build features that encourage positive habits.

  
  

Combining reading with hands-on practice will accelerate your growth as a UX designer.

Final Thoughts

Mastering UX design requires understanding both the user’s mind and the design process. These five books offer clear, practical guidance to help you build that knowledge. Start with the essentials, then explore deeper topics as you gain experience. Your designs will become more user-friendly, effective, and engaging.