💡
Hello and welcome to the world of UI/UX Design! I came up with this roadmap as a self-taught designer with the goal to becoming an all-rounded product designer. This list is non-exhaustive—It should not be viewed as the be-all and end-all learning roadmap. Your learning roadmap may vary depending on the country, the company or the role you’re applying for. The term ‘Product Designer’ and ‘UI/UX Designer’ are used interchangeably but the responsibilities of a Product Designer are much larger than that of a UI/UX Designer.
To make this your own, click Duplicate in the top right corner (Mobile: top right 3-dot menu).
Love,
Rachel
Subscribe onYouTube| Follow me onTwitter&Instagram| More resources on mywebsite| Leave afeedback💛
How to use this roadmap
Watch the full video walkthrough:
📹
https://youtu.be/HmKwiEmJIdM
👀
Step 1: Know what you’re getting into
Know why companies hire product designers
Know what problems you’re expected to solve for the company
Know the job responsibilities of a Product Designer
Should designers learn how to code? (YouTube)
Know the difference between UI and UX, and why you need to be good at both
Know the importance of visual design skills
Know that UI/UX design is NOT graphic design
📎
Step 2: Understand the process
Understand the design thinking process (YouTube)
Be in the right mindsetOne of it is ‘I am not my user’. Do not assume I know what my user wants/needs.
🔨
Step 3: Develop your skills
▶ Soft Skills
Communication
Presentation
Optional: Present your slides using Figma (Guide on YouTube)
Collaboration
How to Collaborate with Product Managers (Guide on YouTube)
Product Thinking
Empathy
Workshop facilitation
Critical thinking
Decision making
Leadership
Business & Strategy
▶ Craft & Execution
UX Design
Accessibility
Learn how to design for inclusivity
Learn how to craft user personas
Learn how to map user journeys
Learn about the Jobs-To-Be-Done framework
User Research
Learn about user research methods: Quantitative research (surveys, card sorting) and qualitative research (user interview, usability testing)
Know when you need research and when you don’t
Learn how to conduct research
Learn how to document your research findings in an organized manner
Learn how to present your research findings
Data Analysis
Learn how to work with the data gathered to come up with meaningful solutions
Learn how to analyze data to understand user behaviour
Know what are the important metrics to measure
User Flows
Explore tools like FigJam, Miro or Mural
Information Architecture
Learn a design tool
Figma design tips (Guide on YouTube)
Wireframing
Prototyping
Visual Design
Color, typography, hierarchy, contrast
How to pick the right colors (Guide on YouTube)
UI Design
Layout (Spacing, padding, grids)
Icon, Illustrations
Design systems
Style guides
Familiarize yourself with UI/UX design patterns
Mobbin Design
Screenlane
Page Collective
Design Guidelines
Material Design
Human Interface Guideline
Writing macro/micro copy
▶ Frequently used jargons/terms/buzzwords. This list is non-exhaustive, it’s basically my brain dump. Feel free to add your own here 😊👇
Terms you should know
No tags available.
📑
Step 4: Craft your case study
Learn how to design your case study (Guide on YouTube)
▶ Additional reads/inspiration for you
👯
Step 5: Put yourself out there
Document your learnings on social media (I recommend Twitter or LinkedIn)
Connect with like-minded people
Tell your friends and family
Book mentorship sessions to get feedback
Start off with free mentorship: adplist.org
💼
Step 6: Apply for jobs
Get your case study ready
Check for spelling mistakes
Make sure all URLs/prototypes are working
Get your portfolio ready
Check for spelling mistakes
Make sure all URLs/prototypes are working
Learn from other designer’s portfolios (YouTube)
Get your resume ready
15 tips to design your resume (Guide on YouTube)
Check for spelling mistakes
Make sure all URLs/prototypes are working
Practice before the interview
Research about the employer beforehand
Good luck! ✨
"“Learn continually - There’s always one more thing to learn.” — Steve Jobs"
💡
This is a free resource. If this is helpful, share it on Twitter and Instagram.
More videos onYouTube| Follow me onTwitter&Instagram| More resources on mywebsite| Leave afeedback💛
▶ Changelog
Mar 2022: Roadmap launched!