If you’ve ever booked a ticket on IRCTC before June 2018, you would remember it vividly. Because bad UX is memorable. And good UX is invisible. In today’s world of the digital economy, digital India and mobile-first approach to everything, user experience design plays a crucial role. There is a growing demand for UI/UX design skills, while not enough candidates to meet the demand. This is why UI and UX design courses are growing in
popularity.
To give you an idea, let’s look at some of the large UX design revamps that have happened recently in India. In 2018, thankfully, IRCTC launched a revamp to put users out of their misery. NPCI’s BHIM app — one of the most widely used payments apps in India — got a revamp to improve speed and user experience. Recently, credit card payment-rewards app CRED redesigned their app in a controversial neumorphic style.
Just like how a laptop or mobile phone needs an upgrade every few years, so does the user experience of any digital application — websites, mobile apps, tablet apps, interactive surfaces, smart television apps, virtual reality apps and so on. To spearhead the digital revolution, you need skills, tools, experience and guidance. This is what the best of UI and UX design courses offer.
UI and UX Design Courses: How to Choose The Best One?
The best of UI and UX design courses must offer a solid foundation for your UX designing career. This does not just mean visual design skills, but an entire gamut of knowledge, skill, experience, coaching and mentorship you need to start your UX design career. If you wish to learn UI UX design, here are some important things to look for in a course.
#1 Strong UI UX Foundation
In common parlance, user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) are often used interchangeably. One might have a ‘UX designer’ designation, but might be a UX researcher in reality. One might be a fantastic graphic designer, but think of themselves as a UX designer because they work on website visuals. These can lead to confusions and
misconceptions.
The best of UI and UX design courses will teach these concepts unequivocally. They will give a strong theoretical foundation in the various aspects related to user experience design.
#2 Impeccable Design Skills
UX design is a vast field — from research and analysis to testing and continuous improvement. Depending on the size of the organisation, goals of the team, nature of the product etc., UX designers can be specialists focussing on a specific area or generalists dabbling across the board.
A good UI/UX course should offer design skills across the spectrum. This can be:
● Theoretical concepts and frameworks such as design thinking, research methods, problem solving, observational empathy etc.
● Practical design skills in sketching and wireframing, creating high fidelity mock-ups,
micro-animations etc.
● Prototyping and usability testing
● Comfort in tools like InVision, Balsamiq, Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD etc.
A good design course will also teach you that the goal of a designer is not just to make a good app. It is, in fact, to make a human connection. Like how Airbnb designer and co-founder Joe Gebbia used good design to convince people that they can rent their home out to a stranger.
Good design builds trust, makes people feel safe, creates joy, persuades people and so much more.
A good course, designed and delivered by professional and certified instructors, will teach you to focus on the user more than the application.
#3 Seamless Transition to UI UX Designer Jobs
Last year, CNBC named UI/UX design as one of the fastest growing careers. It continues to be. There are around 3,000 jobs for UI designers and an equal number of jobs for UX designers in India right now. Aspirants who take up UI and UX design courses, seek to find jobs and pursue a career in the field. But, building a career requires more than just skills.
Better understanding of the UX design landscape
A good UI UX design course should enable your transition to a career. It should help you understand all the career opportunities that exist such as:
- UX designer
- Information architect
- Wireframing expert
- Interaction designer
- Content strategist
- Usability tester
- Product designer
Soft skills
Communication and interpersonal skills are just as important for a successful UX design career. A good UX design course will offer communication and presentation modules, lessons on giving and receiving feedback, collaboration skills etc. to ensure you have everything you need to become a UX designer.
Hands-on experience and portfolio
You’re not a designer until you’ve actually designed something. Recruitment managers look for a strong portfolio and samples that demonstrate your design skills.
A good UI/UX design course will offer capstone projects that you can include in your portfolio.
1:1 mentorship and career coaching
Navigating a new and competitive field like UX design is not easy. You need the help of an experienced professional who can answer your questions, help build your network, speak the language and get an entry into the field. A good 1:1 mentorship program should be the foundation of your UI/UX design course.
It also needs to offer career coaching in the form of support for job-search strategy, resume building, interview prep, and negotiation skills.
Springboard’s UI/UX Design Career Track
Springboard’s online UI/UX design course brings together some of the most qualified and certified professionals from the field of UX design. The career-focused course material helps build a strong foundation of the knowledge and skills needed to kickstart your UX design career.
World-class mentors are hand-picked for their experience and love of teaching. They come from leading UX design companies such as Virtusa, Microsoft, PayTM etc., bringing practical experience to help learners. They will also guide you through your three capstone projects, removing roadblocks in your way to completion.
Personal coaching calls with qualified career coaches will help you land your dream job. You’ll have 6 scheduled calls, with unlimited access to more for up to 6 months after completing the program.
Learn UI UX design from the best UI and UX design courses in India at Springboard. On successfully completing the program, make use of our job guarantee to kickstart your dream career. Check out the Springboard UI/UX Career Track page now.
