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Daniel
Student
Michigan City, Indiana
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How do I become a UX developer with limited funds
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4 answers
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
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Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
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James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Daniel,
Here's a practical roadmap to becoming a proficient UX developer, even with limited resources:
1. Master the basics of UX design: Begin by immersing yourself in the core tenets of User Experience (UX) design. You can achieve this through online courses, textbooks, or complimentary resources found on platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare, and Khan Academy. Websites like User Experience (UX) Design and UsabilityGeek provide free tutorials and articles on diverse aspects of UX design. You can also delve into free resources on GitHub and Medium.
2. Assemble your portfolio: Develop a portfolio that exhibits your UX design work. This should encompass case studies, wireframes, prototypes, and user research reports. Utilize tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD for your designs and InVision or Marvel for prototyping and sharing. Ensure you articulate your design process for each project clearly in your portfolio.
3. Foster connections: Establish relationships with other UX designers and industry professionals via social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Dribbble. Participate in local meetups and conferences to broaden your network and gain insights from peers in the field. These connections could potentially lead to future job prospects or collaborations.
4. Volunteer or provide free services: Offer your UX design services pro bono or at a discounted rate to small businesses or non-profit organizations. This not only allows you to gain practical experience and build your portfolio but also benefits your community. Ensure you set clear expectations with clients about the project scope and completion timeline beforehand.
5. Seek entry-level positions: Pursue entry-level roles at companies that resonate with your career aspirations as a UX designer. Many organizations provide training programs or mentorship for newcomers, which is a great way to acquire valuable experience and learn from seasoned professionals. Be ready to showcase your skills during interviews and presentations throughout the hiring process.
6. Keep learning: Stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies in UX design by reading industry blogs, attending webinars, workshops, and conferences, and engaging in online communities like Reddit’s r/uxdesign subreddit or Slack groups centered around UX design.
References Used:
Interaction Design Foundation - Interaction Design Basics: A Beginner’s Guide (Book)
Nielsen Norman Group - User Experience Design Fundamentals (Online Course)
Google Developers - User Experience Design (Website)
May God bless you,
JC.
Here's a practical roadmap to becoming a proficient UX developer, even with limited resources:
1. Master the basics of UX design: Begin by immersing yourself in the core tenets of User Experience (UX) design. You can achieve this through online courses, textbooks, or complimentary resources found on platforms such as Udemy, Coursera, Skillshare, and Khan Academy. Websites like User Experience (UX) Design and UsabilityGeek provide free tutorials and articles on diverse aspects of UX design. You can also delve into free resources on GitHub and Medium.
2. Assemble your portfolio: Develop a portfolio that exhibits your UX design work. This should encompass case studies, wireframes, prototypes, and user research reports. Utilize tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD for your designs and InVision or Marvel for prototyping and sharing. Ensure you articulate your design process for each project clearly in your portfolio.
3. Foster connections: Establish relationships with other UX designers and industry professionals via social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Dribbble. Participate in local meetups and conferences to broaden your network and gain insights from peers in the field. These connections could potentially lead to future job prospects or collaborations.
4. Volunteer or provide free services: Offer your UX design services pro bono or at a discounted rate to small businesses or non-profit organizations. This not only allows you to gain practical experience and build your portfolio but also benefits your community. Ensure you set clear expectations with clients about the project scope and completion timeline beforehand.
5. Seek entry-level positions: Pursue entry-level roles at companies that resonate with your career aspirations as a UX designer. Many organizations provide training programs or mentorship for newcomers, which is a great way to acquire valuable experience and learn from seasoned professionals. Be ready to showcase your skills during interviews and presentations throughout the hiring process.
6. Keep learning: Stay abreast of the latest trends and technologies in UX design by reading industry blogs, attending webinars, workshops, and conferences, and engaging in online communities like Reddit’s r/uxdesign subreddit or Slack groups centered around UX design.
References Used:
Interaction Design Foundation - Interaction Design Basics: A Beginner’s Guide (Book)
Nielsen Norman Group - User Experience Design Fundamentals (Online Course)
Google Developers - User Experience Design (Website)
May God bless you,
JC.
Thanks for the advice.
Daniel
John Husband
Computer Science, Real Estate, Life
45
Answers
Boca Raton
Updated
John’s Answer
Hi Daniel,
I work for Microsoft as my day job. I hope I can give you a perspective that helps. I am curious why UX. UX is cool don't get me wrong but there is a great big world of coding out there of which UX is only one part. With limited funds I would study things that can make you money immediately while you finish high school then go to college. You'll want a 4 year degree in computer science at a minimum by the time you are done with school. But based on your question you may be wondering how to pay for it.
Here's the big secret about coding. You don't need a college degree to make money doing it. (But it does help long term.) In fact you don't need to have graduated high school either! That DOESNT mean I think you should drop out. In fact, your lifetime earnings will be 10x if you graduate HS and 100x if you graduate college. So yeah, go to college and get a computer science degree. But here is what you can do now.
Go to Upworks and create an account. Browes all the job offerings that are out there until you find a could you think you might be able to do. You are looking for the easiest thing out there. If you don't know how to do anything, then pick the first thing that looks interesting and then go to YouTube and study it like crazy. Keep watching videos and practicing what they show you until it starts to click. It won't take too long. Don't worry if you don't understand much of anything at first. Just keep at it and quickly you'll get it.
One you know something, go back to Upworks and bid on the easiest job you can find. Basically, charge the lowest amount of money that Upwork allows. You aren't doing the first project for money. You are doing the first project for experience. (But you will make a few bucks.) It will take a couple bids, it's like job hunting only for contracts. Keep trying until you get a contract. Keep watching the youtube videos and practicing while you are bidding on work.
What will happen after 2-3 months of dedicated effort is you are going to get a couple contracts. It's important that you do an excellent job on your first contract. You must get that 5 star review! Of to fix anything and everything for free until your customer is the happiest customer ever!
Once you get paid on your first contract your life will change. You will realize that you have a skill, in high school, that is worth real money. Now do it again. Find work, study. Find more work, more study. Find more more work and study more and more. Depending on the amount of time you have before you graduate high school you could pay for college out of your pocket with the income you make coding. That said, colleges at this point will take one look at your portfolio and probably offer you scholarships. But that's another post. :-)
Make your own luck by working hard.
Best of Luck,
-John
Find work on Upworks
Use YouTube to learn how to do the work
Repeat
Get paid to basically study
Get a degree in computer science at least
I work for Microsoft as my day job. I hope I can give you a perspective that helps. I am curious why UX. UX is cool don't get me wrong but there is a great big world of coding out there of which UX is only one part. With limited funds I would study things that can make you money immediately while you finish high school then go to college. You'll want a 4 year degree in computer science at a minimum by the time you are done with school. But based on your question you may be wondering how to pay for it.
Here's the big secret about coding. You don't need a college degree to make money doing it. (But it does help long term.) In fact you don't need to have graduated high school either! That DOESNT mean I think you should drop out. In fact, your lifetime earnings will be 10x if you graduate HS and 100x if you graduate college. So yeah, go to college and get a computer science degree. But here is what you can do now.
Go to Upworks and create an account. Browes all the job offerings that are out there until you find a could you think you might be able to do. You are looking for the easiest thing out there. If you don't know how to do anything, then pick the first thing that looks interesting and then go to YouTube and study it like crazy. Keep watching videos and practicing what they show you until it starts to click. It won't take too long. Don't worry if you don't understand much of anything at first. Just keep at it and quickly you'll get it.
One you know something, go back to Upworks and bid on the easiest job you can find. Basically, charge the lowest amount of money that Upwork allows. You aren't doing the first project for money. You are doing the first project for experience. (But you will make a few bucks.) It will take a couple bids, it's like job hunting only for contracts. Keep trying until you get a contract. Keep watching the youtube videos and practicing while you are bidding on work.
What will happen after 2-3 months of dedicated effort is you are going to get a couple contracts. It's important that you do an excellent job on your first contract. You must get that 5 star review! Of to fix anything and everything for free until your customer is the happiest customer ever!
Once you get paid on your first contract your life will change. You will realize that you have a skill, in high school, that is worth real money. Now do it again. Find work, study. Find more work, more study. Find more more work and study more and more. Depending on the amount of time you have before you graduate high school you could pay for college out of your pocket with the income you make coding. That said, colleges at this point will take one look at your portfolio and probably offer you scholarships. But that's another post. :-)
Make your own luck by working hard.
Best of Luck,
-John
John recommends the following next steps:
Thank you, John for the advice.
Daniel
Giacomo Paini
Dental hygienist
31
Answers
Vicenza, Veneto, Italy
Updated
Giacomo’s Answer
Ask financial aid
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David Allen
Consultant
27
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
David’s Answer
Becoming a UX developer with limited funds is entirely possible with dedication, resourcefulness, and a passion for learning. Start by immersing yourself in the world of user experience design by taking advantage of free or low-cost online resources. There are countless tutorials, articles, and videos available on platforms like YouTube, Medium, and Udemy that cover UX design principles, methodologies, and best practices. Dive into these resources, absorb as much knowledge as you can, and practice applying UX principles to real-world projects or redesigns of existing websites or applications.
Additionally, leverage free tools and software to hone your UX design skills. Platforms like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD offer free versions or trials that allow you to create prototypes, wireframes, and mockups without breaking the bank. Participate in online communities, forums, or meetups dedicated to UX design where you can connect with other aspiring designers, share ideas, and receive feedback on your work. Remember that your passion, creativity, and determination are your greatest assets on this journey. Stay persistent, keep refining your skills, and believe in your ability to carve out a successful career in UX development, regardless of financial constraints. With dedication and perseverance, you can achieve your goals and make a meaningful impact in the exciting and rapidly evolving field of user experience design.
Additionally, leverage free tools and software to hone your UX design skills. Platforms like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD offer free versions or trials that allow you to create prototypes, wireframes, and mockups without breaking the bank. Participate in online communities, forums, or meetups dedicated to UX design where you can connect with other aspiring designers, share ideas, and receive feedback on your work. Remember that your passion, creativity, and determination are your greatest assets on this journey. Stay persistent, keep refining your skills, and believe in your ability to carve out a successful career in UX development, regardless of financial constraints. With dedication and perseverance, you can achieve your goals and make a meaningful impact in the exciting and rapidly evolving field of user experience design.