What is UX?
UX, or user experience, includes everything that a user experiences when they interact with a system or product. UX design refers to the practice of designing a system in such a way as to make this experience an interesting and engaging one for the user, so that they are encouraged to use it more, and even recommend it to others. UX design is achieved by conducting research, analyzing what’s needed, and thoughtfully designing the touchpoints – the points of user interaction so as to make it a great experience. This field is multi-disciplinary, which calls for numerous skills, and of course, creative thinking.
Is UX Design the right career for me?
A UX design career is fundamentally, a career in IT. If tech excites, you, it’s definitely a great place to start. You will be involved in creating digital products for tech companies after all. As it is a multidisciplinary field that requires a suite of diverse skills, you need to bear in mind that it is a fluid and dynamic, and to an extent, hazy, albeit exciting field. In addition to technical knowhow, you will also need to have soft skills, as your job will involve carrying out user research surveys. If innovation is your passion, you love challenges, and look forward to create unique experiences, you will certainly love UX design as a career.
How Can I get started in UX?
You have to consider what you know about UX, and the job descriptions for UX designers; it may be a good idea to talk to other UX designers, and decide what it is that you want to achieve. Think about your goals, and the amount of work you’re willing to put in, the sacrifices you are ready to make and so on, to get started in this profession. You also need to be realistic about timelines. You cannot hope to master UX design in just a few weeks. Read up or talk to our experts on the skill set you will be expected to have, and do a mental check if you will be able to do it. Remember it’s not enough to be able to wireframe and protype, but you need to know when and how to use them appropriately.
What type of jobs can I get in UX?
A. The user experience design field is complex, and wide ranging. In fact, it is constantly evolving, and new branches of UX design keep springing up every day. There are a large number of highly sought-after, varying roles with different responsibilities and pay scales, that you can hope to excel in, like:
- User researchers
- UX writers
- UX Generalists
- Information architect
- Interaction Designers
- Product Designers
- UI designers
- Usability analyst
- UX strategist
At Aviv Digital we can help you figure out where your strengths lie, and guide you to the career path best suited to your skills. Of course, you need to make the final decision yourself; once you complete the UX Design course, you will have a fair idea.
Do I need to learn coding for a UX career?
It is not mandatory to learn coding if you are looking for a UX career; however, it would be a good idea to learn the fundamentals. You could be put in charge of a design document where you will need to five detailed info about what is needed to be built to the developers. If you know the basics of coding, you will be able to identify if your design is going to consume too many resources, like say the development team’s time; you will also be able to identify the places you need to cut down or modify your design. As a UX designer it’s imperative for you to have empathy with users, however, it would be an added bonus to also be empathetic with your colleagues in other departments. With some coding knowledge, you will be able to design something that is feasible technically.
I am not a graduate; can I still get a job?
Yes, it is possible to get a job even without a graduate degree. Today, most companies hire on the basis of the skills, technical expertise, and experience of the candidates rather than just formal education. It could be possible that some companies insist on a degree, but most do not. Having a strong portfolio will help your case much better than any degree – even it is from the best colleges. It has been found in several studies that those with degrees are not necessarily always the best candidates, as they could be lacking in creativity or the skills mandatory for a UX design career.
Can I switch to UX from a different field?
Absolutely, yes. There is nothing stopping you. You can switch to UX design from graphics design, coding, or testing – if that is what appeals to you. All you need to do is to the right course that will equip you with the requisite skills, and you are good to go. In fact, it may even give you an edge over others, when you have expertise in multiple fields – especially considering that UX is an interdisciplinary field. Even if you are a professional in a non-IT field, you can still make the switch. It is your interest and dedication that counts.
Is there an age limit to get into UX training and career?
Age is just a number! You just need to have the right attitude, a capacity to unlearn, relearn, and learn new concepts, and explore them as well. Your skills, dedication, and capabilities are what count – not your age, not your degrees, and not your previous profession. Don’t have any misconceptions regarding age and formal education, and don’t let this thinking get in the way of your having a promising career in the IT industry.
How will I get my first job in UX?
At Aviv Digital, we guide and assist our students who have successfully completed their training, in their job search. We absorb quite a few students in our own establishment, Acodez Solutions – the IT wing of our company. We will provide resources, links, and so on; every help will be given to students to apply for jobs. One of the most important things for an applicant to have while applying for a UX design job, is the portfolio. Our trainers will be happy to guide you regarding the ideal portfolio to prepare in order to land the job of your dreams.
Will Aviv Digital help me prepare for my job interview?
Yes, at Aviv Digital, we are happy to help students prepare for their job interviews by conducting mock interviews, resumes, and even their portfolios. As an institute that has trained hundreds of students, we have a file of the most frequently asked questions, and what organizations are looking for when they want to hire new employees. Of course, given the dynamic nature of UX design as a field, we cannot guarantee that a particular question will or won’t be asked at the interview; however, depending on the specific role you are applying for, we can help you prepare as best as possible.
