How to shift career to UX design in 2025?

 

I got asked most of the time by few of the mentees from different time zone like London, Germany, India and from Johannesburg, and also from some who don't work in my office as well.... that how can they shift from their current career to design career. And it was interesting to see most of the people are ready to make a big change in their career.

Well, before shifting to design career, ask yourself the below questions if you are ready to shift?

Interest & Mindset

• Do you enjoy solving problems from a user’s perspective?
• Are you naturally curious about how digital products work and how they could be better?
• Do you like both creative and analytical tasks?

Skills & Tools

• Are you familiar with any design tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD? 
• Do you have basic knowledge of visual design principles (like typography, color, layout)?
• Are you willing to learn the basics of research or UI or UX design?

Understanding of the Field

• Are you familiar what UI and UX designs are?
• Are you aware that design is more about solving problems than making things look pretty?

Long-Term Commitment

• Are you open to starting in a junior role or internship while you build experience?
• Are you ready to continuously learn new tools, trends, and methods in design?

Portfolio & Experience

• Do you have any side projects, redesigns, or case studies that demonstrate your thinking?
• Have you tried working on real or hypothetical UI/UX projects?
• Can you explain your design decisions clearly through storytelling or documentation? 

How to Use These Questions

• If you answer yes to most of them, especially in the first 3 sections, you're likely ready to start or transition into UI/UX.
• If you have a mix of yes and no, you may want to start building your skills with a course or personal projects.
• If most answers are no, consider exploring the field more deeply before fully committing.

Here are the links to check as a starting point to get familiar with UI/UX design:

• How to Successfully Switch to a UX Career in 2025
• So you want to transition to User Experience Design?

Must-Read UX/UI Blogs or Articles:

1. Nielsen Norman Group (NNG)

Why follow: Research-based, practical UX guidelines from the industry’s leading usability experts. 
Best for: UX psychology, usability testing, heuristic principles.

2. Smashing Magazine

Why follow: Actionable guides and in-depth tutorials across UI, UX, and front-end development.
Best for: UI/UX techniques, accessibility, design systems.

3. UX Collective (on Medium)

Why follow: A community-led blog sharing stories, career tips, and design thinking frameworks.

Best for: UX case studies, career advice, trends.

4. A List Apart

Why follow: A community-led blog sharing stories, career tips, and design thinking frameworks.

Best for: UX case studies, career advice, trends.

5. UX Planet

Why follow: Focused on design process, research, product design, and career advice.

Best for: Beginners and intermediate designers.

Design Tools Blogs

6. Figma Blog

Why follow: Tips, updates, and workflows straight from the Figma team.
Best for: Product updates, UI tips, community stories.

7. Adobe XD Ideas

Why follow: Trends, design leadership, and beginner-friendly UX content.
Best for: Inspirational stories and modern UI case studies.

Product & UX Strategy

8. Product Design by Intercom

Why follow: Trends, design leadership, and beginner-friendly UX content.
Best for: Inspirational stories and modern UI case studies.

Bonus: Independent Designers' Blogs

Julie Zhuo

(ex-Facebook VP of Design)

Casey Winters

(Growth Advisor)

So, are you ready to design?

Thank you for stopping by. :)

Next, I'll share design resource library.