UX Design Journey Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Speaker has a B.Tech and M.Tech in engineering, not in design.
• Shocking that one can become a UX designer without a design degree.
• UX design is based on skills and experience, not just formal education.
• Importance of building a strong portfolio through mock and real-world projects.

Why UX Design?

• Average Salary:
  • Beginner UX designer in India earns approximately 10 lakh Rupees/year.
• Noble Profession:
  • UX design can change people's lives through product solutions.
  • Examples: Ordering food, booking travel, finding friends, etc.
• Market Demand:
  • Significant growth in UX professionals predicted (from 1,000 to 1 million between 1980 and 2017, projected to reach 100 million by 2050).
• Role of AI:
  • AI will not replace UX designers but will help simplify their work.

Core Responsibilities of a UX Designer

• Decision Making:
  • Every decision impacts usability.
  • Importance of clarity on essential factors vs. complications in user journeys.
• Key Design Principles:
  • Providing clear paths, emphasizing important actions, reducing cognitive load, and building trust.

Developing Critical Thinking

• Habit Formation:
  • Start questioning the design of everyday objects (e.g., chairs, mugs).
  • Ask why they look/feel a certain way and how they can be improved.

Month 1: Fundamentals of UI/UX

Differences Between UI and UX

• UI (User Interface):
  • Elements that users interact with (buttons, icons, etc.).
• UX (User Experience):
  • Overall experience and ease of use of a product.
• Product Design:
  • Broader focus, encompassing UI, UX, business, and marketing.

Learning Principles and Laws

• Read about visual hierarchy, consistency, contrast, proximity, and accessibility.
• Resources: laws of.com, ux hints.com, books like "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman, "Hooked" by Nir Eyal.

Learning Through Games

• Recommended games:
  • Method AC, Bezier Game, Color Game, Current Type, Shape Type, UI Game.

Tool Proficiency

• Figma:
  • Best tool for design in 2024.
  • Start by replicating simple designs from platforms like Behance and Dribbble.
• Tutorials:
  • Figma tutorial available for comprehensive learning.

Month 2: Advanced Design Skills

• Three Phases of 10 Days Each:
  1. Replicating Complex Designs:
     • Focus on mobile apps and websites.
  2. Redesigning Projects:
     • Work on redesigns of apps/websites, particularly focusing on improving user experience.
  3. Creating Case Studies:
     • Document the design process and decisions in a structured way.
• Resources for Case Studies:
  • Growth.design for in-depth case studies.
  • Share work on platforms like LinkedIn, Dribbble, Behance, Medium.

Month 3: Job Preparation

• Importance of Communication:
  • Effective communication of ideas is crucial for job success.
• Networking:
  • Connect with industry professionals online and offline.
• Cold Emailing for Job Opportunities:
  • Steps for drafting cold emails to potential employers.
• Custom Case Studies:
  • Tailor case studies to match job requirements.

Recommended Figma Plugins and AI Tools

Figma Plugins

1. Wireframe Designer: Creates wireframes from text prompts.
2. Iconify: Access to popular icon sets.
3. Magician: AI-based image and copy generation.
4. Responsify: Test designs across screen sizes.
5. Rina UI: Pre-built UI components.
6. Sorter: Organizes layers in design.

AI Tools

1. Gma.app: AI writing assistant for design documents.
2. Font Joy: Font combination tool.
3. UX Pilot: AI UX assistant for wireframes and user flows.
4. Chroma: Color combination and palette tool.
5. Adobe Firefly: Creates realistic images and transforms photos.

Conclusion

• Importance of getting work reviewed for feedback.
• Continuous improvement and updating portfolio are essential for job readiness.
• Links provided for further resources and videos related to UX design.