Master UX/UI Design Expertise
Your curated roadmap to crafting intuitive, user-centered digital experiences, backed by industry giants like Nielsen Norman Group and Adobe.
What Is UX/UI Design?
UX (User Experience) focuses on optimizing usability, accessibility, and user satisfaction through research and testing. UI (User Interface) deals with visual design, including layouts, typography, and interactive elements. Together, they ensure products are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Free Resources to Kickstart Your Journey
Google UX Design Professional Certificate A Coursera beginner’s course covering wireframing, prototyping, and Figma basics (7-day free trial).
Figma 101 Tutorials Master interface design with free video guides on grids, components, and auto-layout.
Nielsen Norman Group Free Articles Learn usability heuristics, accessibility standards, and user testing best practices.
YouTube UX Design Basics Watch “UX Design for Beginners” by AJ&Smart or “UI Animation Principles” by Adobe.
Paid Courses for Certification
Interaction Design Foundation
Enroll in “UI Design Patterns for Successful Software” (15/month)or “UserResearchMethods”(15/month).
Udemy UX/UI Bootcamp
Andrei Neagoie’s 35-hour course ($20) covers user flows, Figma prototyping, and portfolio building.
Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification
Earn industry-recognized credentials ($4,500) through 5-day intensive workshops.
Must-Read Books
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
A foundational guide to human-centered design principles.
Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
A classic on intuitive web usability and navigation.
Sprint by Jake Knapp
Master Google Ventures’ 5-day framework for solving design challenges.
Essential Tools & Software
Figma
Collaborate on wireframes, prototypes, and design systems (free tier available).
Sketch
Industry-standard vector design tool for macOS ($9/month).
Hotjar
Track user behavior with heatmaps and session recordings (free plan: 35 sessions/day).
Communities & Events
Reddit r/UserExperience
Join 250k+ members sharing job tips, case studies, and portfolio reviews.
Adobe MAX
Annual conference with workshops on XD, AI prototyping, and design trends.
Build a Killer Portfolio
Showcase projects: Use Behance or Dribbble to highlight case studies.
Include process: Document research, wireframes, and iterations with Notion templates.
Get feedback: Post work on UX Designers Facebook Group (150k members).
Practice Like a Pro
Daily UI challenges: Follow prompts on DailyUI.
User testing: Validate designs with UserTesting (free tests for contributors).
Stay updated: Subscribe to Smashing Magazine for trends like dark mode or micro-interactions.