?At Any
Stage of Your Career, Here's How to Become a Designer
Not sure
where to begin if you want to pursue a career in design? I was a latecomer to
the game as a self-taught artist, and I did a lot of experimenting before
settling on design studies.
The good
news is that no matter where you are in your career or how unusual your
experience may seem; it is entirely possible to find your place in the design
world if it is something you aspire to.
1. Recognize
the Designer Environment
Design isn't
just about how anything looks; it's also about how it functions. Your first
step in pursuing a career in design is to become familiar with the various
positions available and to determine what kind of designer you want to be.
Which of the
following do you want to pursue: UI, UX, visual, interaction, motion, or
research? If those titles make you nervous, it's time to learn more about them.
There is no
one-size-fits-all primer, but you can get a sense of the variations by starting
here.
If you've
done your homework but aren't sure which task is right for you, don't worry:
ignore the work title for a moment and concentrate on the design issues that
interest you the most. Your attention will naturally be drawn to questions that
pertain to one of those positions. A research position, for example, may be right for you if
your main questions are about why or how people use something.
If you're
still having trouble finding a clear match, keep in mind that the boundaries
between these positions are constantly shifting, so focus on the design tasks
you love and see where you end up.
2. Make,
Make, make: Perfection comes with practice.
There used
to be no one-stop shop for design education. There was no good centralized
place for learning about design work when I first started digging into it, so I
spent a lot of time—too much time—culling and curating tools. Fortunately for
you, things have changed over the years: you no longer need to create your own
program.
3. Consider
Yourself a Designer
It doesn't
happen overnight or through a single lesson to think like a designer.
Understanding mental models, understanding key interaction flows, and
recognizing design trends are all skills that take time to master. So, get
started right away! The more you know about architecture and can chat about it,
the larger your archive and repertoire of information to work through, return
to, and learn from.
4. Consult
with other designers.
Talking to
other designers will teach you things you didn't know you didn't know. So,
reach out to people in your network who work in the industry, or reach out to
designers at companies you respect, and ask them for advice. Inquire as to
whether they believe something is good, bad, or great. Take note of the details
they pay attention to and figure out why. Find out what they're looking for and
where they're looking.
5. Enroll in
a Course (in Person)
You don't
have a group of designer friends to pester? You may also enroll in a class.
There are several explanations why taking a class in person would benefit you,
as well as numerous local courses from which to choose. Choose topics that are
more difficult to understand and improve on your own for in-person lessons.
It's easier to learn about design thinking on your own than it is to design
anything.
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