But I want to be one. Anyone recommend a good path or route to take? Currently creating stuff for work but my background is admin and operations. Not sure where to go from here or where to learn or what to learn.
There are some good UX bootcamps, choose one and see if that’s what you want to do.
What are you creating at work? What types of design disciplines interest you? There are tons to dig into but figuring out what you're passionate about first will help.
Working on mostly creating image assets for white label apps my company creates along with marketing materials and decks. Think I want to get more into UX/UI/IXD realm. Thinking maybe IDEO and some classes in the city.
That sounds like a good start. I went to grad school for design but there wasn't much else to do at the time I went for strategic design. Everything was product and industrial design by the time I was done with college. I have heard decent things about General Assembly too but IDEO is def well respected and a good place to go. I'd continue learning about the overall industry and dig into some passion areas before committing to anything too substantial.
Great advice. Thank you very much. I’ll look at GA even as a starting point. IDEO is great for design thinking and fundamentals which is what I really lack. Just very hard to pinpoint since the design is very much changing from an education standpoint. Thank you very much.
Sure thing! Happy to chat more too if you have any other questions or thoughts.
Make things for clients. Find some orgs that need design help and help them. You may already be associated with them or just interested in their mission. Contact them and ask if you can help. Whatever you do, don't work for free. Your time is valuable, even when you are just starting. Show yourself and your field respect. Compensation doesn't have to be monetary, but it should be something. And it should feel like an equal trade. Good luck!
There are a variety of routes. Self-learning and/or bootcamps if you want to work your way up. Masters in HCI or Design if you want to accelerate things (there are some one year programs). Getting a masters is more expensive but it makes it easier to be recruited to top companies, where you can pay it off fairly quickly.
Bootcamps could give you a good overview - before that tho i also recommend finding some designers and talking to them in person 1:1 about their experiences and how they got there. I personally had a similar start as you (white label app assets, marketing material) and am now doing product design without having had to go thru bootcamp, and am 100% self taught.
Books. You know what they are right?
Wow SOLID advice. You’re so good at this.
You’re welcome