Free Resources for Pursuing a Career in UX/UI Design

Introduction

Pursuing a career in UX/UI design can be daunting, especially if you don't have the financial resources to invest in expensive courses. However, there are many free resources available online that can help you develop your design skills and build a portfolio. In this article, we'll explore some of the best websites and resources that you can use to pursue a career in UX/UI design.

Coursera

Coursera is an online learning platform that offers a wide range of free courses, including courses in design. They offer courses in UX/UI design, graphic design, and web design, among others. You can take these courses for free, although you may need to pay if you want a certificate of completion. The courses are taught by professors from top universities and industry experts, so you can be sure that you're getting high-quality instruction.

Link: https://www.coursera.org/courses?query=ux%20ui%20design

Example: "Introduction to User Experience Design" - This course is offered by Georgia Institute of Technology and covers the fundamental concepts of user experience (UX) design. The course is designed for beginners and covers topics such as user research, prototyping, and evaluation.

Udemy

Udemy is another online learning platform that offers free courses in UX/UI design. They have a wide range of courses available, from introductory courses to more advanced courses. Some of the courses are taught by industry experts, while others are taught by regular people who have experience in UX/UI design. You can take these courses for free, although you may need to pay if you want access to additional materials or support.

Link: https://www.udemy.com/topic/ux-design/free/

Example: "UX Design Fundamentals" - This course is offered by DesignLab and covers the basics of UX design, including user research, personas, wireframing, and prototyping. The course is designed for beginners and includes quizzes and exercises to help you practice what you've learned.

Interaction Design Foundation

Interaction Design Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers free courses in UX/UI design. They offer a wide range of courses, from beginner to advanced, and they cover topics such as design thinking, user research, and prototyping. The courses are taught by industry experts and are designed to be practical and hands-on. You can take these courses for free, although you may need to pay if you want a certificate of completion or access to additional materials.

Link: https://www.interaction-design.org/courses

Example: "Design Thinking: The Beginner's Guide" - This course covers the principles of design thinking and how they can be applied to UX design. The course is designed for beginners and includes video lectures, quizzes, and case studies to help you practice what you've learned.

Canva Design School

Canva is a popular online graphic design tool, and they also offer a free design school. The school offers courses in graphic design, branding, and visual communication, among other topics. The courses are taught by industry experts and are designed to be practical and hands-on. You can take these courses for free, and you can also use Canva's design tools to practice your design skills.

Link: https://www.canva.com/learn/

Example: "Introduction to Graphic Design" - This course covers the basics of graphic design, including typography, color theory, and layout. The course is designed for beginners and includes video tutorials and exercises to help you practice what you've learned.

Medium

Medium is a great platform for reading articles about UX/UI design. There are many designers and design agencies that share their thoughts and experiences on Medium. You can learn a lot from these articles, and they can help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends in UX/UI design. Some of the best publications on Medium for UX/UI design include UX Collective, InVision, and Smashing Magazine.

Link: https://medium.com/

Example: "10 Principles of Good UX Design" by Jerry Cao - This article covers 10 principles that every UX designer should know, such as simplicity, consistency, and feedback. The article includes examples and tips for how to apply these principles in your designs.

Behance

Behance is a platform for showcasing your design work. It's free to sign up, and you can create a profile and start sharing your designs. You can also browse other designers' profiles to get inspiration for your own work. Behance is a great place to build a portfolio of your design work and showcase your skills to potential employers.

Link: https://www.behance.net/

Example: "Food App UI Design" by Nimasha Perera - This project is a great example of a UX/UI design project on Behance. It showcases a mobile app for ordering food, and includes detailed designs for the user interface, as well as explanations of the design decisions that were made.

Dribbble

Dribbble is another platform for showcasing your design work. It's similar to Behance, but it's more focused on visual design. You can create a profile and start sharing your designs, and you can also browse other designers' profiles to get inspiration for your own work. Dribbble is a great place to build a portfolio of your visual design work and showcase your skills to potential employers.

Link: https://dribbble.com/

Example: "Crypto Wallet Mobile App" by Minh Pham - This project is a great example of a visual design project on Dribbble. It showcases a mobile app for managing cryptocurrency, and includes detailed designs for the user interface, as well as explanations of the design decisions that were made.

YouTube

YouTube is a great resource for learning about UX/UI design. There are many channels that offer free video tutorials and courses on UX/UI design. Some of the best channels for UX/UI design on YouTube include The Futur, DesignCourse, and AJ&Smart.

Link: https://www.youtube.com/

Example: "How to Become a UX/UI Designer | A Full Guide for Beginners" by The Futur - This video is a great introduction to UX/UI design, and includes tips for getting started, as well as advice on building a portfolio and finding work as a UX/UI designer.

Conclusion

Pursuing a career in UX/UI design doesn't have to be expensive. There are many free resources available online that can help you develop your design skills and build a portfolio. By using resources like Medium, Behance, Dribbble, and YouTube, you can learn about UX/UI design, get inspiration for your own work, and showcase your skills to potential employers.