How To Become a UI/UX Designer With No Experience

UI/UX designers are responsible for creating a digital product or service's user interface (UI) and user experience (UX). In simpler terms, they design how it looks and feels to users. Both career tracks are lucrative - CareerFoundry says that UI designers are among the top 15 most in-demand professions, while LinkedIn ranks UX design as one of the five most sought-after skills.

Either role can be both challenging and extremely rewarding, and the good news is you don’t necessarily have to go back to college to enter the field. Thanks to online courses, bootcamps, and the Internet, there are alternative methods to help you upskill and land your dream job. 

Yes, you can. UI/UX are fundamentally practical skills - if you can master the right skills and prove your expertise with a portfolio of personal projects, potential employers may overlook your lack of professional experience. 

It won’t be easy to enter the industry if you don’t have prior experience behind your belt. You’ll need to build up your portfolio and showcase your skills before applying. Here’s how to get started on your journey.

1. Research the Industry (and Career Options) and Take Stock of Where You Are

2. Chart Your Learning Route

3. Hone Your Skills

4. Become Proficient in the Essentials Tools

5. Remember: Practice Makes Perfect

6. Develop a Strong Portfolio To Demonstrate Your Expertise

7. Build Your Network and Get Involved in the UI/UX Design Community

8. Pursue an Internship

9. Work Toward the Job You Want

Research the Industry (and Career Options) and Take Stock of Where You Are

You can pursue multiple roles in UI/UX, so it’s important to understand the industry, its career paths, and your current skill set. That way, you’ll have a clearer picture of where you are and where you’re going. 

Start by digging into subfields like information architecture, interaction design, visual design, and user research. Explore the different products and services requiring UI/UX expertise, from mobile apps and websites to software applications and physical products.

Research the current job market for UI/UX designers. Analyze job descriptions, noting the required skills, experience, and preferred qualifications. Look for trends in the industry, emerging technologies, and future projections for UI/UX design roles. You can become a generalist or specialize in roles like UX research, visual or interaction design, user advocacy, and others. 

Once you have a clear idea of where you’d like to go, move on to a self-assessment. 

Evaluate your existing skills and interests. Reflect on your previous experiences, even if outside the design field. Look for transferable skills like communication, collaboration, project management, and time management. These skills are highly valuable in the design world.

Then, compare your current skill set with the requirements of UI/UX designer roles. Identify areas where you need to develop your knowledge and expertise. This will help you prioritize your learning journey.

Chart Your Learning Route

There are several ways to acquire the skills you need to succeed in the UI/UX industry, each with pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look. 

Formal Degree

You don’t need a specific college degree in UI or UX to pursue a career in the field. Many professionals in the industry started learning design, psychology, or even computer science.  Suppose you do want to focus on UI or UX and prefer obtaining a degree in the field. In that case, the Academy of Art offers an online degree in Interaction & UI/UX Design, or you can pursue a degree in Computer Science at a college of your choice. Bear in mind that this route is the most time-consuming and expensive. It may also not be a practical option for career switchers who need to earn an income while studying. 

Bootcamp

A UI/UX bootcamp is an intensive and immersive training program that teaches you the fundamentals of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design in a short period of time at a much lower cost than a traditional degree. Institutions like the University of South Florida offer UI/UX design bootcamps with hands-on training, one-on-one mentorship, and practical projects that can form the basis of your portfolio.

Certification

A UI/UX certification is a credential that demonstrates your proficiency in the field of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. It’s suitable for someone with some training or proficiency in UI/UX. The process for obtaining a UI/UX certification varies depending on your specific program. Still, you’ll usually need to enroll, complete some required coursework, and then write and pass an exam for a fee.

Self-Study

If formal education isn’t for you, you can study UI/UX on your own by watching videos, reading tutorials, completing tasks online, or reading books. This route is free, but it isn’t easy, and you’ll need to be extremely disciplined and organized to gain the skills you need. 

Hone Your Skills

Speaking of skills, you’ll need a combination of hard (technical) and soft skills to become a UI/UX designer. 

Technical Skills

First, learn the essential design principles like typography, color theory, layout, and visual hierarchy. Understand how to create intuitive and visually appealing interfaces while prioritizing usability and accessibility. You’ll also need to familiarize yourself with industry-standard software like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and Photoshop—practice using these tools to create prototypes, wireframes, and mockups. Coding isn’t a strict requirement, but having basic knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can be incredibly valuable, especially for UI design. This lets you understand how your designs translate into actual code and collaborate more effectively with developers.

Soft Skills

Effective communication is crucial for collaborating with stakeholders, understanding user needs, and presenting your design ideas. Make sure that you are able to express yourself verbally and in written communication. UI/UX design involves identifying user problems and creatively crafting solutions. Try to hone your critical thinking ability and analyze information to develop optimal solutions. Finally, immerse yourself in user research and deeply understand user needs, motivations, and behaviors. Practice your skills with your friends and during your projects! 

Become Proficient in the Essentials Tools

We’ve already mentioned some of the tools you’ll need to master. Several online platforms offer comprehensive courses and tutorials on UI/UX design. Take advantage of these resources to learn the basics and explore specific areas of interest. Stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best UI/UX design practices by reading industry publications and blogs like UX Collective, Smashing Magazine, and Nielsen Norman Group.

Remember: Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to gain experience is to start working - even if it's just on a personal project. 

Create Sample Work

Building a strong portfolio is essential for showcasing your skills and landing your dream UI/UX design job. Choose projects that are personally meaningful or align with your design interests, and explore various design challenges, such as redesigning existing websites or apps, creating mobile app concepts, or designing interfaces for specific user groups. Begin with smaller projects to build your confidence and gradually move on to more complex ones as you gain experience. Take a critical look at apps and websites you use regularly and identify areas for improvement and design solutions to enhance the user experience or create mockups for your hobby or side hustle. 

Take Part in Design Contests

Design contests are competitions where participants submit their creative designs for a specific challenge or brief. They offer a platform to showcase your skills, gain valuable feedback, and potentially win exciting prizes or even land job opportunities. You will also have the opportunity to receive constructive criticism from industry experts and refine your design skills based on their feedback. Afterward, you can add winning entries or shortlisted designs to your portfolio, demonstrating your ability to compete and produce high-quality work. Platforms like DesignCrowd, 99designs, Freelancer, and DesignContest.com regularly host design contests. 

Pursue Volunteer or Freelance Projects

Volunteering or taking on freelance projects provides valuable real-world experience and helps you develop your professional network. Offer your design skills to non-profits to create websites, marketing materials, or other digital assets, or find freelance work on online platforms, like Upwork and Fiverr, that offer opportunities to connect with clients and work on freelance projects remotely. You can also approach local businesses and offer your design services at discounted rates to gain experience and build your portfolio.

Develop a Strong Portfolio To Demonstrate Your Expertise

Once you’ve started building up a few projects, create a portfolio highlighting your most successful projects and demonstrating your diverse skillset. Your portfolio should tell a story and explain your design process, decisions, and the results achieved through your work. 

Build Your Network and Get Involved in the UI/UX Design Community

The design community can help you get a headstart in the field. Attend industry events, join online forums and communities, and connect with other designers on LinkedIn. Look for experienced UI/UX designers who can guide and support you as you navigate your career journey. Share your knowledge and insights by speaking at conferences, writing blog posts, or contributing to open-source projects.

Pursue an Internship

You can hit the ground running, gain valuable experience and learn from professionals by working as an intern. It may sound boring, but internships provide an excellent opportunity to work on real-world projects, receive valuable feedback from experienced designers, and build your professional network. You’ll also experience different UI/UX design aspects and discover areas that best suit your interests and skills. Successful internships can significantly strengthen your resume and showcase your practical skills to potential employers, so don’t discount it! 

Work Toward the Job You Want

Now that you have a little more practical experience to back you up, it’s time to research companies and organizations whose work aligns with your design interests and values and start applying. 

Build Your Resume

First things first: write a killer resume. Use numbers and data to showcase the impact of your work. Always tailor your resume to each job you apply for, focusing on the skills and experience most relevant to the position. Details matter, so make sure that your resume is free of errors and typos, creates a professional first impression, and includes a link to your portfolio. 

Create a Well-Optimised LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn is a great way to connect with hiring managers. Include a professional headshot and compelling summary and showcase your work and achievements, especially your design projects. 

Numbers Matter (So Apply to As Many Open Roles As Possible)

While the quality of your applications is important, the quantity also plays a crucial role in your job search. The job market is highly competitive, with many qualified people vying for the same positions. Applying to more roles increases your visibility and chances of standing out from the crowd. Even with a strong application, factors beyond your control can influence the outcome. Remember, applying to multiple roles means maintaining quality. Tailor your applications to each specific position and highlight your relevant skills and experience. While quantity is important, quality should never be sacrificed.

Need more inspiration? Here are two examples of designers who were once in your shoes - and still made it to the top. 

Neil Nkoyock

At the age of 16, Neil landed his first UI design job with no portfolio or experience. He started by creating wireframes for various apps and websites and eventually switched to designing them full-time. He also used online website-making services like WIX to create and publish websites for family and friends. Neil recommends building a portfolio, networking, and taking on freelance work to gain experience and exposure.

Mitch Clements

Mitch, a computer science student with no previous design experience landed his first UX design job by creating his own comparable experience. He participated in hackathons, volunteered at his school's UX club, and started a blog about UX design. Neil also quantified his achievements and made his resume stand out. He recommends finding mentors and networking with the design community.

Navigating the job market as a less experienced UI/UX designer can be overwhelming, but don’t give up! There are great resources to help you! 

Job Boards

Look at general job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, Monster, and CareerBuilder, as well as niche boards like UX Collective, UX Booth, AIGA Design, Dribble Jobs, and others. You should also visit the career pages of the companies you’d like to work for. 

LinkedIn and Your Network

LinkedIn can be a powerful tool, so use it to your advantage. Connect with other UI/UX designers and participate in discussions to expand your network, learn about potential opportunities, search for open UI/UX design positions, and directly apply through LinkedIn. Make sure your network knows that you are open to work so that they can put feelers out for you. 

Online Communities

Do the same with your online communities, like Reddit's r/DesignJobs, Facebook groups for UI/UX designers, and Slack communities focused on UX design. You can also look at professional organizations for help, including the Interaction Design Foundation (IDF), UXPA International, and the AIGA.

Marketplaces

You can find freelance and full-time job placements on sites like Upwork, offer your services on Fiverr, or apply to join a network of top freelance UI/UX designers on TopTal.

Is Getting a UI/UX Job Hard?

It depends on your experience and the current job market. Entry-level positions can be competitive, but with the right skills and portfolio, you can increase your chances of success. There are also many resources available to help you learn the skills you need and find a job.

Can I Learn UI/UX on My Own?

Yes, you can learn UI/UX on your own, but it will require dedication and hard work. There are many online resources available, such as courses, tutorials, and blogs. You can also learn by working on personal projects and getting feedback from other designers.

Should I Learn UI or UX First?

It is generally recommended to learn UI first, as it provides a strong foundation for understanding the basics of design. UX is a more complex field that builds on top of UI principles. However, you can also learn them simultaneously or in whichever order feels more natural for you.

Which Pays More: UI or UX?

Generally, UX designers tend to earn slightly more than UI designers. However, this can vary depending on experience, location, and specific skills. Ultimately, both UI and UX design are in-demand fields with good earning potential.

Will UX Design Be Replaced by AI?

It is unlikely that AI will completely replace UX designers in the foreseeable future. While AI can automate some tasks, such as design testing and user research, it cannot replace the creativity, empathy, and critical thinking skills that are essential for UX design.