How to Start Your Journey in UX/UI Design: A Step-by-Step Guide

There’s money in UX/UI design. A lot of it.

And if you’re thinking about starting your journey in this field, congratulations! You’re looking at one of the most in-demand and high-paying skills today.

But there’s a problem...

Most people don’t know where to start.

They get overwhelmed by too much information, too many tools, and the fear of not being good enough.

If that sounds like you, don’t worry.

In this guide, we’ll break down the exact steps you need to take to start your journey in UX/UI design—without wasting time on unnecessary fluff.

Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Understand What UX/UI Design Is

Before you start, you need to understand what you’re getting into.

UX (User Experience) design is about how a product feels. It focuses on usability, user flow, and making sure an app or website is easy to navigate.

UI (User Interface) design is about how a product looks. It deals with typography, colors, buttons, and making a product visually appealing.

In short, UX is function. UI is beauty.

If you want to be a UX/UI designer, you’ll need to learn both, but you can specialize in one if you prefer.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s move on.

Step 2: Learn the Fundamentals

This is where most people mess up.

They think they need a university degree or expensive bootcamps to get started.

Nope.

You can start right now with free (or cheap) resources online.

Here are a few places to learn UX/UI design from scratch:

• YouTube: Tons of free tutorials from experienced designers.
• Yonevas Education : A well-structured, beginner-friendly UX/UI design course with internship opportunities,
• Google’s UX Design Course (Free) A solid introduction to UX.
• Coursera & Udemy: Affordable courses that cover UX/UI principles.

If you prefer a structured course with mentorship and internship opportunities, Yonevas Educational Services offers a beginner-friendly UX/UI design training program to help you master the skill and gain real-world experience.

The key is to start learning and practicing immediately—not just watching endless videos.

Which brings us to the next step...

Step 3: Get Hands-On with Design Tools

Knowing the theory is great.

But if you can’t design, you can’t be a designer.

So, pick a design tool and start playing around.

The top industry tools are:

• Figma is the most popular and beginner-friendly.
• Adobe: A solid alternative to Figma.
• Sketch: Used by many professionals (Mac users only).

Don’t waste time trying to master all of them. Pick one and get comfortable with it.

Start by redesigning popular apps (Instagram, Twitter, Netflix) and see how well you can replicate their layouts.

Step 4: Work on Real Projects (Even If No One Is Paying You Yet)

You don’t need a client to start designing.

Create your own projects.

Here’s how:

1. Find a bad website or app and redesign it. Show before/after screenshots.
2. Join UX/UI challenges. Websites like Daily UI provide design prompts.
3. Offer free redesigns for small businesses. They get better design. You get portfolio work.

The goal is to build a strong portfolio that showcases your skills.

When potential clients or employers see real work, they’ll take you seriously.

Step 5: Build Your UX/UI Portfolio

No portfolio = no job.

Here’s what your portfolio should include:

• 3-5 solid projects (don’t add everything—quality over quantity).
• Case studies explaining your design decisions.
• Before & After visuals to showcase improvements.

You can create a free portfolio website using:

• Behance: Great for beginners.
• Dribbble: More UI-focused.
• Notion or Webflow—if you want a custom website.

A portfolio isn’t just about showing designs—it’s about telling a story of how you think and solve problems.

Step 6: Start Applying for UX/UI Jobs or Freelance Gigs

At this point, you have the skills.

Now, it’s time to make money.

Here’s how to get your first UX/UI gig:

1. Freelance: Join Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal to find small projects.
2. Internships: Some companies offer beginner-friendly roles to help you gain experience.
3. Cold Outreach: Message startups or business owners and offer your design skills.
4. LinkedIn and Twitter: Share your projects and attract potential clients.

If you want a structured way to gain real-world experience, Yonevas Educational Services offers internship opportunities for students who complete their UX/UI design training.

And remember: The more work you put out, the more opportunities will come your way.

Step 7: Keep Learning and Improving

UX/UI design is constantly evolving.

To stay ahead, you must:

• Follow top designers on YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• Keep practicing by taking on new projects.
• Join UX communities (like UX Mastery or Designer Hangout) to learn from others.

The best designers never stop learning.

FINAL WORDS: Take Action Now

The worst thing you can do is overthink and never start.

The best thing you can do is take action today.

Pick a course. Start designing. Build your portfolio.

You don’t need permission to start.

You just need to start.

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly course with internship opportunities, Yonevas Education

That’s it for this week's newsletter.

Now go and begin your UX/UI design journey.

When you land your first gig, send us a message. We want to celebrate with you.

P.S: You can’t afford to miss the priceless, juicy tips we share in the comments. Catch us there.

Yonevas Education Team.