{"id":4360,"date":"2021-05-26T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-26T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/uncategorized\/how-to-become-a-ui-designer\/"},"modified":"2023-12-08T11:48:06","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T10:48:06","slug":"how-to-become-a-ui-designer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/how-to-become-a-ui-designer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a User Interface (UI) Designer: A Step-by-Step Guide for 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"so-you-want-to-become-a-ui-designernbsp\"><strong>So you want to know how to become a UI designer? Then you\u2019ve come to the right place.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll consider the state of the UI industry in 2025, whether now is a good time to become a UI designer, and of course, we\u2019ll cover everything you need to make your career change happen.<\/p>\n<p>Ready? Let\u2019s go.<\/p>\n<p>Hi, I\u2019m Eric, a course designer for the career-change <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-ui-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UI Design Program<\/a>\u00a0at CareerFoundry, and a long-time UI designer. I\u2019ve spent the last 10 years learning and practicing User Interface Design, so I like to think I know a thing or two about the industry.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s what we\u2019ll cover in this article:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#is-now-a-good-time-to-become-a-ui-designer-2021-update\">Is now a good time to become a UI designer? (2024 update)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-is-user-interface-design\">What is user interface (UI) design?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-exactly-does-a-ui-designer-do\">What exactly does a UI designer do?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-skills-and-traits-do-you-need-to-become-a-ui-designer\">What skills and traits do you need to become a UI designer?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#why-i-became-a-ui-designer\">Why I became a UI designer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-challenges-might-you-face\">What challenges might you face?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-are-the-best-ways-to-learn-to-become-a-ui-designer\">What are the best ways to learn to become a UI designer in 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-are-the-next-steps-you-should-take\">What are the next steps you should take?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#key-takeaways-and-further-reading\">Key takeaways and further reading<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>During the last decade, I\u2019ve worked with startups, talented entrepreneurs, designers, and developers on numerous exciting applications and products. The variety of the work is something that really attracted me to the role and makes every day truly unique.<\/p>\n<p>My experience ranges from designing mobile games to social networks to communication tools, and I can honestly say it\u2019s been an amazing journey!<\/p>\n<p>In this post, I want to share with you some of the most important things I\u2019ve learned about <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/what-qualifications-do-you-need-to-become-a-ui-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launching a career in User Interface design<\/a> so that when you decide this is the career for you, you\u2019re fully prepared to take that next step into a formalized education like the <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-ui-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UI Design Program<\/a> I have written for CareerFoundry.<\/p>\n<style>.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }<\/style>\n<div class=\"embed-container\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ot_XIhpJezs\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><strong>So how do you become a UI designer?<\/strong> What do you need to know and where do you even begin? And, perhaps most importantly, is now a good time to become a UI designer?<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s get started with a look at the state of the UI industry in 2025.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"is-now-a-good-time-to-become-a-ui-designer-2021-update\">1. Is now a good time to become a UI designer? (2024 update)<\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s no denying that the last few years have been challenging, and it\u2019s fair to say that we\u2019re all going into 2025 with a certain degree of trepidation about what the future may hold.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re considering a career change, you\u2019re most likely wondering if now is a good time to do it. Above all, you want to ensure that your new industry can offer job security. Before we look at why and how to become a UI designer, let\u2019s first consider whether UI designers are still in demand.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"are-ui-designers-currently-in-demand\">Are UI designers currently in demand?<\/h3>\n<p>In a world where remote work is the new normal, we\u2019re relying on <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/digital-design-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">digital products and services<\/a> more than ever\u2014from online meeting tools to fitness tracking, from e-commerce platforms to healthcare and wellness apps, and everything else in between.<\/p>\n<p>The digital experiences that make up our day-to-day lives have been created, in part, by user interface designers; the people who make sure that these products not only look great, but that they\u2019re also intuitive, accessible, and inclusive. The demand for UI designers is evident just by looking at the world around us and the myriad interfaces we engage with on a daily basis.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career-advice\/finding-a-job\/it-job-demand\" rel=\"noopener\">Indeed<\/a> found UI designers to be one of the most in-demand professionals in 2025\u2014but will the demand for UI designers continue into 2025 and beyond?<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s highly likely. There is an increasing demand for high-quality digital products and experiences\u2014a trend that is more prominent than ever since many aspects of our lives have moved to the digital realm, and one that we expect to see continuing through 2025.<\/p>\n<p>So: Despite some continued uncertainty for the economy in general, the future looks bright\u2014and stable\u2014for UI designers. If you\u2019d like to gauge a more specific overview of the job market in your local area, just search for UI designer roles in your city or state on sites like LinkedIn, glassdoor, and Indeed.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-has-covid-19-affected-the-industry\">How did the pandemic and tech lay-offs affect the industry?<\/h3>\n<p>One of the most notable changes since the pandemic is the rise of remote work. It\u2019s reported that <a href=\"https:\/\/go.forrester.com\/predictions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">remote work is up, <\/a>with a focus on hybrid compared to pre-pandemic levels, and this is definitely something you\u2019ll need to factor into your job search when the time comes.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, with the right tools, UI designers can work remotely\u2014and if you learn UI design through an online program, you\u2019ll already be well-versed in remote collaboration and project management. This will serve as a huge advantage when it comes to applying for remote jobs.<\/p>\n<p>Whether or not remote work is here to stay remains to be seen; however, you should expect to work remotely on at least a part-time basis if you\u2019re job hunting in 2025. You can learn more about what it\u2019s like to work as a remote UI designer <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/work-as-a-remote-ui-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in this guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Another recent upheaval was the <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tech lay-offs of 2023<\/span>, which caused panic throughout the tech industry and for anyone looking to make a shift into it.<\/p>\n<p>Fortunately, these fears were largely misplaced, as the layoffs eased by mid-2023, and other industries still needed tech workers, proven through hiring trends. For further insight, <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/career-change\/big-tech-layoffs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">read our article unpacking the tech layoffs here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"can-newly-qualified-ui-designers-still-get-hired-in-2021\">Can newly qualified UI designers still get hired in 2025?<\/h3>\n<p>We\u2019ve talked about the demand for UI designers in general, and 2025 looks set to be a promising year. But does this apply to newly-qualified designers? As a newcomer to the field with little or no experience, you might think your chances of getting hired are slim\u2014especially in today\u2019s uncertain economic climate. In reality, though, your fresh perspectives are often exactly what employers are looking for.<\/p>\n<p>You can learn more about how to do this in our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/ui-designer-with-no-experience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">learning UI design<\/a> with no previous experience. As an industry newcomer, you\u2019ll ask different kinds of questions and approach design problems from new angles\u2014and that\u2019s ultimately what helps companies to innovate.<\/p>\n<p>Something else that may strike you as a concern but is actually to a beginner&#8217;s benefit is the impact of AI on UI design. Rather than being replaced by AI, UI design, with its important human element, actually benefits from the streamlining and efficacy that AI tools offer to UI designers. So, for beginners, this recent integration and ongoing development means that when it comes to AI, they&#8217;re often at the same level of expertise (or even higher) as more experienced designers.<\/p>\n<p>Learn more from <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/ai-ui-design\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">our full guide on the impact of AI on UI design<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So, to answer the question: Newly qualified designers absolutely can (and do!) get hired, even in unpredictable times like these. It\u2019s all about how you market yourself and emphasize the unique value you bring.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-much-can-ui-designers-expect-to-earn\">How much can UI designers expect to earn?<\/h3>\n<p>Last but not least, you\u2019ll want to know if your new career path can offer you a reasonable salary. At the time of writing, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career\/user-interface-designer\/salaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">average salary<\/a> for a UI designer in the United States is $$89,841 USD. Of course, your salary will vary depending on where you live and work, as well as how many years of experience you bring with you.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll find a detailed look at how UI designer salaries vary around the world in our <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/how-much-will-i-earn-as-a-ui-designer\/\">UI designer salary guide<\/a>, together with tips on how to boost your earning potential once your UI career is off the ground.<\/p>\n<p>All things considered, now is a great time to become a UI designer. As we increasingly rely on digital products and services for work, social interactions, and carrying out day-to-day tasks, UI designers will find themselves at the forefront of the tech industry in 2025 and beyond. Excellent news for aspiring UI designers like yourself!<\/p>\n<p>So, without further ado, let\u2019s get your UI career change in motion\u2014starting with a closer look at what UI design actually is.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-user-interface-design\">2. What is user interface design?<\/h2>\n<p>No doubt you\u2019ve been hearing a lot about User Interface design &#8211; it\u2019s become a hot topic both on and off the tech scene, in startups, agencies, and at large corporations alike. Maybe you\u2019re wondering <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/what-does-a-ui-designer-actually-do\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">what user interface design is<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ux-design\/the-difference-between-ux-and-ui-design-a-laymans-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how UI design is different from UX<\/a> (user experience) or visual design.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve found yourself asking these questions, then you are certainly not alone. I asked myself the very same questions when I first set out to become a UI designer.<\/p>\n<p>Although you are probably well aware that user interface design is a hugely popular field that\u2019s growing rapidly, it can be hard, even impossible, to know where to start. What do you do when you get stuck? Without a solid definition, it\u2019s no surprise that it\u2019s so hard to get started!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Let\u2019s see if we can clear things up a bit!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Think back to the last app or website you used.<\/p>\n<p><strong>UX design is the process of enhancing user satisfaction by improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure provided in the interaction between the user and the product:Was it easy to navigate? Did you ever feel lost or confused? How did you know where to click to get to where you needed to go?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is all part of <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ux-design\/what-is-user-experience-ux-design-everything-you-need-to-know-to-get-started\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the user experience<\/a>, and it\u2019s the job of the <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ux-design\/how-to-become-a-ux-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UX designer<\/a> to make this as good as it can be. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-ux-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UX Design Course<\/a> covers this topic in even greater detail.<\/p>\n<p>Jennifer Aldrich, UX and Content Strategist at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.invisionapp.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">InVision<\/a> told us:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>UX design is about having complete understanding of the user. UX designers will conduct intensive user research, craft user personas and conduct performance testing and usability testing to see which designs are most effective at getting a user to their end goal in the most delightful way possible. The UX designer wants the navigation of a site, the type of user interface or product feel completely intuitive so the user doesn\u2019t feel confused or frustrated while trying to accomplish their goal.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>How did it make you feel? Think again to the last application you used. Was there a logical hierarchy to the interface and typography? Was the <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/color-glossary-for-ui-designers\/\">color scheme<\/a> consistent? Were there <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/user-interface-patterns\/\">User Interface design patterns<\/a> that you recognized from other interfaces?<\/p>\n<p>These UI elements are all essential parts of the <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/ui-element-glossary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">graphical user interface.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(For your reference, <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ux-design\/what-are-ux-ui-and-interaction-design-and-which-should-you-learn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>interaction design<\/strong><\/a> is when we create engaging web interfaces with logical behaviors and actions and <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/responsive-vs-adaptive-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>responsive design<\/strong><\/a> [sometimes called Responsive Web Design] aims to build websites that provide an optimal viewing and interaction experience. This terminology often gets used when discussing UI design, so it\u2019s good to be clear on what each term actually means.)<\/p>\n<p>Hannah Alvarez from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usertesting.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">User Testing<\/a> defined the job of the UI designer as follows:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The purpose of any interface is to help the user accomplish their goals. As a UI designer, your job isn\u2019t just to create something beautiful; it\u2019s to understand the user\u2019s mindset, predict what they will expect, and then make the design as user-friendly as possible.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>UI designers will spend a lot of <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ux-design\/wireframing-tools-ux-designers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">time creating wireframes<\/a>, building mood boards, and actually <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/figma-vs-sketch-the-new-ui-design-tool-that-everyones-talking-about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">designing interfaces using tools like Sketch, Figma<\/a>, and Photoshop. They also conduct user interface testing to ensure the product meets its specifications.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jeffgothelf.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jeff Gothelf,<\/a> the author of Lean UX, told us what makes a great UI designer.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The most important thing I\u2019ve learned to become a great UI designer is build a deep understanding of the customer. By conducting and participating in continuous research activities you will learn what motivates your customer, what problems they\u2019re trying to solve and what solutions make the most sense. This may force you to abandon some ideas you might love but UI design is not strictly about aesthetics, it\u2019s about making your customer successful.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2 id=\"a-group-of-designers-drawing-wireframes-on-pieces-of-paperenbloguploadswhat-does-it-take-to-become-a-ui-designerjpeg-what-does-a-ui-designer-do\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-19990 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-ui-designer-1024x578.jpg\" alt=\"ui designers participating in ui design at a shared desk\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-ui-designer-1024x578.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-ui-designer-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-ui-designer-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-ui-designer-1536x867.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/what-does-it-take-to-become-a-ui-designer-2048x1155.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2 id=\"what-exactly-does-a-ui-designer-do\">3. What exactly does a UI designer do?<\/h2>\n<p>If you want your website, desktop, or mobile app to be able to compete in today\u2019s market, it\u2019s got to be simple, intuitive, and fun. Even if you have a super useful app, it\u2019ll easily get lost in the sea of other ideas out there if it\u2019s considered ugly or hard to use.<\/p>\n<p>Chris Mears from <a href=\"https:\/\/uxrltd.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UXr<\/a> gives the following advice:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>A funky interface is nothing more than a vanity project if your users can\u2019t use it. User test regularly and don\u2019t be afraid to simplify for usability.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This is where your role as a UI designer comes in. You\u2019re responsible for the look and feel of an application. It\u2019s your job to ask:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/how-to-pick-a-color-palette\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Do the colors work well together?<\/a><\/li>\n<li>How is <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/beginners-guide-to-typography\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">typography<\/a> used to convey meaning and hierarchy?<\/li>\n<li>Is the app well-designed? How can I improve the UI design of the app? Would flat UI design (sometimes called <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/what-is-flat-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">flat design<\/a>) work here?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>And it\u2019s these questions you\u2019ll be responsible for answering.<\/p>\n<p>As a UI designer, you\u2019ll work very closely with UX designers, whose job typically consists of talking with customers to determine requirements, building user profiles, and creating user stories to show how a user will work their way through your application.<\/p>\n<p>From this point, it\u2019s up to you to build a clean and functional design based on the requirements they\u2019ve gathered.<\/p>\n<p>Luke Chambers from <a href=\"https:\/\/uxmastery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UXMastery<\/a> told us:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>UI designers have the responsibility of creating touchpoints that directly interface with users or customers. It is at the coalface of most online or app-driven businesses. Although there are clear differences between the two disciplines, let\u2019s not forget there are some overlapping qualities between UX and UI Design. Here are a few, taken from UsabilityGeek\u2019s article, <a href=\"https:\/\/usabilitygeek.com\/the-difference-between-ux-and-ui-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Difference Between UX &amp; UI Design.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Both UX &amp; UI:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Have a primary objective of improving customer satisfaction<\/li>\n<li>Focus on the user and his\/her interaction with a product\/service<\/li>\n<li>Can be applied to any product, from <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/best-login-screen-examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">login<\/a> to onboarding and on through the entire user journey!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"what-skills-and-traits-do-you-need-to-become-a-ui-designer\">4. What skills and traits do you need to become a UI designer?<\/h2>\n<p>Learning to be a UI designer is not easy. Trust me, I\u2019ve been there! There are specific skills and traits that will make your journey into this career go more smoothly and I\u2019ve listed a few of them for you below.<\/p>\n<p>UI design skills include:<\/p>\n<p data-sourcepos=\"3:1-3:21\"><strong>Technical skills:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:100\">\n<li data-sourcepos=\"5:1-5:100\"><strong>Visual design and design software:<\/strong> Proficiency in industry-standard software like Figma, Sketch,\u00a0and Photoshop.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"6:1-6:122\"><strong>Wireframing and prototyping:<\/strong>\u00a0Ability to create low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes to communicate design ideas and test user flows.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"7:1-7:147\"><strong>User research and usability testing:<\/strong>\u00a0Understanding user needs and behavior through research methods like surveys,\u00a0interviews,\u00a0and A\/B testing.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"8:1-8:104\"><strong>Information architecture:<\/strong>\u00a0Organizing content and navigation systems for efficient user experience.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"9:1-9:95\"><strong>Interaction design:<\/strong>\u00a0Designing interactive elements and animations for user engagement and feedback.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"10:1-10:111\"><strong>Design for accessibility:<\/strong>\u00a0Creating interfaces that are usable by everyone,\u00a0regardless of their abilities.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"11:1-11:89\"><strong>Version control:<\/strong>\u00a0Utilizing tools like Git to manage design files and track changes.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"12:1-13:0\"><strong>Basic coding knowledge:<\/strong>\u00a0Understanding of HTML,\u00a0CSS,\u00a0and JavaScript is becoming increasingly important for UI designers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-sourcepos=\"14:1-14:16\"><strong>Soft skills:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-sourcepos=\"16:1-18:147\">\n<li data-sourcepos=\"16:1-16:99\"><strong>Creativity and design thinking:<\/strong>\u00a0Ability to generate original and innovative design solutions.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"17:1-17:109\"><strong>Problem-solving skills:<\/strong>\u00a0Identifying user pain points and developing effective solutions through design.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"18:1-18:147\"><strong>Communication and collaboration:<\/strong>\u00a0Effectively communicating design ideas to stakeholders,\u00a0including clients,\u00a0developers,\u00a0and fellow designers.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"19:1-19:98\"><strong>Critical thinking and decision-making:<\/strong>\u00a0Evaluating design choices based on research and data.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"20:1-20:93\"><strong>User empathy:<\/strong>\u00a0Understanding user needs and motivations to create user-centered designs.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"21:1-21:99\"><strong>Attention to detail:<\/strong>\u00a0Meticulousness in ensuring designs are pixel-perfect and free of errors.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"22:1-22:110\"><strong>Time management and organization:<\/strong>\u00a0Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"23:1-24:0\"><strong>Adaptability and willingness to learn:<\/strong>\u00a0Staying updated with design trends and technologies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-sourcepos=\"25:1-25:22\"><strong>Additional skills:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul data-sourcepos=\"27:1-32:0\">\n<li data-sourcepos=\"27:1-27:122\"><strong>AI tools:<\/strong> Basic knowledge of the <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/ai-tools-for-ui-design\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI tools<\/span><\/a> that can assist with daily UI tasks is expected.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"27:1-27:122\"><strong>Branding and typography:<\/strong>\u00a0Understanding brand identity and using typography effectively to communicate brand message.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"28:1-28:107\"><strong>Color theory:<\/strong>\u00a0Understanding the use of color to evoke emotions and create visually appealing designs.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"29:1-29:81\"><strong>UX writing:<\/strong>\u00a0Writing clear,\u00a0concise,\u00a0and user-friendly copy for UI elements.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"30:1-30:81\"><strong>Motion graphics:<\/strong>\u00a0Ability to create engaging animations for user interfaces.<\/li>\n<li data-sourcepos=\"31:1-32:0\"><strong>Industry knowledge:<\/strong>\u00a0Understanding the specific design trends and challenges of your target industry.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These are all things that can be learned. But that doesn&#8217;t necessarily make you the right person for the job. Is your personality a fit? Take a look and see if this describes you:<\/p>\n<p><strong>You have drive!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The most important thing to succeed as a UI designer is attitude. If you don\u2019t have a personal drive to learn and grow then you won\u2019t get very far!<\/p>\n<p><strong>You enjoy learning!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Being a UI designer means staying up to date on the<a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/whats-the-future-of-ui-design-prophecies-and-trends-for-2018-and-beyond\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> latest design trends<\/a> and changes in the industry. Things change fast! If you don\u2019t keep up it\u2019s easy to fall behind and become less relevant.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You\u2019re a team player!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>UI designers often work as <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ux-design\/how-do-ux-designers-work-within-a-team\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">part of a team with UX designers<\/a> and others focused on product development. This team could consist of other designers, programmers, marketers, salespeople, you name it!<\/p>\n<p>So it\u2019s important to be comfortable working with others and communicating with colleagues of all levels. If you find it difficult to take constructive criticism, you might find you have trouble in this field.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You care about people!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>User Interface design is <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/User-centered_design\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">all about people<\/a>. After all, they\u2019re the ones who will be using the interfaces you design! If you don\u2019t care about their needs and wants, you won\u2019t get very far in this industry. If you\u2019re not sure <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ux-design\/guide-to-human-centered-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">what it means to be user-centered, read this<\/a>!<\/p>\n<p>As <a href=\"https:\/\/portigal.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Steve Portigal<\/a>, author of Interviewing Users, told me:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>It\u2019s incredibly important to be able to talk to people who might use your product \u2013 not just to get their critique of your solution, but before you even consider a solution. That\u2019s when you can have the most open mind and learn about their current behavior and the motivations that drive that behavior.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>You care about aesthetics!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Do you ever feel annoyed when text is so small it\u2019s hard to read? How about if an advertisement uses colors that clash? Or maybe you notice when interface elements aren\u2019t properly spaced out.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-19991 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-designers-in-a-team-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"a ui designer standing hows a plan to a team of designers sitting down\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-designers-in-a-team-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-designers-in-a-team-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-designers-in-a-team-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-designers-in-a-team-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-designers-in-a-team-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Learn more about UI design skills: <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/how-to-improve-ui-design-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">7 Ways to improve your UI design skills<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"industry-snapshot-for-ui-designers\">Industry snapshot for UI designers<\/h3>\n<p>UI designers are responsible for designing how a user interacts with a computer, in fact they\u2019re obsessed with <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ux-design\/human-computer-interaction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">human-computer interaction<\/a>! Whether it\u2019s a dashboard computer in a car, a mobile app, a video game, a website or a virtual reality interface, UI designers are the ones that make these interactions possible. So it\u2019s no surprise that UI design is such a stable profession.<\/p>\n<p>And with the average UI designer salary reaching <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indeed.com\/career\/user-interface-designer\/salaries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">$85,436 per year<\/a>, when you\u2019re good at what you do it can also be a very lucrative profession!<\/p>\n<p>This field isn\u2019t going anywhere soon. With the explosion of <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/how-to-design-a-mobile-app-using-user-interface-design-principles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mobile apps<\/a>, commoditization of hardware, interest in mobile UI design, and a consistent need for innovative desktop apps, demand for UI designers is at an all-time high.<\/p>\n<p>The fact is, if companies are going to compete in today\u2019s market, whether they\u2019re large or small, they need intuitive, well-designed interfaces.<\/p>\n<p>This is great news because it means, as a UI designer, you\u2019ll be able to work at large, well-established companies like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teslamotors.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tesla<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon<\/a>, or a small startup of five people. It\u2019s up to you!<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why-i-became-a-ui-designer\">5. Why I became a UI designer<\/h2>\n<p>Ever since I was a kid, I was fascinated by computers. In my teenage years, I became obsessed with learning how they worked.<\/p>\n<p>To be honest, I never did well in math and science. I just didn\u2019t have the motivation to learn. But with computers, everything came so naturally because I was interested in them. Learning became fun!<\/p>\n<p>I would stay up all night reverse engineering websites, browsing forums, and hanging out in chat rooms. I devoted all of my free time to learning everything I could. Eventually, I started to make my own graphics in Photoshop and code my own websites.<\/p>\n<p>I finally decided I wanted to turn this hobby into a career, so I went to school to learn graphic design. After completing my studies, I started working for a multimedia company. Most of my time was spent designing graphics and coding websites.<\/p>\n<p>This was all in a time before smartphones. But when the iPhone was released, everything changed for me.<\/p>\n<p>I was blown away by the elegance of the interface and I knew that I wanted to design similar interfaces. I wanted to build interfaces that delighted people and made their lives easier. That\u2019s when I began my long journey to becoming a professional UI designer.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-and-where-i-learned-ui-design\">How and where I learned UI design<\/h3>\n<p>When I set out to become a UI designer, I would spend hours sifting through out-of-date blog articles, reading forums, and poking around in the software. For the longest time, I just felt lost!<\/p>\n<p>Difficult concepts can be hard to wrap your head around when you\u2019re teaching yourself. So I set out to find other designers I could learn from. I joined communities and started following designers on Twitter and developing relationships with them.<\/p>\n<p>This allowed me to start learning from others by examining their work and bouncing my own designs off of them. Suddenly I was learning a lot faster and felt a lot less frustrated! This is when things started to become clearer to me.<\/p>\n<p>You don\u2019t need to spend boatloads of money on a fancy degree to be taken seriously.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why I built this <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-ui-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">User Interface Design Program<\/a> here at CareerFoundry. I\u2019ve taken everything I\u2019ve learned during the last ten years as a UI designer and compiled it into a short but powerful course that will teach you everything you need to become a UI designer too. I\u2019m living proof it\u2019s possible!<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"how-i-landed-my-first-job-as-a-ui-designer\">How I landed my first job as a UI designer<\/h3>\n<p>I was already working at a multimedia agency <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/how-to-learn-user-interface-design-and-become-a-ui-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">when I started learning UI design<\/a>, so I tried to incorporate my new skills into my daily work as much as possible. I learned a lot this way at first, but the work wasn\u2019t the most challenging and eventually became a bit stale.<\/p>\n<p>A colleague of mine kept telling me about the great things that were being built by startups in Silicon Valley, which sounded really interesting to me. Eventually, I realized that that\u2019s where I need to go if I really wanted to grow as a UI designer.<\/p>\n<p>Now don\u2019t get me wrong, I\u2019m a firm believer in working remotely. But back then it just wasn\u2019t as feasible. There weren\u2019t many employers jumping on the telecommuting bandwagon. Things are quite different nowadays and I really don\u2019t think that you <em>have<\/em> to be in Silicon Valley to build a great company.<\/p>\n<p>After making the move to the Bay area, I spent a couple of weeks hunting for a job. My criteria were pretty simple. I wanted to\u2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be part of a small team<\/li>\n<li>Work with people I could learn from<\/li>\n<li>Join a company that cared about good design and knows about good User Interface design principles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I was lucky enough to find a startup in downtown San Francisco that fit the bill and was willing to give me a chance.<\/p>\n<p>From the first day I started, <em>it was like jumping out of a plane and having to assemble the parachute on the way down!<\/em><\/p>\n<p>But it\u2019s in situations like that where you learn the most. Working at the startup gave me the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment with other talented designers and developers. I was learning more than I ever had before.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-20002 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-design-on-a-laptop-1024x576.jpeg\" alt=\"ui design on a laptop\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-design-on-a-laptop-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-design-on-a-laptop-300x169.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-design-on-a-laptop-768x432.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-design-on-a-laptop-1536x864.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/ui-design-on-a-laptop-2048x1152.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-challenges-might-you-face\">6. What challenges might you face?<\/h2>\n<p>Switching to a new career can be daunting. I know from experience! There are a ton of challenges that you\u2019ll face, but remember, there\u2019s nothing that can\u2019t be overcome.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"no-work-experience\">No work experience<\/h3>\n<p>One of the biggest questions I\u2019ve come across is: How do you stand out when other guys or girls have so much more experience? You do it by\u2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Applying for positions that match your skill level<\/strong>. If this is your <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/ui-designer-job-descriptions-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first real job as a UI designer<\/a>, it\u2019s probably best to stick to entry-level positions, even if you think you\u2019re the cat\u2019s meow.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Being persistent.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Having a great UI designer portfolio.<\/strong> You might not have work experience but there\u2019s nothing stopping you from designing great things.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Doing freelance work.<\/strong> Use sites like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.upwork.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Upwork<\/a>\u00a0to get small freelance contracts. They may not pay well at first but the experience, both in terms of design and in terms of working to client specifications, makes it well worth it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"finding-work-if-you-live-in-a-remote-area\">Finding work if you live in a remote area<\/h3>\n<p>When I started learning UI design, it just wasn\u2019t a hot field in my small Midwestern town. Telecommuting was an option but those jobs were hard to come by and most employers would run for the hills at the mention of a \u201cremote position\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Luckily, things have changed in a big way! Remote work is now embraced by companies big and small. In fact, some companies are <a href=\"https:\/\/open.buffer.com\/no-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">completely remote<\/a>. This means that whether you\u2019re in a small town in Nebraska or a fishing village in Alaska.<\/p>\n<p>When you set off on your journey to becoming a UI designer, there are several paths you can take, both online and off, free and paid. The level you\u2019re currently at, and your ambitions for the future will determine which of these will be the appropriate course for you to take, though many people find that a combination of different resources meets their learning requirements most effectively.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-best-ways-to-learn-to-become-a-ui-designer\">7. What are the best ways to learn to become a UI designer?<\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"self-taught-free-ways-to-learn-ui-design\">Self-taught, free ways to learn UI design<\/h3>\n<p>The internet has become an amazing resource for learning UI design online. And it\u2019s certainly possible to teach yourself a new skill without spending a dime.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you\u2019re looking to launch a career in User Interface design, you\u2019ll most likely find gaps in your knowledge if you stick with an unstructured, self-taught program of learning. As a starter though, it\u2019s a great way for getting a feel for the subject.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>YouTube. <\/strong>With billions of videos and viewers, YouTube had grown into a legitimate content platform. Searching for \u201cUI Design\u201d on YouTube will give you hundreds of thousands of results to choose from. With so many videos, it can be tough to separate the high-quality content from the low-quality.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Blog Posts. <\/strong>Blog posts can be a great way to learn from others, especially if that blog is a targeted UI design blog. Like YouTube videos, there are a lot to choose from so finding the good ones can be challenging. I personally think that whether you\u2019re a seasoned UI designer or just starting out, it\u2019s important to always be reading content from other designers. It helps you stay on top of the best UI design techniques (as well as the most recent) and changes in the industry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tutorial Sites. <\/strong>Tutorial sites can be super helpful in teaching you how to accomplish specific results in your designs. One drawback, however, is that UI design software changes so rapidly that User Interface design tutorials can quickly go out of date. That\u2019s why I always recommend searching within the last year or two when looking for design tutorials or UI design tool tutorials.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Books. <\/strong>OK, not entirely free, but books can be an inexpensive way of learning a great deal of information. It might seem old-fashioned to read books these days, but there has been a great deal written and published on UI design, especially in recent years. It\u2019s also good to get a break from your computer screen from time to time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 id=\"formal-offline-ways-to-learn-ui-design\">Formal, offline ways to learn UI design<\/h3>\n<p>There are a number of benefits to learning in a structured, offline environment. Having regular contact with other students, a learning routine, and daily interaction with your teachers.<\/p>\n<p>Feedback from your teachers can also help keep you motivated, ambitious, and focused throughout your studies. The downside to this type of learning is both the cost and the restrictions of your location, both of which you\u2019ll need to bear in mind when you\u2019re researching what\u2019s available in your local area.<\/p>\n<p>However, if you do prefer studying in an offline environment there are quite a few options out there that could work for you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>University.<\/strong> Attending a formal university means a more traditional education, which typically takes 2-4 years. While the courses are generally well structured and thorough, the cost is typically high and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/education\/best-colleges\/paying-for-college\/articles\/2017-09-20\/see-20-years-of-tuition-growth-at-national-universities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">getting higher every year<\/a>. Unfortunately, this high cost coupled with the time investment makes this option impractical for many aspiring UI designers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Technical School.<\/strong> The biggest advantages to attending a technical school is speed and specialization. While universities often put emphasis on general education, technical schools put more emphasis on developing skills and preparing for your career. They can still be pretty expensive but are sometimes cheaper than attending a traditional university.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/generalassemb.ly\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>General Assembly<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 GA is one of the new kids on the block in tech education. It began as just a coworking space in 2011. GA offers both online and on-campus courses for specialized skills like <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/tutorials\/web-development-for-beginners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">web development<\/a>, user experience design, and data science. While the program is very high quality, at over $13,500 a course, this web development, UX, and UI design school is still very cost-prohibitive!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"low-fidelity-wireframesenbloguploadsbecome-a-ui-designerjpeg-how-to-learn-user-interface-design-around-the-world\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-19996 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/become-a-ui-designer-1024x548.jpg\" alt=\"UI design wireframe paper sketches lying on a table\" width=\"1024\" height=\"548\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/become-a-ui-designer-1024x548.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/become-a-ui-designer-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/become-a-ui-designer-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/become-a-ui-designer-1536x822.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/become-a-ui-designer-2048x1095.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h3 id=\"formal-mid-priced-online-ways-to-learn-ui-design\">Formal, mid-priced, online ways to learn UI design<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for high-quality programs but are on a tight budget, <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/best-ui-design-certification-programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">online programs can be a great path to explore<\/a>. Many of them allow you to learn at your own pace but don\u2019t take years to complete. You\u2019ll also find that many offer one-on-one mentoring, peer-to-peer learning, or video content to keep you motivated and focused as you study.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>CareerFoundry.<\/strong> We focus on mentorship and making sure you have a solid portfolio to show by the time you\u2019ve finished the course. We know how much this helps when wedging your way into the job market. But our courses move a lot quicker. A dedicated full-time student can make his\/her way through a course in as little as three months, though typically students take around six months to make the most of the course materials.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thinkful.<\/strong> Thinkful offers a variety of high-quality courses ranging from engineering to design to mobile development, focusing both on mentorship and portfolio development throughout the course. One thing I\u2019m not a huge fan of is how they\u2019ve combined both UI Design and UX Design into one course. Most modern teams tend to divide these roles into two, with one person focusing on the experience, and the other on the interface. By working this way, each role is clearly defined.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of these paths have produced both successes and failures. It\u2019s up to you to decide which path is right for you. But you shouldn\u2019t make this decision lightly. Student loans can take years to pay off and cause tons of stress.<\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, cheaper courses might offer less in terms of quality. So think long and hard before you make your decision! Think about the following questions before signing up for a course:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Am I learning for a hobby, or to get a job?<\/li>\n<li>Do I need someone on-hand to motivate and help me, or can I learn happily alone?<\/li>\n<li>How much time am I willing to commit to this?<\/li>\n<li>What is my budget for learning?<\/li>\n<li>What skills do I want to have when I\u2019ve finished studying?<\/li>\n<li>How important are things like student community and extracurricular activities to me?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-next-steps-you-should-take\">8. What are the next steps you should take?<\/h2>\n<p>So once you\u2019ve finished studying UI design, what do you do next if you want to become a UI designer? How the heck do you get a job without any work experience?<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"build-a-great-portfolio\">Build a great portfolio<\/h3>\n<p>You can have all the credentials and references in the world, but if you can\u2019t show examples of great work, no one is going to want to talk to you about any potential job openings in UI design.<\/p>\n<p>We realize this here at CareerFoundry, so we focus heavily on making sure you <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/best-ui-portfolios\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">have a well-rounded portfolio<\/a> when you\u2019ve completed your course.<\/p>\n<p>If you haven\u2019t had a chance to develop a portfolio, then it\u2019s time to get to work. Got an idea for an app or website? Design it! It doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s a real-world project or not; it\u2019s all about showing potential employers that you\u2019ve got design chops.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"get-work-experience\">Get work experience<\/h3>\n<p>If you need experience to be taken seriously by employers, how do you get an <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/ui-design-interview-questions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">interview<\/a> when you have no work experience? This is the question every new UI designer asks. The answer is actually really simple.<\/p>\n<p>Head over to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.upwork.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UpWork<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.freelancer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Freelancer<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peopleperhour.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PeoplePerHour,<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.guru.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guru<\/a>, build a portfolio, and start bidding on UI design jobs. At this stage, it isn\u2019t about the money. It\u2019s about proving that you know your stuff. So take any job you can. The aim of this exercise is to get good work experience and positive references.<\/p>\n<p>Within just a month or two, you might have enough under your belt to spark the interest of potential employers. Either way, your confidence will certainly grow as you gain more experience in the work and dealing with clients.<\/p>\n<p>You can even search for contract jobs on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.craigslist.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Craigslist<\/a>. Head over to the Gigs Creative sections and see what\u2019s there! You just might find something that turns into a lucrative contract.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"build-your-network\">Build your network<\/h3>\n<p>This part is absolutely huge. Your personal network will be extremely useful when you\u2019re looking for your next gig.<\/p>\n<p>I had an extremely modest network when I started my first job as a UI designer. Since then, my personal network has grown substantially and it\u2019s been crazy useful. If I was ever looking for a short-term contract between jobs, or just looking for extra money, I\u2019ve been able to call on my network to find work in as little as one week.<\/p>\n<p>Seriously, I can\u2019t understate the power of a personal network.<\/p>\n<p>Here are four quick tips on building your network:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>When you start your first job, be friendly and get to know your coworkers. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, etc. You never know when that relationship will come in handy!<\/li>\n<li>Renovate your LinkedIn profile, fill out every detail of relevant experience and upload a well-shot photo of yourself.<\/li>\n<li>Don\u2019t be afraid to approach experts in the field asking for advice. This could be the start of a very fruitful working relationship (for you both). Just be sure to always say thank you and to give something back.<\/li>\n<li>Attend events in your area, get to know other professionals in the field, remember names and give out your business card. Meeting people face-to-face is your best networking tool and will always beat an online \u2018friend request\u2019. Follow up on these introductions in the following week.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3 id=\"build-your-personal-brand\">Build your personal brand<\/h3>\n<p>But what exactly is a personal brand? It\u2019s what others see when they Google your name. It\u2019s the color scheme you use on your Twitter and your website. It\u2019s an emotion that\u2019s evoked when someone sees your persona online.<\/p>\n<p>Your personal brand starts with your social network. Make sure they are all as consistent as possible. <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/introduction-to-color-theory-and-color-palettes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Use similar color schemes and themes<\/a> to evoke similar emotions across different networks. The same goes for a personal website. Keep a similar voice and visual feel as your other social assets.<\/p>\n<p>For examples of designers who\u2019ve built great brands, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kerem.co\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kerem Suer<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/nrrrdcore\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Julie Ann Horvath<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/feltron.tumblr.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nicholas Felton<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"key-takeaways-and-further-reading\">9. Key takeaways and further reading<\/h2>\n<p>I hope you\u2019ve enjoyed this write-up on how to become a UI designer.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re serious about starting a new career as a UI designer, we\u2019ve developed an amazing <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-ui-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UI Design Course<\/a> here at CareerFoundry that will teach you everything you need to know. From day one, you\u2019ll be matched with an experienced mentor who has real-world experience. They\u2019ll be there to help you through any issues you run into and give you feedback on your work.<\/p>\n<p>So\u2026 are you ready to begin your new career as a UI designer and begin your UI design training? <a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/courses\/become-a-ui-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Then it\u2019s time to get started with your course!<\/a> We also offer flexible course schedules. Why? Because we understand how hectic it can be working on a new career while balancing life\u2019s obligations.<\/p>\n<p>At CareerFoundry, you\u2019re free to work through your course on a part-time or full-time schedule, it\u2019s up to you!<\/p>\n<p>Looking for more articles about how to get into UI design? I recommend you take a look at these:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/5-step-guide-to-getting-started-in-ui-design\/\">A 5-Step Guide To Getting Started In User Interface Design<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/8-sites-with-great-ui\/\">8 Websites with amazing UI design<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/blog\/ui-design\/why-im-learning-ui-design-as-a-graphic-designer\/\">Why I\u2019m Switching from Graphic Design to UI Design<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Find out how to launch a career in UI design for yourself. CareerFoundry UI designer Eric Bieller explains the skills and traits required to succeed in UI!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":11198,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"yes","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[91,82,75],"class_list":["post-4360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ui-design","tag-category-page","tag-homepage","tag-product-page-ui-design"],"acf":{"homepage_category_featured":true,"cards_inner_programs_lists_left":"","cards_inner_programs_lists_right":"","related_plan_cards":""},"modified_by":"Rash SEO","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4360"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40575,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4360\/revisions\/40575"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11198"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/careerfoundry.inbearbeitung.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}