From teacher to UX design

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Bagorogile

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Hi all.

I'm currently a teacher but want to change to UX design. From my online research it looks like I'll need to have knowledge of Java and html, etc. So my question is where can I do a short course in order to get into UX design and will I be able to get a job with just short course certificates from unisa? I really don't want to do a full IT degree. Also what is the first thing I should learn when doing the certificates.
 
I want a structured course I won't be able to just teach myself from YouTube videos
 
Bagorogile said:
Hi all.

I'm currently a teacher but want to change to UX design. From my online research it looks like I'll need to have knowledge of Java and html, etc. So my question is where can I do a short course in order to get into UX design and will I be able to get a job with just short course certificates from unisa? I really don't want to do a full IT degree. Also what is the first thing I should learn when doing the certificates.
Click to expand...

Probably JavaSript, not Java.
JavaScript and Java is about as similar as carpet and car.

While I think knowing especially HTML and CSS helps, it is not a prerequisite for UX. None of the UX or even UI people I worked with did anything with HTML etc. It was wireframes and designs made in photoshop or Adobe XD.
 
Not to sound judgemental, but why are you considering the change when it seems that you know nothing about it?
 
UX has nothing to do with HTML or Javascript. UX is the science and design of user interactions to optimise and enhance a particular use case. Human behaviour, perception, cognition, psychology, impact of disabilities, the human visual system are relevant topics. Coding skills are irrelevant. UX is even applicable to how a door is designed and to be opened. There are quite a few good books on (the real) UX.
 
mercurial said:
Must the man limit himself for the rest of his life?
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Not at all, but before considering a career change, I would've done at least some research to know what the job entails. I'm merely trying to figure out what his motivation is, for all we know it's based on an assumption that's wrong.
 
Bagorogile said:
Hi all.

I'm currently a teacher but want to change to UX design. From my online research it looks like I'll need to have knowledge of Java and html, etc. So my question is where can I do a short course in order to get into UX design and will I be able to get a job with just short course certificates from unisa? I really don't want to do a full IT degree. Also what is the first thing I should learn when doing the certificates.
Click to expand...
Firstly, where did you hear about ux design, how did you come to know about it? Secondly, as a teacher, why does specifically ux design appeal to you?

Also, which subjects do you currently teach? Academic or Technical?
 
Last edited:
Start by reading the book "The Design of Everyday Things"

Then decide if a career in User Experience Design is for you. UX extends way past websites and apps.

Now that you've decided that you want to continue with UX I suggest you start with the fundamentals of wireframes and prototypes etc. An understanding of front-end development will greatly improve your UX work as it gives you an understanding of the limitations in design.

Remember, all the courses in the world won't make you a good UX designer and a future employer won't even care if you did 90% of Udemy or Skillshare. They will want a portfolio of evidence that shows you understand UX and that you can do it.
 
Hey @Bagorogile. Well done for having the courage/will to change careers. I suggest you check out the Google User Experience Design Certificate. It’ll give you all the fundamentals you need to know as an aspiring UX Designer. It’s about R600 per month. You can do it at your own pace, so it’s up to you if you want to finish it in 1 week or 6 months.

There’s also site called Bring Your Own Laptop with a User Experience Design Fundamentals course. This course will teach you about the various tools that you’ll use as a UX Designer and it is facilitated by an Adobe certified instructor. This course is also done at your own pace. It’s about R120 per month. After doing this course you’ll be pretty much equipped to start doing your own portfolio.

I recommend you do both courses starting with the Google User Experience Design Certificate. Please feel free to PM me.

Adobe tutorials by Daniel Walter Scott at Bring Your Own Laptop BYOL | Bring Your Own Laptop

This website is home to Daniel Walter Scott's Adobe tutorials. A mixture of free tutorials and paid content.
bringyourownlaptop.com bringyourownlaptop.com

www.coursera.org

Google UX Design

Offered by Google. Get on the fast track to a career in UX design. In this certificate program, you’ll learn in-demand skills, and get AI ... Enroll for free.
www.coursera.org www.coursera.org
 
Thanks for the replies. The reason I wanted to learn HTML and CSS is because all the job advertisements I've looked at for UX require that, I don't know why. They also require a certificate in design. So I'm just trying to make myself employable.....I know that UX is about research, witeframing and prototypes but if recruiters want knowledge of HTML then what must I do?...For the guy who asked why I'm changing careers, I'm changing them because I want to and I'm free to do so. Who are you to limit me?...Everyone else, thanks for the help.
 
YeLo said:
Hey @Bagorogile. Well done for having the courage/will to change careers. I suggest you check out the Google User Experience Design Certificate. It’ll give you all the fundamentals you need to know as an aspiring UX Designer. It’s about R600 per month. You can do it at your own pace, so it’s up to you if you want to finish it in 1 week or 6 months.

There’s also site called Bring Your Own Laptop with a User Experience Design Fundamentals course. This course will teach you about the various tools that you’ll use as a UX Designer and it is facilitated by an Adobe certified instructor. This course is also done at your own pace. It’s about R120 per month. After doing this course you’ll be pretty much equipped to start doing your own portfolio.

I recommend you do both courses starting with the Google User Experience Design Certificate. Please feel free to PM me.

Adobe tutorials by Daniel Walter Scott at Bring Your Own Laptop BYOL | Bring Your Own Laptop

This website is home to Daniel Walter Scott's Adobe tutorials. A mixture of free tutorials and paid content.
bringyourownlaptop.com bringyourownlaptop.com

www.coursera.org

Google UX Design

Offered by Google. Get on the fast track to a career in UX design. In this certificate program, you’ll learn in-demand skills, and get AI ... Enroll for free.
www.coursera.org www.coursera.org
Click to expand...
I'll do so.
 
Bagorogile said:
Thanks for the replies. The reason I wanted to learn HTML and CSS is because all the job advertisements I've looked at for UX require that, I don't know why. They also require a certificate in design. So I'm just trying to make myself employable.....I know that UX is about research, witeframing and prototypes but if recruiters want knowledge of HTML then what must I do?...For the guy who asked why I'm changing careers, I'm changing them because I want to and I'm free to do so. Who are you to limit me?...Everyone else, thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

This "I'll do what I like" response is all good and fine, but the reason everyone is asking tough questions is because they hold the same suspicion I do.

That is : You want to get into this because it pays more.

If this isn't the case - great go ahead. If you are interested in design and UX and want to do that as a job genuinely that's awesome. But seeing dollar signs is not a good way to start this journey, because there is a LOT of work involved between where you are and getting a job. If you don't like it you won't get far enough to get a job.

Once you have a portfolio of your own work that demonstrates how you think things should be designed and can give detailed explanations of why other designs may be flawed - then you've got a start. Certifications etc won't be of much use in actually getting the cold hard cash. You have to demonstrate that you're good.
 
Bagorogile said:
Thanks for the replies. The reason I wanted to learn HTML and CSS is because all the job advertisements I've looked at for UX require that, I don't know why. They also require a certificate in design. So I'm just trying to make myself employable.....I know that UX is about research, witeframing and prototypes but if recruiters want knowledge of HTML then what must I do?...For the guy who asked why I'm changing careers, I'm changing them because I want to and I'm free to do so. Who are you to limit me?...Everyone else, thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

If you go back and read my post, I didn't ask why you're changing. I asked why you're changing to something that you seem to know very little about. For example, if you were telling us you want to be a cook because you love the process of seeing vegetables grow, we could've told you to be a farmer instead. If you told us you wanna be a UX designer because you want money we could've told you to rob a bank instead. If you told us you want to improve the interaction of customers with the business, we could've told you to focus on a CX direction.
 
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