As technology continues to advance, the opportunities for employment in the tech industry are also on the rise. Nowadays, there are countless new roles emerging for design professionals, with one of the most exciting positions being that of the UI or UX designer. The demand for UI/UX designers has grown significantly as more companies across the globe begin investing more in web and mobile app development.
If you are currently in the field of graphic design and you want to transition into the UI/UX design space to help future-proof your career, you’ll be happy to hear that there is plenty of scope for you to make this move, even if you’re not already formally enrolled in a UI or UX design course. As a graphic designer, you will already use skills that are centred around design thinking as you put together images, graphics, illustrations and other mediums to connect with and engage end users.
In the world of UI/UX design, your role will actually be quite similar as you aim to create meaningful experiences and interactions for users. Ultimately, you want to ensure that the end user has a positive user experience with a brand, whether they are on a website or interacting with that particular brand through a mobile app.
For graphic designers, this is a relatively straightforward crossover and one that can be very alluring if you are looking for a change in direction for your career.
Let’s take a look at some useful tips that will help you to make the move from graphic design to UI design.
Ensure You Have The Right Skills
Before you embark on a new career, it’s important that you take the time to develop the skills that you will need to succeed in this new and evolving design discipline. As mentioned above, as a graphic designer, you will typically already have a lot of the skills that will be required for your new role as a UI/UX designer. There are a lot of crossover skills that make it easy for graphic designers to make the transition with relative ease.
However, although UI/UX design is still within the remit of the design space, there are some variations to this field of design that you will need to be aware of, including engaging with the process of design thinking. To ensure you have the right skills for your new job, search for a UI or UX design course that will give you the expertise, insights, and foundational knowledge that you’ll need to succeed.
Put Together A Portfolio
If you have been working as a graphic designer for a while, you will understand the importance of maintaining a strong and diverse professional portfolio. While in the world of design, your CV and cover letter are still critical to you securing a new role, they will mean nothing without a fleshed out portfolio that shows exactly what you’re capable of. If you are crossing over from graphic design to UI design, you should absolutely mention your experience in the former field and how it can all help strengthen your abilities to take on your new role as a UI designer. However, you will also need to demonstrate skills and ability in the area of UI/UX design, which is why you should absolutely be dusting off that portfolio and adding new samples of your UI work to it right away.
As you are new to the industry, this can be tricky at first, however, there are a few different ways that you can build out your portfolio to ensure you impress potential employers. You can start some personal projects that will help you to showcase your skills, find an internship, or do some work for charitable organisations or non-profits. Putting together a decent portfolio, alongside gathering some experience in the UI design space, will ensure that you have more opportunities when you make the shift to UI/UX design.
Tap Into Your Network
Anyone that has been working as a graphic designer for a while, will very likely already have an extensive network established within the design industry. As you make the transition into the world of UI/UX design, now is the time to make all of those meetings, conferences and all the other networking events that you frequented in the past work for you. Reach out to your network and see what type of opportunities might be available for you. People who know you and what you are capable of will be more likely to give you a shot as a new face in the UI and UX design community.
Naturally, if people that are already established in the design world vouch for you, this can carry a lot of weight. Once you have that first job under your belt, you can be sure that things will get much easier moving forward. In the meantime, however, try your best to secure some letters of recommendation, phone calls on your behalf and other communications from those that you are connected with, as these can go a long way to helping you secure your first position as a UI/UX designer.
Get Your New Career As A UI/UX Designer Off To The Best Start Possible
Beginning a new career is often equally challenging and exciting at the same time. As a graphic designer, making the switch to the world of UI/UX design might seem daunting at first. However, by following the tips outlined above, you can be sure that your new career will soon be off to the best start possible, and in no time at all, you will be an established player in the field of professional UI/UX design.