Learn. Teach.Grow Together.

If I started UX in 2026, I’d follow this roadmap.

Goal Setting: Your journey must start with a clear "Why, When, Where, and How." For example, aiming to work in a specific industry like Fintech by a set date to stay motivated during challenges. Understanding the Roles: While UX focuses on the overall experience (research, flows) and UI on the visual surface (colors, typography), modern companies look for "Product Designers" who can handle both. Mastering the Tools: Learn Figma first, as it is the industry standard. Building Design Muscle: Instead of just watching tutorials, "clone" existing apps. Visit Mobbin.com, pick three mobile and web apps, and recreate 3 screens per day for 30 days to understand spacing and alignment. Essential Reading: * The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman (Foundations). Show Your Work by Austin Kleon (Documenting the journey). Refactoring UI (Visual design principles). Phase 2: Projects & AI Integration (Months 4–6) Choosing Projects: Work on at least three projects, including one mobile and one web app. The "New Feature" Strategy: Don't redesign a popular app like Netflix from scratch. Instead, identify a specific problem and design a new feature for an existing app in your target industry. Leveraging AI: Use ChatGPT or Claude as a brainstorming and research partner. You can transcribe user interviews and ask AI to identify themes or critique your design screenshots. Build to Stand Out: Use AI tools like Claude or V0 to actually build a simple version of your design. Shifting from a "pixel pusher" to a "builder" makes you significantly more valuable. Phase 3: Networking & The Job Hunt (Months 7–9) Networking Styles: Horizontal: Connect with peers on the same journey for accountability. Vertical: Seek mentors who are 3–4 steps ahead to provide feedback. Volunteering: Offer free design work or volunteer at design events to build a real-world network and portfolio entries. The Portfolio: Avoid generic templates like Notion or Behance. Build a personal website using Framer or Webflow to demonstrate your ability to organize information. The Interview Formula: To pass the hiring process, focus on the "Three Cs": Confidence in your ideas, Coherence in your storytelling, and Conciseness in your answers.