Hi! I’m Lindsey. 
Senior Product Designer for startups + agencies. I’m happy to be an unconventional inspiration and resource for careers in UX/UI or product design.
I’m passionate about seeing more people from underserved backgrounds in the UX/UI field. 
. So โ I hope you enjoy these real-talk resources. Feel free to book a consult if you need more personalized help!
โA user interface is like a joke. If you have to explain it, itโs not that good.โโ Martin LeBlanc
the tools
The online software and tools that UX/UI designers use to get the job done. You don't have to learn them all, so don't get overwhelmed. They're here to help you on your journey and most will become intuitive โ even if it's after hours of YouTube tutorials.
Figma : A web-based tool for design, prototyping + collaboration
Invision : A workspace for flows, prototyping, and collaboration
Adobe XD : A tool for design, prototyping + collaboration
Sketch : A tool for design, prototyping + collaboration
Webflow : A “no-code” website design platform
Framer : A powerful website design platform
Miro : Online whiteboard, planning, and collaboration tool
Flowmapp : A tool for sitemaps and user flows
Figjam : Online whiteboard + collaboration, and mapping tool
Overflow : Interactive user flow diagrams
Wireframe CC: A quick and intuitive wireframing tool
Sneakpeakit : Actual paper + gridย wireframing sheets
Wireflow : Quick browser-based wireframing tool
UXPin : A powerful wireframing + prototyping tool
Mockflow : A rapid wireframing took to kickoff your UI
โDesign used to be the seasoning youโd sprinkle on for taste; now itโs the flour you need at the start of the recipe.โ
โ John Maeda
advice + foundations
There are several career paths to take in UX, so the first step is to figure out which seems to best fit you. Some paths are more creative and others are more logic, so it may take some deep dives to see which is your strength. Then, there may be some key creative or research foundations you need to learn. Oh boy, the fundamentals. It's the part that feels most like grade school but is also the most important for combating imposter syndrome later on. My key advice: know your shit.
Step One: Choose A Path
User Experience is a niche, but it has many specialties within it! The bulk of my advice is on UX/UI Design โ but just in case you begin research and don’t think it will be your jam, here’s a list of paths within product you can explore:
UX/UI Designer (if you love creative problem solving and visual design), UX Researcher (if design isn’t your strength, but you love research methods), UX Writer (if you’re great with words), UI Engineer (if you’re interested in code / making the design work), or Product Manager (if you’d rather be in charge of the roadmap and planning).
Step Two: Choose Learning
Start with researching introductory courses based on your selection. I highly recommend starting with free options to see if you enjoy the work and topic you’re learning. From there, select more advanced learning opportunities based on how you like to learn (some people prefer all video, some like self-paced courses, some like group or cohort support, etc).
๐ UX Design Principles
๐ฅ Design Principles
๐ฅ Graphic Design Basics: Core Principles for Visual Design (Skillshare)
๐ฅ Laws of UX
๐ฅ Figma Learning
How Did You Learn UX/UI?
After a few years as a brand + web designer, I had an opportunity to re-design app screens. By design, programs like Sketch and Figma were intuitive to me after mastering Adobe CS. And any portion I needed help with, I watched YouTube tutorials on. From there, I studied by building โ accepting cheap projects, establishing a design aesthetic popular in startups, and creating my own mock projects. That’s my path, starting way back in 2014 โ and yours in this current market may be unique.
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How Much Money Will I Make?
An entry-level UX salary within the US is around $65k-80k, depending on the company. Those specifically marked as Junior may be slightly less. Mid-level roles after 2-3 years will begin to reach $100k, and Senior-level roles will range from $120-200k. There are Principal, Management, and Staff roles after this stage that earn more.
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I’m Overwhelmed When Building My Portfolio. Help?
Take a deep breath. Even after years in the game, I’m overwhelmed at the thought of updating my portfolio (and often, don’t). But here’s my youtube video with tips on building out yours with a focus on getting hired!
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โEvery great design begins with an even better story.โ
โ Lorinda Mamo
deep learning
Ready to really dig into longer curriculum, courses, or even bootcamps that will help you develop true skills in the field? Whether looking to practice or build out portfolio projects, these should help!
๐ Although possible for some to pivot, I don’t support claims of the ability to become a fully-trained and qualified UX designer in 3-6 months.
I am self-taught (without courses or bootcamps). I credit this to my start in brand + web design, and being able to then learn and use UX/UI tools intuitively. I also have a B.F.A. in Studio Art as a foundation. I received a Nanodegree in UX, but it was way after I was in the field.
Please choose a path that is best for you, your lifestyle, how you prefer to learn, and your budget. Please do due-diligence before making any learning investments. A great UXer does deep research, after all!
Springboard UX Design Curriculum : A free self-pased curriculum covering user research, personas, prototyping, and wireframing.
Career Foundry Shorts : Free short courses for beginners featuring UX, UI, and Web design
Introduction to User Experience Designย : A free online course by Georgia Tech
SuperHi Introduction to User Experience Design : An intro course on the UX process, research methods, and design ($149)
Udemy : Various courses from different instructors on UX topics ($19 – $199)
Udacity UX Nanodegree : A self-paced course covering fundamentals and prototyping with a capstone project ($399/mo with finance-based discounts available)
Google UX Design Professional Certificate : Learn at your own pace a a foundation in UX principles, best practices, research methods, and tools ($39/mo)
Avocademy : An 8 week program with portfolio building and mentorship that also features UX-focused continuing education courses. ($1,997 and has payment plans)
Springboard UX Design Bootcamp : A 9 month program with mentorship, portfolio projects, and career support ($7,900 for UX track or $11,900 for UI/UX track)
DesignLab UX Academy : A rigorous program that boasts over 100 exercises and 4 portfolio projects. ($7,749)
Career Foundry UX Design Program : A 10 month program with mentorship and portfolio building ($7,900)
General Assembly UX Design Immersive : A 12 week immersive bootcamp featuring design collaboration and a capstone. ($15,000 with payment plans)
Coming Soon!
Youtube
Follow along on my journey, from how I got into UX/UI to gems I've learned along the way.
The Wireframe
Interested in a consultation? This is my deep-dive for anyone from beginner to mid-level wanting custom 1:1 advice on their UX/UI journey.
randomness
Once you’re ready to have some fun, here are some awesome “random” resources I like to visit when I can.
Ideate Labs Junior UX/UI Designer Job Board : Once you have a few built out projects in an online portfolio, check out these opportunities.
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