What are the best ways to improve your user experience design skills?

Level up your UX design fundamentals, follow UX best practices, get hands-on, and test relentlessly. Learn from peers, stay trendy, and network like a pro. Master the tools, cultivate user empathy, and embrace curiosity – the path to UX mastery is endless, but these are your superpowers.

Gente, a dica é: use e abuse da comunidade e sessões de mentoria com quem já é da área. Nada melhor do que conversar diretamente com quem está no mesmo momento que você e também ouvir de quem já está na fase que você quer alcançar. Nas comunidades você desabafa, troca e explora algo novo todo dia. E com mentoria você se entende, descobre onde quer chegar e o que precisa para atingir esse objetivo. Vale muito a pena e não tem porque passar por esse momento todo de aprendizado sozinho, é como não aproveitar todo o potencial que a área de UX tem a oferecer como comunidade.

I always suggest taking on real projects to grow and become a better designer. Most of us probably know someone that has a small business that could use some UX or reach out to startup events to offer your help. But just be sure to set limits on the work you're willing to do. It's also a great way to build unique case studies for your portfolio.

Don't just learn about User Experience Design there is a strong possibility you will have decent work but lack depth due to being one dimensional. Consider learning Behavioral Psychology, as well as the Zeitgeist of Technology and how to leverage those to address deeper issues for others. This will lead you to grow more empathetic, and guide you in discerning where your design efforts should be directed.

My experience has consistently highlighted the importance of learning from experienced professionals. By drawing upon their insights, methodologies, and problem-solving approaches, I've deepened my understanding of UX research and honed my ability to create user-centered designs. I encourage aspiring UX researchers to seek out learning opportunities and engage with the UX community to accelerate their growth and expertise.

Working on practical challenges has allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge, hone problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills, and build a portfolio to showcase my expertise. Engaging with real users through testing has been invaluable in refining my designs based on their feedback. I encourage aspiring UX researchers to seek real-world projects to gain valuable experience and develop their skills.

Look at solving a problem in your environment, your community or better still, improving on an existing problem. this way, you would have successfully ideate and create a functional or improved product.

Como voluntário de uma iniciativa, você faz networking e conhece pessoas em níveis diversos, cresce o desenvolvimento das suas soft skills e dependendo também das suas hard skills. Fora que isso traz ainda visibilidade como um profissional iniciante que está interessado em se envolver com a área ainda mais e isso com certeza é valorizado por recrutadores e especialistas que estão contratando. Quando você faz voluntariado e atua em projetos reais, você está vendo na prática como as coisas funcionam, falando a mesma língua e vivenciando de fato aquilo. Além de ser uma experiência recompensadora. Na VagasUX, iniciativa que organizo, por exemplo, apoiamos iniciantes em design e fazemos curadoria de conteúdo e vagas júnior. Faz toda a diferença.

Tackling real projects is a solid move. Dive into your own ideas or team up, even consider helping out non-profits. It's not just about the design; it's also honing those problem-solving and teamwork skills. Plus, real user feedback is gold—it teaches you more than any tutorial can. Every project builds your confidence and your portfolio, pushing you closer to being a seasoned UX pro. Remember, every challenge is a learning opportunity. Keep iterating and improving; that's the designer's journey.

A dica é se manter atualizado e acompanhar as principais trends de design. Por isso estar em comunidades faz toda a diferença, pois você estará automaticamente mais por dentro do que está rolando na área. Se o Figma lançou uma funcionalidade nova, se um curso novo está dando o que falar, se um designer especialista está debatendo um tema relevante, não importa. Você vai acompanhar e ter uma opinião sobre aquilo e se manter informado. E isso por si só já te ajuda a evoluir como profissional e também traz mais relevância no seu aprendizado.

Keeping abreast of the latest trends in mobile design has been a game-changer for me in improving my UXD skills. By staying current with emerging design practices and technologies, I've been able to create user-centered designs that are not only intuitive and effective but also fresh and appealing to the mobile audience. I encourage aspiring UX researchers to follow these trends closely and incorporate them into their own work to stay ahead of the curve and create designs that resonate with users.

Stay on trend in your niche, join communities and be ACTIVE there, review other designers' work and also do not be shy to post your work for review. This way you get to pick other UX designers brain for free

Keeping up with the latest trends in mobile design is key. Tools like Google Trends or platforms like Product Hunt can show you what's hot. Also, following top designers and industry voices on social media or through newsletters can give you a wealth of current insights and ideas. This way, your designs stay fresh, relevant, and engaging for users. Always be curious and open to new ideas, but also critically assess whether a trend truly enhances user experience before adopting it.

Feedback from peers, clients, and users has helped me refine my designs and ensure they meet user needs. Mentorship from experienced UX researchers has provided invaluable insights, enabling me to broaden my perspectives, refine my methods, and become a more effective and confident UX researcher. I encourage aspiring UX researchers to seek out feedback and mentorship, as these opportunities will accelerate their learning and development.

Mentoria é tudo. Sem papo de coach aqui, sério (e inclusive, cuidado com isso). Quando você conversa com outra pessoa de maneira clara sobre seus objetivos e busca ouvir opiniões diferentes sobre um tema que te interessa e que a outra pessoa tem algum domínio (ou pelo menos alguma experiência mínima) isso já te abre diversas portas e oportunidades que você nem consegue ver, mas lá no fundo fez alguma diferença. Muitas coisas passam a fazer sentido, você direciona melhor seu foco e consegue ter uma visão mais clara de futuro. Vale MUITO a pena, principalmente para não se sentir perdido em meio a tantas possibilidades e caminhos.

Actively seeking feedback and finding a mentor can profoundly impact your UX design journey. Feedback from various sources helps refine your work, while mentorship offers deeper insights and guidance. Embrace constructive criticism and learn from the experiences of seasoned designers. This approach not only accelerates your growth but also helps navigate the complexities of UX design with more confidence and clarity.

I've found that experimentation and iteration are essential for improving UX design. By trying different approaches and continuously testing my designs, I've been able to identify and address usability issues, deliver solutions that meet user needs, and grow as a UX researcher. I encourage aspiring UX researchers to embrace experimentation and iteration to become more skilled and confident in their design practice.

When you read and learn any skill the best way to measure your understanding of that skill is to put it into practice. When you practice your UX design skills consistently, you will notice a trend of improvement in your work. It’s important to also try different methodologies and tools to know what works for you so that you can speed up your productivity. Experimentation and iteration will help to narrow your answers, so you don’t get lost in your learning phase.

Embrace experimentation and iteration in your designs. Trying out various tools and approaches, and testing your designs across different scenarios and user groups, allows you to refine and enhance your work. This process of continuous improvement opens up new design possibilities and is a powerful learning tool. Remember, each iteration brings you closer to optimal solutions, making your designs more effective and user-friendly.

One of the best investments I made early in my career was to take a lot of screenshots and remake them in a design tool. This allowed me to peek behind the scenes and learn why something worked or looked good, aestetic or readable. I learned that Facebook used an 8 point grid. Found out that Apple use a 5 point grid. Which font size Medium used on their articles that made them so enjoable to read. Doing this allowed me to reflect on the rules behind good design and what makes or brakes a user interface.

Uma coisa é certa ao se trabalhar com tecnologia: nunca vamos saber tudo. Todo dia lança uma funcionalidade ou ferramenta nova, um termo novo que ninguém ouviu falar, uma área nova que aparentemente as pessoas já faziam na prática mas não sabiam que faziam, entre diversos outros cenários. A real é que está tudo bem, não precisamos saber de tudo mesmo e esse é o legal da nossa área. Estamos sempre aprendendo algo novo que vai nos engajar e ajudar a manter uma boa rotina de estudos, estimular a observação de contextos diferentes dos nossos a fim de explorar novos pontos de vista e cada vez mais agilizar o nosso dia a dia com melhorias no processo, seja no ferramental, fluxo de trabalho ou até algo simples como aprender um atalho novo.

Continuously learning and improving is essential in the ever-evolving field of UX design. Engage with new materials, participate in workshops, attend webinars, and embrace challenges to expand your knowledge and skills. This commitment to growth ensures you remain at the forefront of design trends and best practices, enriching your work and professional journey.

1️⃣ • Find opportunities to talk to real users of your product / design 2️⃣ • Talk to a designer from a competitor company. Like-minded designers look to elevate the design industry - they can share their ideas with you. 3️⃣ • Write summary reports - [Live Demo] - Project Background - Your Roles - The Problem - The (Tech./Business/User) Challenge - Approach / Strategy - Results / Outcome - talk numbers and more objectively - Learnings (v. Imp) - Iterate (concepts)

Honing your user experience (UX) skills involves staying updated on industry trends, actively seeking feedback, and maintaining a diverse portfolio that showcases your evolving capabilities. Engage in usability testing to refine your designs based on user interactions and collaborate with fellow designers to gain different perspectives. Experiment with prototyping tools, stay organized in project management and enrol in continued education opportunities to acquire new skills or deepen existing ones. Lastly, reflect on your design decisions and iterate based on user feedback, analytics, and evolving design philosophies. This commitment to continuous improvement will ensure you remain at the forefront of UX design expertise.