Okay, so you want to know how to get into UX design and you’re starting from absolute zero. Maybe you’re a teacher, an accountant, a barista, or you’re just generally tired of your current job and UX design sounds like this magical career where you get to solve problems and make decent money.
I get it. I was there too, staring at my laptop at 11 PM, googling “UX designer salary” for the hundredth time and wondering if I could actually pull this off.
Here’s the thing nobody talks about: figuring out how to get into UX design with no experience is genuinely hard. Not impossible, but hard. And most of the advice out there is either way too optimistic (“Just take a bootcamp and you’ll be hired in 3 months!”) or completely unhelpful (“Build a portfolio!” – okay, but how?).
So let me give you the real story. The messy, sometimes discouraging, but ultimately doable path from zero to UX designer.
The Reality Check Nobody Wants to Give You
First, let’s talk about what you’re actually signing up for, because I think a lot of people have unrealistic expectations about this career change.
It’s Going to Take Longer Than You Think
I see these ads for UX bootcamps promising you’ll be job-ready in 12 weeks. Maybe some people can pull that off, but for most of us? It took me about 18 months from “what is UX?” to landing my first actual UX job. And I was pretty obsessive about it.
A friend of mine who switched from marketing to UX said it took her two years, but she was doing it part-time while working her day job. Another friend got there in 10 months, but he already had some design background and could dedicate 6-8 hours a day to learning.
The Job Market Is Weird Right Now
Everyone wants to hire “junior” UX designers with 3+ years of experience. I know, it makes no sense. It’s like wanting to hire experienced beginners. But that’s the reality you’re walking into.
Etcetera
Companies are scared to hire actual beginners because they don’t want to invest in training. So you’ll be competing against people who already have some experience, even for “entry-level” roles.
You’ll Question Everything Multiple Times
About 6 months into learning UX, I had this complete meltdown where I convinced myself I was terrible at it and should just go back to my old job. This happens to like 90% of career changers. It’s normal. It sucks, but it’s normal.
What UX Design Actually Is (Because You Probably Don’t Really Know Yet)
Before we talk about how to get into UX design, let’s make sure you understand what you’re getting into. Because a lot of people have this vague idea that UX design is “making apps look pretty,” which is… not quite right.
UX Design Is Problem-Solving
Most of your time will be spent figuring out why users can’t complete tasks, why conversion rates are low, or why people abandon their shopping carts. The actual visual design part is maybe 30% of the job.
You’ll Spend More Time in Meetings Than Designing
Presenting your work, getting feedback, collaborating with developers, arguing with product managers about priorities. If you’re imagining yourself quietly designing in the corner all day, that’s not really how it works.
Research Is Huge
User interviews, usability testing, analyzing data, creating surveys. Some UX designers spend more time researching than designing. If you hate talking to people or analyzing data, this might not be the right fit.
You’ll Need to Justify Everything
“Why did you make this button blue?” “Why is the navigation structured this way?” “How do we know users will understand this?” You’ll need to have reasons for every design decision, backed up by research or best practices.
The Skills You Actually Need (Not the Buzzword List)
Most articles about how to get into UX design give you these overwhelming lists of every possible skill you might need. Let me break it down into what you actually need to get started vs. what you can learn on the job.
| Must-Have Skills: | Nice-to-Have Skills: | Don’t-Stress-About-It Skills: |
| Basic design principles (hierarchy, contrast, alignment, consistency) | Advanced prototyping | Advanced coding |
| User research fundamentals (interviews, surveys, usability testing) | Data analysis | Marketing knowledge |
| Wireframing and prototyping | Basic HTML/CSS understanding | Business strategy |
| One primary design tool (Figma is your best bet) | Design systems knowledge | Psychology degree |
| Communication and presentation skills | Multiple design tools | Every design tool ever created |
The Actual Steps
Okay, here’s my take on how to get into UX design with no experience. This isn’t the only way, but it’s a realistic path that I’ve seen work for multiple people.
Step 1: Learn the Fundamentals
(2-3 months)
Start with the basics. Take a course (I like the Google UX Design Certificate on Coursera, but there are others), read some foundational books, watch YouTube videos. Don’t get paralyzed by choice here – just pick something and start.
Focus on understanding the design process, basic research methods, and design principles. Don’t worry about being perfect.
Step 2: Pick Your Tools
(1 month)
Learn Figma. That’s it. Don’t try to master Sketch, Adobe XD, Principle, and Framer all at once. Figma will get you 90% of the way there, and you can learn other tools later if needed.
Spend time getting comfortable with wireframing, creating simple prototypes, and organizing your files properly.
Step 3: Do Practice Projects
(3-4 months)
This is where most people get stuck. “But I don’t have any real projects!” they say. So make some up.
Redesign an app you use daily. Create a solution for a problem you personally have. Volunteer to help a local nonprofit with their website. The key is to follow a real UX process, not just make things look pretty.
Document everything: user research, problem identification, ideation, wireframes, prototypes, user testing, iterations.
Step 4: Build Your Portfolio
(2-3 months)
Your portfolio should tell stories, not just show pretty pictures. For each project, explain:
- What problem were you solving?
- How did you research the problem?
- What was your design process?
- How did you test your solution?
- What were the results?
Start with 2-3 solid case studies. Quality over quantity.
Step 5: Network and Apply
(Ongoing)
Join UX communities, attend (virtual) meetups, connect with other designers on LinkedIn. A lot of UX jobs come through networking, not job boards.
Start applying even if you don’t feel ready. You’ll learn a lot from interviews, even if you don’t get the job.
The Harsh Realities of Breaking Into UX
Let me share some stuff that I wish someone had told me when I was figuring out how to get into UX design.
Your First Job Probably Won’t Be at Google
Most career changers start at smaller companies, agencies, or startups. That’s totally fine – you’ll learn faster at a smaller place anyway. But adjust your expectations about salary and prestige for your first role.
You Might Need to Take a Step Back Financially
My first UX job paid less than my previous non-design role (lol). It sucked, but I knew it was an investment in my future earning potential. Not everyone can afford to do this, and that’s a real barrier that nobody talks about enough.
Imposter Syndrome Is Real
You’ll feel like you don’t know anything for at least the first year. This is normal. Everyone feels this way, even people who went to design school.
Rejection Is Part of the Process
I got rejected from probably 30 companies before getting my first UX offer. My friend got rejected from 50+. It’s not personal, and it doesn’t mean you’re not cut out for this.
The Timeline (Realistic Version)
Here’s what a realistic timeline might look like for how to get into UX design with no experience:
Months 1-3: Learning fundamentals, taking courses, getting familiar with basic concepts
Months 4-6: Practicing with tools, starting your first practice projects, maybe volunteering for a real project
Months 7-9: Building portfolio, finishing case studies, starting to network
Months 10-12: Job searching, interviewing, probably getting a lot of rejections
Months 13-18: Still job searching, maybe finding contract or internship opportunities, eventually landing your first role
This assumes you’re spending significant time on this (20+ hours per week). If you’re doing this part-time while working another job, add 6-12 months to this timeline.
The Money Talk (Because You’re Probably Wondering)
Let’s be real – salary is probably part of why you’re considering this career change. Here’s what you can reasonably expect:
First UX Job: $35k-65k
After 2-3 years: $65k-85k
Mid-level (5+ years): $85k-120k
Senior level: $120k-180k+
These numbers vary wildly based on location, industry, and company size. San Francisco pays more than Kansas City, but your cost of living is also way higher.
Also remember that your first UX salary might be lower than what you’re making now, especially if you’re coming from a senior role in another field.
Common Mistakes I See People Make
Mistake 1: Thinking It’s All About Visual Design
UX is not graphic design. If you just want to make things look pretty, consider UI design or graphic design instead.
Mistake 2: Trying to Learn Everything at Once
You don’t need to master user research, interaction design, visual design, front-end development, and business strategy all at once. Start with the basics and build from there.
Mistake 3: Waiting Until They Feel “Ready”
You’ll never feel completely ready. At some point, you need to start applying and interviewing, even if you feel underprepared.
Mistake 4: Focusing Only on Tools
Knowing Figma doesn’t make you a UX designer. Understanding users and solving problems makes you a UX designer.
Mistake 5: Not Getting Feedback
Join design communities, find mentors, ask for portfolio reviews. You can’t improve in isolation.
What to Do If You’re Struggling
Because you probably will struggle at some point. It’s part of the process.
Find a Community
Connect with other career changers. There are Slack groups, Discord servers, and local meetups full of people going through the same thing.
Get a Mentor
Even informal mentorship helps. Find someone a few years ahead of you who’s willing to grab coffee (virtual or real) once a month and give advice. Tanya Donska might be avialable, so worth checking her profile on ADP:
Consider a Bootcamp or Course
If you’re struggling with self-directed learning, a structured program might help. But do your research – not all UX programs are created equal.
Look for Adjacent Opportunities
Maybe there’s a way to do some UX work in your current role, or a company in your current industry that needs UX help.
The Real Talk About Bootcamps
Since a lot of people ask about this: bootcamps can be helpful, but they’re not magic. They provide structure and networking opportunities, which some people really need.
But they’re also expensive (often $10k-15k as in 2025), and they compress a lot of learning into a short time. Some people thrive in that environment, others get overwhelmed.
If you’re considering a bootcamp, make sure you understand what you’re paying for. It’s not a guaranteed job, it’s accelerated learning plus some career support.
Is UX Design Right for You?
Here are some questions to honestly ask yourself:
- Do you genuinely enjoy solving problems, even when they’re messy and complicated?
- Are you comfortable with ambiguity and changing requirements?
- Can you take feedback and criticism about your work without taking it personally?
- Do you like collaborating with different types of people (developers, product managers, executives)?
- Are you curious about how people think and behave?
- Can you handle doing the same project over and over until it’s right?
If you answered no to most of these, UX design might not be the right fit. And that’s okay – it’s better to figure that out now than after you’ve spent a year learning.
My Completely Honest Assessment
How to get into UX design is definitely possible, even with no experience. I’ve seen teachers, accountants, retail managers, and random liberal arts majors make the transition successfully.
But it’s not easy, it’s not quick, and it requires a lot of persistence. You’ll have moments where you want to give up, where you feel like everyone else is smarter than you, where you wonder if you’re wasting your time.
The people who make it through are the ones who are genuinely interested in the work, not just the salary or job security. Because when you’re struggling through your third round of user research or your tenth iteration of the same wireframe, you need something more than money to keep you going.
If you’re still reading this and thinking “yeah, but I still want to try,” then you probably have the right mindset for this career change.
Just remember: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient with yourself, celebrate small wins, and don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.
Your Next Steps
If you’ve decided to move forward with learning how to get into UX design, here’s what I’d recommend doing this week:
- Take the Google UX Design Certificate course – it’s a solid foundation and reasonably priced
- Download Figma and start playing around with it
- Join a UX community (Designer Hangout on Slack is a good start)
- Start a learning journal – document what you’re learning and questions you have
- Pick one app you use daily and start thinking about how you’d improve it
Don’t try to do everything at once. Just start somewhere and keep moving forward.
Good luck. You’re going to need some persistence, but if you stick with it, you can absolutely make this career change happen.
P.S. – If you’re six months into this journey and having a complete meltdown about whether you’re cut out for UX design, that’s totally normal. We’ve all been there. Keep going.