- 28 Feb, 2025
- 3 Min read
Passion to Profession
My journey into UI/UX design, from a passionate creator to a professional designer.
My path into UI/UX design wasn’t a traditional one. I came from a non-technical background, having studied business, but my passion for creativity has been with me since childhood. Whether it was painting, sketching, or other artistic pursuits, I was always drawn to making something visually appealing. However, I struggled with an idealistic mindset—wanting perfection from the start. If something didn’t turn out exactly as I imagined, I would often abandon it and move on to something else.
Over time, I realized that overcoming this perfectionism was key to making progress in any creative field.
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Contents
Background
While working in my previous job, I decided to explore web design. I enrolled in a course that covered HTML, CSS, PHP, and MySQL. It was an exciting challenge, and I was eager to understand how websites functioned. Interestingly, I was the only woman in the class, which added an extra layer of pressure, but also motivation—to prove that I could excel in this field too.
Beginning
As I completed the course and earned my professional certificate, I found myself drawn more towards design rather than coding. This shift led me to discover a tool that was still in its early stages but has since revolutionized UI/UX design: Figma. From that moment, my career path changed, and I embraced the world of UI/UX. During the next couple of years I completed several certifications on LinkedIn Learning and IBM Learning on their official page, both of which were completely free, further strengthening my knowledge and skills in UI/UX.
Tactic
Figma is a collaborative web application for interface design, with additional offline features enabled by desktop applications for macOS and Windows. The feature set of Figma focuses on user interface and user experience design, with an emphasis on real-time collaboration, utilizing a variety of vector graphics editor and prototyping tools. The Figma mobile app for Android and iOS allows viewing and interacting with Figma prototypes in real-time on mobile and tablet devices.
The original objective behind Figma was to enable anyone [to] be creative by creating free, simple, creative tools in a browser.
Dylan Field and Evan Wallace began working on Figma in 2012 while studying computer science at Brown University. Wallace studied graphics and was a Teaching Assistant for the Computer Science Department, while Field chaired the CS Departmental Undergraduate Group.
Freelance
Like many aspiring UI/UX designers, I started as a freelancer. My first client experience taught me one of the most important lessons: design is about meeting the client’s expectations, not just fulfilling your own creative desires. Understanding their needs, their target audience and their vision is crucial to delivering successful designs.
I began my freelance career on Upwork, where I faced tough competition. To improve my skills, I actively sought feedback from more experienced designers. Fortunately, technical knowledge was easily accessible online—platforms like YouTube, design blogs, and UI/UX communities provided endless resources for learning.
Transitioning into UI/UX from a non-technical background was both challenging and rewarding. It required dedication, self-learning, and a willingness to adapt. My journey has shown me that success in this field is not just about talent but also about persistence, continuous learning, and embracing feedback.
Advice
For those just starting their journey in UI/UX, here are some valuable insights that I’ve gained along the way:
Good luck!
- Build Your Portfolio Early – Clients often look at your portfolio before reading your proposal. Start with
Behance, then expand to social media, design communities, and eventually, your own portfolio website. - Listen to Clients – Your design should align with the client’s needs, not just your personal aesthetic preferences.
- Leverage Freelance Platforms – Platforms like
UpworkorFiverrcan be a great starting point, but be prepared for high competition. - Seek Feedback from Experts – Learning from experienced designers can accelerate your growth.
- Use Online Resources – YouTube, online courses, and design blogs are great sources of knowledge.
- Join Competitions – Participating in design competitions helps you understand how to follow briefs and meet client expectations.
- Follow Industry Leaders – Engaging with UI/UX influencers can provide valuable insights and trends.
- Optimize Your Workflow – Use Figma Community resources, build a component library, and develop your own design system to save time.
- Stay Updated with Trends – Design evolves rapidly; what was modern a decade ago may be outdated today.
- Prioritize UX Over Aesthetics – A beautiful design that isn’t user-friendly is a failed design.
- Overcome Personal Weaknesses – Don’t let perfectionism or self-doubt hold you back from starting or continuing.
Beginners
For those just stepping into UI/UX, remember: start small, be patient with yourself, and keep pushing forward. The world of design is vast and ever-evolving, and there’s always room to grow and innovate.
