Published on | Prototyping: From UX to Front End — Medium Dan Andrews

I wrote an article about a month ago published by prototypr.io and since that time I’ve had quite a few people reach out to me asking me questions. What follows is the result of me sitting down to answer them

Context

I graduated university in 2011 and I spent most of my twenties abroad. Even before then I had spent a lot of time abroad and moved around frequently. I think I was destined to be somewhat nomadic (read: unsettled).

I spent most of that time in Asia, where I found Buddhism, developed my longstanding interest in the mind and rediscovered my love for writing, art and photography along the way.

I loved graphic design at school and I started transitioning into design about 18 months ago. My journey started with Designlab and with the completion of UX Academy in May, my initial training finished with them: the emphasis is placed firmly on initial.

I spent most 2016 designing anything and everything related to design. Print. Digital. Illustrations. I even started a passion project I’d been avoiding and learning photoshop in the process.

Summary: If I can do it: so can you.

Start designing today.

This brings me to the first and most obvious point: if you want to move into design, in anyway shape or form: start designing. If you have money, take a class. If you don’t, use the internet for something other than Netflix. Watch tutorials. Start copying things. Find charities who need help: a quick Google search will uncover opportunities. Admittedly many places will want someone with experience, but others will help you. If not now, maybe later.

You can get a 30 day free trial of Adobe products and I’m sure you have more than one email address. You can get a free ten-day trial of both Sketch and Affinity Designer, although I’d buy both if you are serious. Both are built by great teams and you can actually pay for something and own it…not just the privilege of using it. How novel.

You’re probably thinking“ but I don’t want to be a visual designer” well that may be a valid point, particularly if you have a design background and you are looking to move solely into UX. If not, gaining any design skills will help you in the long run. Design is about solving problems. Gain exposure to as many problems as possible.

If you don’t have any experience you need to get some. Grab any opportunity you can to solve a problem in and out of design. You will learn something from every project you do. UX is about understanding user needs and aligning them business goals. You can do both with almost any design project. Bid on poorly paying jobs, do free work, design a logo for your neighbours lemon stand which takes a month of your time and still looks reminiscent of a wonderful piece of clipart.

Learn about the process. Start gaining experience now. Email local companies and ask to spend some time with them.

There are many free courses and tuturoials online. Do them. Do something. Do anything.

Summary: “Do” needs to become your word of choice.

To bootcamp, or not to bootcamp: that is the question

Yes, of course, it’s possible to get a job in UX without any formal or informal education in the field …being entirely self-taught, creating your portfolio, looking on the internet for every UX resource and learning all of the techniques. People do it. Some people like to go alone.

But other people, like me, are fond of structure, a curriculum and guidance and support from mentors and peers. Herein lied the real value for me: working with someone who is currently designing in the field. The real world application begins on day one. With a student community and mentor support, it also gives you a safety net for those days you have no idea what you are doing (most of them) or want to quit because you feel like you aren’t progressing (a fair few of them).

You certainly can do it on your own.

But, I don’t think it’s the most efficient way.

To quote Chris Rock:

“You can drive a car with your feet if you want to. But, it doesn’t make it a good idea”.

There are many bootcamp options and I haven’t tried them all. I can recommend Designlab because I did studied with them, but I’m sure there are many great alternatives. UX Academy worked for me because it’s entirely remote, flexible and they pair you with an industry expert. I took a short course with them to test compatibility.

People have asked me questions like “is bootcamp X or y” enough: I don’t know. It depends on the person and the motivation behind studying. Just because you attend a bootcamp it’s not going to guarantee you a job the day you graduate. Conversely, if you don’t do one then it doesn’t mean you can’t get move into UX either. Think of education in the purest sense of the word. You need to learn about UX, the processes and methods used, create products and then create a portfolio showing all of these things.

If time is important to you, I believe you will learn substantially faster with a bootcamp than on your own. If I could do it all over again I’d study with designlab. Actually, if you read this and you end up wanting to study with them, send me a DM and I will send you a referral code. The Dan Andrews travelling fund welcomes all donors.

Summary: take a bootcamp if you can afford it.

Mix it up

After completing your bootcamp, or whatever path you have taken to create your portfolio and become your idea of ‘job ready’: it’s time to apply for jobs. If you are applying for jobs and you aren’t getting results. Firstly, be patient. Don’t hound the recruiters or the companies you have applied to. Secondly, don’t keep doing the same thing if it’s not working. Adapt.

You have the method: Applying directly, through a recruiter, through a jobs board, in person, calling etc.

Your portfolio: If nobody is looking at it, it may be time to ask yourself why.

Frequency: If you aren’t hearing back from people you should either apply to more jobs or spend longer on the applications you submit.

Experiment with them all.

Summary: Don’t do the same thing and expect different results

Make friends

The UX community is very supportive. Get an official mentor if you can (more support for attending a bootcamp) or try to find an unofficial one.
Attend anything any everything that contains the word UX. You can learn from anyone in life, and you can certainly learn from anyone doing the job you are wanting to do.

Accept that it’s somewhat of a ‘new field’, since the time of writing the title has changed from UX Designer -> Product Designer -> UX Architect -> UX/UI Designer -> UX Consultant and back again. This is also the reason you should pay more attention to the job description than the title. Many companies will still have no idea what they want a UX Designer to do, they just think they need one.

Embrace all opinions until you have enough experience to form your own, at which point respect them. Practice empathy.

Summary: Step away from the screen and listen to people

Recruiters and finding jobs

I have been asked a few times:

“Do you know any good recruiters?”

Of course. I’m based in London but I believe the same applies everywhere:
Good is very subjective. What one person considers to be ‘good’ may not be the same for another, and I think recruitment is about personal relationships. I may get on very well a recruiter, but you may not. It’s always easier to work with someone you get on well with. I think there are many reputable firms and I’d advise you to contact as many of them as possible.

I would say that in general they want to help mid level and seniors so don’t expect them to climb over each other to sign you up and get you a job.
I tend to believe that people are inherently good and until they’ve shown otherwise then I give everyone the benefit of the doubt. They will help you if they feel they can. I’m sure you know they work on commission. Trust me: they’d get you a job today if you were an obvious match and great candidate for something.

Goodbye ‘how to enter UX Design’ articles

If you’ve made it this far: thank you.
I am a firm believer in paying it forward and I’m always happy to answer questions people may have. Indeed, it’s my motivation for writing this. Along my journey, I was helped by so many people, and I encourage you to reach out to people: talk to people who are where you are trying to go.
This will, however, be my last piece on the topic. I originally set out to write for my own benefit of documenting the process and to help others along the way. I believe I have achieved both…even if the latter is only in small amounts.
Stay tuned for more pieces about design: the thing which occupies almost all of my waking time 🙂

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Dear Aspiring UX Designer… was originally published in prototypr on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Dear Aspiring UX Designer…

Cool stuff, every week

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