To help answer a student in UX/UI Design

[S_Gans]

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?

[cmgap]

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]

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?

[S_Gans]

Won't let me edit! I meant, that idea of each phase of the USER JOURNEY! That's the fascinating part...

[cmgap · Accepted solution]

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-...

Don't Make Me Think, Steven Krug

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

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_...

Mental Models, Indie Young

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Mental+Models%E...

[S_Gans]

I agree - I was suggesting some, but didn't know of the best of them - thank you for those suggestions! I'll pass those all along. Thanks!

[Ares Hovhannesyan]

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

[S_Gans]

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!

[sabinaona1984]

wzajemnie

[MK_9]

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