How to Start a Career as a UI/UX Designer

TL;DR

To start a career as a UI/UX designer, focus on building a strong portfolio through case studies and personal projects, and continuously enhance your communication and research skills. Utilize resources like Medium, UX Collective, and Growth.Design for learning. Networking on platforms like LinkedIn and showcasing your work publicly can lead to significant job opportunities.

Transcript

ansh welcome to the channel thank you so much buddy super happy to be here awesome so this video is going to be a really interesting and fun one that I haven't done in a long time we will talk about UI ux design we'll be talking about psychology about storytelling about productivity and like how did you get started in your journey so we'll be doing... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎨 UX design combines elements of psychology, storytelling, and productivity.
• 🏑 Learning and continuously updating skills is essential in the field.
• 💪 Building a strong portfolio and effective communication skills are crucial for success.
• 🥺 Networking and showcasing your work online can lead to opportunities in UX design.
• 👨‍💻 No code tools are emerging as a valuable resource in the field.
• 🛟 Observing and finding inspiration in real-life experiences can enhance UX design skills.
• 🎨 UX and UI design are intertwined, with UX being the broader concept.
• 🏛️ Effective storytelling and building trust are important in branding.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can you become a UI/UX designer in 2022?

Start by reading UX case studies on Medium, UX Collective, and growth.design, then apply what you learn through personal projects. Build an accessible online portfolio, share your work consistently, connect with relevant people, and begin applying for work.

Q: How did Ansh Mehra get started in UX design?

Ansh originally wanted to be a filmmaker but studied computer science because it seemed like the safer path. He discovered UX during that journey, learned through YouTube tutorials, competed at HackMIT and Hack Our World, and later became Swiggy’s first product design intern.

Q: What skills are important for a UX designer?

UX designers need to research extensively and communicate with product managers and developers. The discussion also connects UI/UX design with psychology, storytelling, productivity, critical thinking, and the ability to explain and sell a design process.

Q: What resources can beginners use to learn UX design?

Ansh recommends reading UX case studies on Medium, especially the UX Collective publication. He also names growth.design as a source of practical case studies and suggests using YouTube tutorials and getting-started playlists.

Q: What should a UX design portfolio show?

A portfolio should explain the process used to understand and address a problem, not merely display the final solution. Recruiters may not face the identical problem, so the portfolio should demonstrate repeatable research and problem-solving ability.

Q: Where should a UX designer publish a portfolio?

Ansh recommends using a website, Notion, or Medium so the portfolio is accessible and scalable. Publishing through dynamic links also makes it easier to update the work as projects change.

Q: How can beginners find UI/UX design opportunities?

Consistently publish work and connect with relevant people on platforms such as Instagram, Medium, Dribbble, Behance, Toptal, AngelList, and LinkedIn. Ansh says beginners should become good at their work, remain visible on the right platforms, and be willing to work for free initially to gain experience and leave a strong impression.

Q: Why did Ansh choose a startup after his Swiggy internship?

As his Swiggy internship was ending, Ansh prioritized finding good people, exciting work, and a role where he could wear different hats. He chose the startup path because he believed it offered a high learning curve and suited his appetite for risk.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker got started in UX design after studying computer science and finding creative fulfillment in the field.

• They began learning through online tutorials and gained experience through competitions and internships.

• The speaker emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, personal projects, and building a strong portfolio to succeed in UX design.