HOW TO GET INTO UX DESIGN

 



To get into UX design, you must first have a TikTok account and a phone that can screenshot.

No, I kid.
(But honestly… that was my own story.)

Someone posted something that looked like a “starter pack for UX design” on TikTok. I took a screenshot and held onto it for months. When I finally decided to start my product design journey, I went back to that post like it was a treasure map.

Step 1: Start With What You Have


My first real step was taking a UI/UX course on Coursera, sponsored by Google. The course had three projects we had to complete for our portfolio using Figma.

And trust me, those projects teach you more than you expect because you learn by doing.

Step 2: Understanding Case Studies



For each project, we created a case study, which is basically the story behind the design:

  • your problem statement

  • your research

  • the ideas you explored

  • how you brought it to life

  • and finally, your hi-fi prototype

It sounds big, but you grow into it as you work.

Step 3: Creating Your First Portfolio

I built my first portfolio using Google Sites. Simple, clean, and easy.
And here’s something I strongly believe:

Let your personality shine through your portfolio.
 Even the portfolio itself is a design project. Show good UX thinking in the way you organize it. That’s how you catch a recruiter or client’s attention.

Step 4: Applying for Internships

Once you have your portfolio, start applying for internships — paid or unpaid. The goal at this stage is to learn from a team with more experience and get hands-on exposure.

I’m still currently applying for my own first internship, and sharing parts of my journey as I go. If you’re in the same boat, you’re not alone.

Step 5: Growing in Your Own Direction

As a product designer, you’ll eventually decide if you want to be a specialist (focusing on UX research, UI design, or interaction design) or a generalist (someone who does a bit of everything). There’s no rush. You grow into it with time, practice, and exposure.

Everyone enters UX through different doors — TikTok screenshots, curiosity, a random Google search, or frustration with badly designed apps. Wherever you’re starting from, it’s valid.

So, where are you in your UX journey right now?


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