How To Become A User Interface (UI) Designer

Tech jobs are growing at incredible rates, but some of them are quite rigid in their rules. That’s one reason why only a quarter of young tech workers are entirely happy in their roles.

If you want a tech job that offers autonomy and allows you to use your own creativity and artistic flair, then one option stands above all else. Let’s talk about how to become a user interface designer!

What Is User Interface?

User interface (UI) is what a user sees on an organization’s website or application. This is the point of computer-human interaction and communication on a specific device, which covers a broad spectrum of components.

Consequently, UI designers seek to build websites and applications with captivating and intuitive design elements for users. Their role is to create interactive programs that enhance a customer’s experience with a brand with visually stunning interface elements.

UI Designer Job Outlook

UI designers, like all web designers, are in high demand. If you’re looking for a secure career with plenty of open doors, this is a good direction to take. Designers are expected to see a 23% job growth in the next 10 years, which is much higher than the national average across industries.

Moreover, a high demand leads to job security, which plays a major role in job satisfaction, which plays a major role in overall happiness. UI design has a fairly low barrier to entry relative to its salary, job outlook, and security. Therefore, if you want some of the perks of the modern tech economy, this is a great place to start.

How to Become a UI Designer

Now that you know a little more about the job, it may seem like the right fit for you. If so, here’s how to become a UI designer in 2022!

Learn Web Design Fundamentals

UI designers are web designers, which means that it’s important to learn the fundamental skills of web design and development. Specifically, HTML, CSS, and Javascript. An emphasis on CSS is certainly important!

From there, you may want to learn other coding languages like Python. However, the basics are the most important.

After that, you will also need to become familiar with the tools UI designers use. A few examples would be Adobe XD, Canva, Sketch, WordPress, and others. The more you understand these tools, the easier your future job will be!

You can learn these on your own with plenty of free resources online. However, if you want a more structured approach, you may consider taking a beginner’s coding boot camp. These will only help you down the road.

If you already know the basics, master them. You can always improve your code quality as a developer.

Learn the UI Basics

Once you understand the basics of web design, it’s time to learn the fundamentals of UI design specifically. Learning a little about color theory, lines, structures, and how different design elements interact is important.

Remember, design is not a science, it’s an art. There are no precise metrics or wrong answers, but you can still learn a lot about what works and what doesn’t by deconstructing other people’s work.

Enroll in a UI Design Course

One of the fastest ways to get started is to enroll in a UI design course or boot camp. The more that you teach yourself the basics ahead of time, the less you’ll have to learn. However, this should cover all of the skills you’ll need to know to become a UI designer.

Of course, a degree in computer science or web development is best, but it’s the longest path to becoming a UI designer by far. Some jobs will require degrees, but that’s becoming less and less common due to high demand in the industry.

Build a Portfolio

Your work in class, any side projects you’ve done, or any relevant work you have. Any of this work should be included in your portfolio. 

If you don’t have any work, offer your services to a local business or nonprofit that needs help with their websites. You can pitch your services at a discounted rate or even offer them for free to have something to show your future employers or clients.

Also, we strongly recommend uploading this portfolio to your own website. This is a great way to control its interface, which is what viewers will want to see from you!

Choose a Career Path

Do you want to work independently right away or start with a traditional job? If you want to start with a job, add your coursework and skills to your resume, along with any professional experience.

Whether you’re trying to find clients or employers, they will likely want to see a portfolio showcasing your work. Employers may also evaluate your UI skills through a series of tests or assessments.

If you want to work independently, then you will need to find clients. This can take some patience, but we recommend building your own website (with your UI skills) and reaching out to job postings online. This can take time at first, but it’s much easier once you have a solid portfolio!

Design Your Career Today

Now that you know how to become a user interface designer, put these tips to good use for your own career development. The sooner you do, the sooner you can enjoy the luxuries of your new career.

Stay up to date with our latest career tips, and learn how to negotiate your salary for when you start your new job!