A guide for career in User Experience (UX) design without formal education?

Considering a career in User Experience (UX) design but lacking formal education? Don't worry, many successful UX professionals started the same way! Here's a roadmap to gain practical experience:

1. Build Your Design Foundation:

• Read foundational UX books: Start with classics like "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman, "Universal Principles of Design" by William Lidwell, and "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug. These books demystify core UX principles and establish a strong foundation.

2. Stay Informed with Industry Blogs:

• Subscribe to top UX blogs: Stay current with industry trends and best practices by following leading blogs like UX Planet, A List Apart, UX Matters, UX Booth, and Nielsen Norman Group.

3. Online Learning Platforms:

• Enroll in beginner-friendly UX courses: Platforms like Coursera offer valuable courses like Google's UX Design Professional Certificate. This online format provides flexibility and allows you to learn at your own pace.

Beyond These Steps:

• Practice User Research: Volunteer to conduct basic user research for local businesses or non-profits. This hands-on experience will hone your observation and interview skills.

• Portfolio Projects: Choose existing apps or websites and redesign them, focusing on usability improvements. Document your process and present it as part of your portfolio.

• The Power of Community: Connect with other aspiring UX designers online or in local meetups. Sharing knowledge and experiences can be a great motivator.

Remember: Dedication, passion, and a willingness to learn are key to success!

How to clear UX interviews

Yesterday, I interviewed for a UX position, and I was impressed by the interviewee's attention. If you're planning to give an interview for a UX position, here are some areas that you can improve upon, along with some things that would be good to keep in mind.

1. Be ready with your portfolio: A Portfolio is such a good ice breaker for me; it helps us understand the candidate's thought process and gives us a good insight into his UX awareness and capability to comprehend his thinking.

2. Honesty: Please always be honest. If you know the answer to a question, say so. If you don't know, it's okay to admit that. But it would help if you were willing to learn and find the answer. Can you provide examples of how you have been updating your skills? For instance, mention any certifications you have obtained or any problems you have recently worked on.

3. Focus on the process: I have told all my team members and group to focus on UX processes, not the output. Output can be wrong sometimes, but we, as interviewers, are looking at whether you are following the process.

4. Ask relevant questions: if you have doubts, please ask questions; do not shy away; if you need some explanation on the task, please ask questions.

5. Know the organisation: I appreciate one aspect of the candidate's approach: he took the time to study our company by researching our website and learning about our employees through LinkedIn. Therefore, it is essential to understand the company and the industry in which it operates, as this will enable you to communicate more effectively with the interviewer.

6. Stay positive: Always maintain a positive attitude, smile often, and strive to learn from your mistakes.

I hope this information will help aspiring UX designers to achieve their dream. Please share your thoughts.

How to become a better UX designer?

In the world of UX design, it is easy to get carried away with the desire to come up with solutions quickly. However, it is essential to realize that effective design requires a thorough understanding of the problem, not just a hasty execution. This is where it becomes essential to shift from simply executing tasks to exploring and understanding the problem deeply.

Taking a patient and curious approach is crucial in my journey as a UX designer. I have realised that quick and hasty solutions often fail to meet the design requirements. Therefore, I always strive to understand the underlying reasons behind each project before delving into the execution phase.

To solve a problem, we must go beyond the surface level and ask questions revealing the bigger picture. This involves understanding the business goals behind a project and the user's journey, including their hopes, frustrations, and context. We must also consider if the problem is really what it seems or if a more profound layer needs to be explored. By answering these questions, we can develop impactful solutions that consider both the business objectives and the user's needs. We should approach design as more than just aesthetics, but as a way to create experiences that solve real problems in a way that resonates with users.

This is especially relevant when we interact with stakeholders seeking solutions. Instead of immediately jumping into execution mode, let's shift the conversation. Ask them their goals, their research, their hopes and fears. Encourage them to explore the problem before jumping to conclusions. By guiding them through this critical thinking process, we equip them to be better partners in the design journey, leading to more collaborative and effective outcomes.

Let's adopt an explorer mindset not just for self-improvement, but also to create a ripple effect. We can improve the entire design process by replacing knee-jerk reactions with thoughtful inquiry. Instead of superficial solutions, let's dig deeper to address the underlying issues, bridging the gap between business goals and user needs.

Let's challenge ourselves to move beyond the "doer" mentality and embrace the "thinker" within. We should ask more questions, explore more deeply, and become explorers in the vast landscape of human experience. Only then can we design solutions that have a lasting impact.