How To Overcome The Challenges Of Breaking Into A UXUI/ Product Design Career

In the last article, I discussed the top 5 challenges for breaking into a UX/UI (product) design career.

You can find the link to the post here, and the article here.

In this article let us explore how might we overcome those challenges. But before we do so, let me reiterate the first thing first.?

Find your ‘why’.

Is UX/UI design your newfound crush that you would forget when you find something more titillating, fancy, or rewarding? What are you willing to let go because you want this career? Is this aligned with your calling in life? Even close? Is this something you can commit to for a decade of your career?        

I do not know your answer. I can only ask the questions, hopefully, the right ones. You have to find the answers for yourself.

Back to challenges and three specific actions you can take for each. Read on.

Challenge #1: Inadequate Knowledge and Skills for Transitioning into UI/UX Design        

How do we break this barrier? Here are three options for you to consider.

• Enroll in a UI/UX boot camp to build a foundational understanding. Be apprehensive of so-called product design influencers trying to make you a product design pro in 7 days. Becoming an expert in anything takes its due share of significant effort, time, and commitment.
• Practice hands-on design projects to apply theoretical knowledge and gain practical skills. This is the only way to bridge the knowing-doing gap. Remember it’s not reasonable to expect to become a pro in design by watching a few videos and/or participating in a few Zoom calls.
• Seek mentorship from experienced UI/UX professionals for guidance and insights. You can always accelerate your progress by learning from others who have taken a similar switch in careers.?

Challenge #2: Difficulty in Showcasing Transferable Skills from Previous Career        

Oftentimes we undermine the competencies and skills we can borrow from our past experience to our new roles in a new industry. Here’s what we should rather do.

• Identify key transferable skills (e.g., problem-solving, communication, facilitation) and relate them to UI/UX competencies. This way you do not start from scratch but make a meaningful association of your past experience to your future design function.
• Develop case studies demonstrating how skills from the previous career can contribute to effective UX design. Put yourself at the center of this study. Write down elaborate reasoning for finding useful connections to your past experience that a future recruiter will value.
• Leverage informational interviews to understand how professionals successfully translated their skills. You would be surprised to see how generous people are when it comes to helping someone else reach their shore.

Challenge #3:? Need for Guidance on Navigating the UI/UX Job Market        

Here the rubber hits the road. It’s one thing to get the required knowledge, practice what you learned, and another to find a potential recruiter who is willing to bet on you.?

• Attend UI/UX networking events, workshops, and conferences to gain insights into the industry. Meet people with a single objective to learn from and even help them to learn. Be generous. Do not be selfish. Networking is more about giving and less about gaining. The latter happens if we do the first right.
• Engage with UI/UX communities on social media platforms for advice and industry updates. Follow other designers on Insta, Behance, and Dribble. Read and follow content creators in product design on Medium. Join official communities of Figma, Adobe XD, and the like.
• Seek informational interviews with professionals working in UI/UX roles to understand the landscape better. You need to speak to a lot of people before you will find one who is "god sent" to you. Keep the communication professional.?

Challenge #4 : Lack of a Portfolio Tailored for a Design Role        

This is probably the most significant barrier because rarely would a hiring take place in product design without a recruiter looking at portfolios of the candidates.

• Work on personal UI/UX projects to build a portfolio showcasing relevant skills. Wondering where the projects would come from? Get your beloved smartphone out and do a self-study of the top three apps you use most frequently, and for a spin also take two of the least used of the apps.?
• Include case studies that highlight the design process, problem-solving, and user-centric thinking. You can look at some great portfolios on the design platforms mentioned above for inspiration.
• Seek feedback from mentors or professionals in the UI/UX field for continuous improvement. Product design is an ever-evolving field. You get the basics right and then build on it.?Continuously.

Challenge #5 :? Struggling to Network and Integrate into the Design Community        

Now you might say, Avijit, I understand the value of networking, but I am introverted, or do not have access to such a network. How do I approach this? Here’s what could be a useful starting point.

• Join online forums and communities dedicated to UI/UX design to connect with professionals. There are many. Google.
• ?Attend local or virtual meetups and networking events to meet industry experts. Follow the hashtags related to design, UI/UX, product design, or product management. Related pages and posts will show up in your feed over time.
• Participate in design challenges or collaborative projects to actively engage with the community. This requires substantial commitments. Be willing to put in the hard work upfront. Rewards will follow if you are consistent.

Addressing these challenges requires a proactive and multi-faceted approach. Continuous learning, practical application, networking, and mentorship play pivotal roles in helping career switchers overcome obstacles and successfully transition into the UI/UX or product design field.

UI/UX or Product Design is an emotionally, and financially rewarding career for the emotionally intelligent folks among us. Pursue with consistent efforts. With the right guidance, it’s a matter of time before you would land your dream career.

All the best!

~AD

P.S.

If you happen to be in Bangalore, meet me at one of our weekly meetups, TWH (Thinking With Hands). It’s free! All images used in this article are from TWH.

When I am not playing with my five pets (yes, five, I love animals including humans. Maybe one post on them is due) or sharing career guidance with so-called 'lost' souls, I run a boutique #designstudio Nonlinear based out of the beautiful city of Bengaluru, erstwhile Bangalore.

#UIUXdesign #ProductDesign #ProductInnovation