From Print Designer to UI Designer... Please help!

The Red

Hi everyone, I am in a position to leave my print design career and develop it into something more. I am planning to leave my job in a graphic design company (mostly print, some web) and take time off to develop my skills and upscale my career.

I need real advice as to what would be a good step.

Arguably, my strongest choice as far as I am aware would be UI design.
I am very capable in visual design using Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator and am a digital illustrator in my spare time also.


Is it a viable emerging career? Is it a large learning process? Do I have to do courses or can I learn from home? Is it VERY development driven or should I keep to the visual side? How much of a portfolio should I build? How long should it take to become learned and experienced enough to apply for a job?

Could I possible do this part-time???

I am motivated and hungry to learn, but I cant waste time on making the wrong choice from the start as I only have this window to get out of the stagnant industry of a print designer and into something that will advance my career.

I hope this is understandable and I do not offend any print designers out there but I am really scared about my future and getting trapped in a dead end job that I cannot advance in.

I really hope someone can help and I very much appreciate any advice given.

Thanks in advance,

I.

cormee

I'm not sure whether you consider web design and UI design to be the same thing, it could be argued they are, and it could be argued they aren't.

Having worked at both I'd have to say there are differences between them, there is a lot more room for creativity in web design, whereas a UI designer first & foremost has to adhere to standards, usability, accessibility, and they tend to work in more of a software development environment, than say a design agency environment. Of course a good web designer will be designing with all of the above in mind, but in a lot of cases they probably aren't a requirement for the project.

There are lots of paralells too, the work flow/design process (shouldn't be) isn't that different in both: Discovery > maybe Personas > low-fi wireframing > hi-fi wireframing > html prototype > pass it over to dev > testing etc.

I had around ten years experience doing web design and I found it a shock to my system when I switched to UI design. So if I was you I'd try to ease the learning curve by doing web design first, it would be more like what you are doing at present.

It's a pretty good career to be in at the moment, there are a fair few jobs to be had and wages are good, you'll also be in a position to branch into UX design, which seems to be especially popular at the moment.

smash

Print vs web is a massive difference. UI is part of the project flow for web design but you'll need at a bare minimum some knowledge of the technologies and frameworks that will be used to create the site in order to develop the UI.

The Red

Hi guys and thanks for the feedback, I didnt mention but I have some experience in web design and a bit in development. I have some training in HTML and CSS and more in web design so I understand what will be required of me to learn regarding that side of things.

I plan to study further in HTML(5), CSS3, javascript and a few more that will give me a good knowledge of the various aspects surrounding UI design and UX planning and I would love to aim towards more app UI design as opposed to web. The reason for this is to specialize in app UI design and be proficient in web enough to use when needed. There are so many web designers out there.. good, bad and great that I want to try to distance myself from web and eventually get to the field of high level UX consultant covering any platform.

Do you think there is still a deficiency in UX and UI designers that specialise in app design or is it still a case of having to not only know, but DO everything involved in the development of mobile applications?

What about pushing further? Other interactive media? Games? Is it possible to get to a level that you would be working on a contract basis to various organisations to help and develop the user experience for their various mediums?


I know Im asking insane questions but im just trying to evaluate the scene and get a feel for what the industry is like atm. Hope it doesnt come across as immature.

cormee

You're getting a bit ahead of yourself.

I'd say your best bet would be to get some experience doing web design, focus on responsive web design if possible, then app UI's. There is a sh1tload of stuff you need to learn, and the path I just mentioned would probably be the best way of approaching it.

If you're going for a career in design I don't think you necessarily need to learn Javascript, focus on design tools/technology, not development.

The Red

No problem, cool I will do that. I just didnt want to get dragged too far down the web design side of things but I think you are right and I will build up from there..

So, if you guys are not too anxious to drop this thread, would you mind answering a few more questions?

can you point me in the right direction regarding study flow in a tad more detail? What steps would be the most efficient to take? Like, I will re-study and catch up on HTML and CSS and then where?
As I said, I have some knowledge in web design and want to catch up and study the latest techniques but it has been a while and I would like to start fresh and I dont have any experience with responsive web!

Do you know of good sites that I can study from? Or a good study technique? Should I try local courses or is what is online good enough?

I know this is a general question but I want to emphasise the word GOOD as there are a lot of sources of info and courses on these subjects and I would like to try to cut out the chaff if possible


Ha, I want the world, dont I?

Thanks again lads...

I.

smash

cormee wrote: »

If you're going for a career in design I don't think you necessarily need to learn Javascript, focus on design tools/technology, not development.

Look up any web design jobs and you'll need to know how to code for web. This means HTML/CSS/JS at a minimum. I know of only 1 agency in Dublin where the designers don't code. All others that I know will expect the designers to take a project from wireframe all the way through to CMS integration. Even if you look at most UI job specs these days you will be expected to code.

cormee

smash wrote: »

Look up any web design jobs and you'll need to know how to code for web. This means HTML/CSS/JS at a minimum. I know of only 1 agency in Dublin where the designers don't code. All others that I know will expect the designers to take a project from wireframe all the way through to CMS integration. Even if you look at most UI job specs these days you will be expected to code.

Those people who are taking designs through to CMS integration aren't designers, they're developers. Or if they are designers, they're also working in a development role (unless they're simply reskinning an existing front-end, or the likes).

I've never once been asked for javascript skills in my 15 odd years in the web & UI business, I've been asked if I have a knowledge of it, yes, but I've never been asked to write code.

HTML and CSS, yes, absolutely.

In my current role I'd probably get in deep **** if I attempted to write my own js code - that's the job of the developers & engineers - and, likewise, the developers & engineers would get in deep **** if they made any ui or design decisions.

Maybe it's down to organisation size, what is expected of you, but my experiences on this subject are definitely different to yours.

Phoebas

I've found this to be a good book if you're looking to learn about UX design.

cormee

Phoebas wrote: »

I've found this to be a good book if you're looking to learn about UX design.

Don't Make me Think is a great book too, witeen by Steve Krug. Also, www.useit.com is a great site to bookmark, plus ready anything published by useit'com's Jakob Nielsen.

smash

cormee wrote: »

Those people who are taking designs through to CMS integration aren't designers, they're developers. Or if they are designers, they're also working in a development role (unless they're simply reskinning an existing front-end, or the likes).

I guess you are what the role says you are. I've had a look at a few agencies websites there and I found one who's advertising for a web designer. The coding skills required are:

• HTML, CSS, JavaScript and JQuery
• Experience with high-level languages (ASP.net, PHP)

Everyone's experience is going to vary throughout their career. A lot of companies wont hire a designer that will constantly need help from a developer, and a hand full of companies will want their designers to pass off their designs for someone else to cut.

The Red

This is all good stuff. I will be training myself in more with HTML, CSS and Javascript anyway so Im not too worried about it. I would like to begin with taking on a project and basically learning by doing as its worked for me in the past. And I will reference any and all resources to get my answers as I go along.

Thanks to you all for the advice, It is very much appreciated.

Onward and upward!!!!

Ian.

KonFusion

http://webfieldmanual.com/

The Red

Niiice