To help answer a student in UX/UI Design

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
March 28, 2018
5 replies
1751 views

My student (taking classes in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and I suggested After Effects) is interested in seeking work in the area of UX/UI Design.

While I can teach her all the software, and all the principles that apply to her interests, I have no background in actually looking for work in that area. For example, what are the best items to show in a portfolio, where to seek positions when you're starting, any tips and tricks to enter the field. She's more experienced in the User Experience area and is familiar with Adobe XD - but she's got no portfolio for User Interface.

Anybody have any good ideas I can pass along?

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer cmgap

Well there are many books that you could point to for theory:

Essential reading:

The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman

http://www.nixdell.com/classes/HCI-and-Design-Spring-2017/The-Design-of-Everyday-Things-Revised-and-Expanded-Edition.pdf

Don't Make Me Think, Steven Krug

http://wireframe.vn/books/Don%27t%20Make%20Me%20Think%20-%20A%20Common%20Sense%20Approach%20To%20Web%20Usability%20(Seco…

About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design, Alan Cooper

https://www.amazon.com/About-Face-Essentials-Interaction-Design/dp/1118766571/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc…

Mental Models, Indie Young

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Mental+Models%E2%80%8A%E2%80%94%E2%…

M

MK_9

Participant

Hey You Learn Design On ProApp

Pro App is the place for you to learn all things design. It is your Digital Design College that teaches you the foundations of design principles. It will help you to learn, create, and excel in multiple aspects of design. Download the App here

Google Playstore

http://bit.ly/become_a_pro

iOS App Store

http://bit.ly/become_a_pro_ios

S

sabinaona1984

Participant

wzajemnie

S_Gans

Author

Community Expert

Thanks, @Ares - We already did have that discussion - rather thoroughly. She's familiar with the UX stuff - it's the UI she wants to fill in and get work. I will recommend that UX book to her though!

Adobe Community Expert / Adobe Certified Instructor

Ares Hovhannesyan

Community Expert

Please tell him that UX and UI designers do separate things in context. UX Designer need to understand need of users, test application, organize work and then pass all this information to UI designer.

I recommend to start with Jesse James Garrett: The Elements of User Experience

cmgap

Community Expert

You might want to recommend that your student create a project (self-assignment) that shows the deliverables in each phase of the User Journey that will showcase her skill set along with any class related project work. Anyone applying for a job will need to show proficiency before they will get an interview.

S_Gans

Author

Community Expert

Thank you. Great idea - I'd already suggested the self-assignment, but didn't think of her showing each phase. I like that! Thing is, she's not taken a specific class about UX/UI design - her degree was in Design as a generalization, and she's learning the software to back that up. I haven't been able to track down and classes on UX/UI Design that aren't about coding for her yet, and all the classes I do hunt down are software based.

I wonder who might offer a theory based class in that specialty... Any ideas?

Adobe Community Expert / Adobe Certified Instructor