How Can I Learn UX Design for Free?

 If you are thinking about UX design, but don’t want to spend money there are free resources you can use to learn UX design. 

Technology is constantly evolving, and that means that more and more jobs are likely to be in the tech field. If you have been thinking about switching to a tech job, but aren’t really sure where to start you might be thinking, where do I start? There are many free resources online that can help you learn the basics of UX design. 

What are the best free resources to learn UX design?

The best way to learn UX design is to take a course. There are many resources you can find  for free, and there are many beginner courses that are offered for free. You could try YouTube which has many free online tutorials about UX design. Or you could take advantage of the free courses that are offered by Google, Coursera, or Udacity. 

 Where can I find free online courses for learning UX design?

There are many sources online that can be used to learn UX design for free– YouTube, Google, and other free courses online. Coursera is an online course provider that has various online courses for free, and they offer an intro to user experience through the University of Michigan. The UX design institute also offers a free week long course that consists of video lessons that are emailed daily. Google also offers a free product design course through Udacity that consists of four lessons, and takes about two months to complete. YouTube has so many videos that offer tutorials for beginners. 

How can I build a portfolio in UX design for free?

When you are applying to jobs in the tech design field, it is very competitive, so it is important to have a portfolio that shows your skills and talent as a UX designer. If you have decided to learn UX design on your own, then it is most likely that you will also want to know how you can build a portfolio for free. Here are some of the sites that help you do that:

• Behance is the site used the most for creating UX design portfolios by users. It isn’t just used by designers, but by photographers and all types of designers. One of the reasons why Behance is fancied by so many users is because not only is it free to use, but attracts many recruiters and employers in the tech field. With Behance you can easily set up an account, use their design tools, interact with other users, and best of all you can search job postings for UX/UI design jobs. 

• Dribble is very similar to Behance in that it is also free, and easy to sign up for. Dribble also allows you to share your work with other users. They also have an online platform that serves as a blog in order for its users to share their ideas, and new design projects. Unlike Behance, Dribble only allows you to share snippets of your work by only allowing its users to share screenshots of different projects. 

• Adobe Portfolio is one of the free features in the paid Adobe Creative Clouds plan. Adobe allows its users to create designs, portfolios, and welcome pages. Another cool trait of Adobe Portfolio is that it allows users to sync their Adobe account with their Behance account that way design and projects made on Behance could easily be uploaded to Adobe. 

• Carbonmade is a great site for designers because not only does it have design tools and visual themes, but it is a great space to meet and share your designs with other designers.

• Cargo allows its users to use the site to create personal websites with their own URLs. It also offers users the ability to pick their own design templates. The difference between this site and the others is that to join Cargo you have to be invited. 

• Crevado similarly to the other site offers its users the ability to create online portfolios that can be exhibited on the web. It also allows users to upload different design file formats like GIFs, PDFs, and videos. 

How can I network with other UX designers for free?

When looking for a job, networking is a powerful tool. Networking can happen in a variety of forms from remotely, or in-person via events and fairs. Some places to start your networking journey are:

• LinkedIn
• Event Brite
• Design Buddies
• AIGA 
• Creative Mornings
• College Design Clubs 
• Instagram 

How can I stay updated with the latest trends in UX design without paying?

In the world of UX design, it is very important to keep up with trends because technology is constantly changing and evolving. There are a few ways that you can make sure to keep up with the trends:

• Attend workshops & conferences
• Follow Industry Leaders & Influences in the field
• Experiment with New Technology  

UX design is an exciting field that offers endless opportunities for creativity and innovation. With a wealth of free resources available online, anyone can learn the basics of UX design and start building their skills. From online courses and tutorials to design communities and forums, there are many resources available to help you get started. By taking advantage of these free resources, you can learn the fundamentals of UX design, build your portfolio, and start your journey towards becoming a successful UX designer.

Ready to Get Started? Schedule a Free UX Mentorship Session!

At Avocademy, we help students decide if UX design is right for them. Schedule a call with us to start your UX career journey today.  

Author:

Ruby is a SEO content writer who loves reading nonfiction, binging reality TV, and going to live shows. She loves her avocados on toast with a runny egg and freshly cracked black pepper.