Self-Taught Journey of becoming a UX/UI Designer.
By: Jeet Patel
Tags: Visual Design, UI Design, UX Design, Interaction Design, Product Design

Can I get a DRUMROLL PLEASE,……. Alright, let’s get started.

Once upon a time, there was a……Ahhhh, don’t worry, I won’t bore you guys. Let’s get into it before some of you decide to leave. It started in 2019 before the pandemic…LOL, May 2019 to be precise. I was struggling through my job and wanted to try something new. At that time, I used to work at a manufacturing company. I was getting so tired mentally & physically and did not know what to do with my life. As I am working, I started searching for entry-level jobs, and while searching, I came across RUTGERS CODING BOOTCAMP course. So, I asked few people if it is legit and is it beneficial to go. Which I would say was my best decision. In 6 months, I learned so many things that I did not know in 2 years after moving from Georgia in 2017.

I Learned how the website functions, how it is made from scratch, and what kinds of software it needs. Not to forget, I was still working full time and doing part-time, full-stack Bootcamp. While in the Bootcamp, I connected with fellow developers and TA’s. They helped me understand the logic behind creating a webpage. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND staying connected with people after graduation. Anyhow, I stayed associated with few people, which I will talk about later in this article. After graduation, I started worrying about my portfolio. A good old Imposter Syndrome started hunting me but with my cousins’ good news of getting married. So I had to put a stop & go to India.….

“Wait Jeet, isn’t this article is about UX/UI Designing?”🧐

Well yeah, and that’s when I started thinking of becoming a UX/UI designer.🤷‍♂️ And I know what you guys are thinking,

“You spent a whole lot of money to learn to code, and you’re not even going to pursue that? Are you stupid?”

If you think Logically, yes, I am stupid. But if you think based on my skills and mindset, I will say I’ve made the right decision. Before I went to India, I’ve decided that I wanted to become a UX/UI designer and not because it is trending or anything, but because of my ability to think logically and my naturally talented artistic skills. I started spending lots of time researching, trying to get the basics of designing from Google, YouTube, and reading articles. Yes, I did not want to spend 10’s and thousands of money AGAIN on a Bootcamp. But, these are some of few articles and websites that helped me get a good understanding of designing:

After understanding the basics of UX and its fundamentals, you would ask me,

“What software would it be good to start?”

I would say any software, which means Adobe XD, Figma, or Sketch. There is other design software in the market, such as Invision studio, Marvel, etc. But, out of Adobe XD, Figma, and sketch, anyone would be a great start. Also, before choosing the right tool, try to get a basic knowledge of that tool. Here are few articles that explain the functionality better:

Youtube channels I would prefer to watch.

Flux — by Ran Segall

— by Ran Segall Jesse Showalter

AJ&Smart

Chunbuns — Great channel because she shared similar experiences of becoming a UX designer.

While I was in Bootcamp, I came across ADOBE XD, So I stuck with that. I started practicing a lot and took a Udemy course on ADOBE XD. Then I realize that you need real projects to showcase on your portfolio. I know I know,

“How do you get real projects without getting work experience?”

Well, You don’t have to get real-world experience, I mean, it would be better if you did, but because it’s just a start, you don’t have to. Your Bootcamp projects would work just fine.

Start by searching for projects that are already done and find a loophole that you might be able to fix. Another thing would be to be creative. Don’t worry about the final product yet. Go slow, don’t rush like I did, because, in the end, it would be hard to fix the smallest problem. Research, Research, Research before you jump on any projects.

After I finished designing my portfolio, I was confused about which software to use to publish my portfolio. I tried posting through Behance, but I think it is not proper to showcase your portfolio. I know I did not want to code my whole portfolio, so I started researching any software to build my website. I came across plenty of software, such as Squarespace, Wix, WordPress, X-Editor, Webflow, etc. I choose to work on Webflow because it has tons of functionality and lots of flexibility.

If you have basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, I will recommend using Webflow. From my perspective, it is straightforward to understand and work. They have Webflow classes on university.webflow.com to begin. It will give a broad idea of how to start.

Once I finished my portfolio, I quit my job. I started giving my 100%, focus on building connections, getting to know people in the industry, and taking feedback for my portfolio. These are the things that encouraged me to gain insights into working in the designing industry: