If you are struggling to have those UX design conversations or even if you are finding that you want to talk with designers outside of your circle, seek out a new network. Professional networking can go a long way to helping you develop skills, find ways to interact with other designers and maybe find a mentor or two.
Think beyond the graphic design elements of projects you work on as a team. Join conversations about other parts of design projects and offer ideas for how the design should work. That’s a key element in thinking more like a UX designer.
No matter what specific field of design you plan to work in, you need to have a good knowledge and understanding of code.
UX design is at the center of a range of fields, and you’ll want to learn as much as you can about design psychology, interaction design and information architecture. It also helps to understand user research and feedback methods and content strategy.
Sometimes graphic design feels like an art that you create and toss into the world without another look. You don’t always know how users responded, what they think, or if it actually worked as intended. Often there isn’t a clear method for collecting and evaluating feedback.
While graphic design mostly deals with the visual parts of design — color, typography, space — user experience design focuses on the visuals as well as user interactions. UX design is more about creating a product while graphic design is creating the packaging.
Code has become such an integral part of figuring out the design process and talking through projects. While you don’t have to be a master coder, you need to know the basics.
Think beyond the graphic design elements of projects you work on as a team. Join conversations about other parts of design projects and offer ideas for how the design should work. That’s a key element in thinking more like a UX designer.
No matter what specific field of design you plan to work in, you need to have a good knowledge and understanding of code.
UX design is at the center of a range of fields, and you’ll want to learn as much as you can about design psychology, interaction design and information architecture. It also helps to understand user research and feedback methods and content strategy.
Sometimes graphic design feels like an art that you create and toss into the world without another look. You don’t always know how users responded, what they think, or if it actually worked as intended. Often there isn’t a clear method for collecting and evaluating feedback.
While graphic design mostly deals with the visual parts of design — color, typography, space — user experience design focuses on the visuals as well as user interactions. UX design is more about creating a product while graphic design is creating the packaging.
Code has become such an integral part of figuring out the design process and talking through projects. While you don’t have to be a master coder, you need to know the basics.
Another portfolio-building option is to join creative work sessions (such as meetups) or take on a pro bono project for an organization you are a member of or a nonprofit in your area.
It’ll take a little faith on your part to try something new, but if you want to start working in UX design you have to try. Start with side projects of your own, try to build some portfolio work, collaborate with others if you can. Just do it.
For more information, please visit Octaspectrum.com.
