It's been a long time since I did any professional training to improve my career. The last time I went to a class in person was almost 8 years ago for HFI. After that, I tried a few online courses, but they just weren't the same as being in a classroom.
Looking for Training
I decided it was time to get some training to improve my career. With over 10 years of experience in product design, there were a few things I really wanted to learn:
- How to start a product from scratch.
- Leading a team to build a product efficiently.
- Expert knowledge in making products people love.
- Creating products that users find really important.
After thinking about it, I realised I wanted training that would give me practical experience. One reason I wanted this was because I've been working for a big company for a long time. In big companies, it's rare to get the chance to start something completely new.
When I looked for training courses, I found things like UX foundation skills, design thinking, project management certifications, and tool training. But none of them were exactly what I was looking for.
Learning by Myself
I thought about it for a while. Then I realised something important — I'm a self-taught designer. Even though I didn't study design academically, I still chose to be a designer. During my job, I competed with designers who went to top schools, and I could keep up with them. If I could learn on my own when I had no idea about this career, why can't I do it now?
So, I decided to teach myself and come up with a plan. Since I wanted a more practical approach, I decided to build a product on my own and learn as I go — a small project that would be useful for a small group of people. In the end, it's not just about learning — I'll also have a product that I can proudly show off.
1. Start Small
One mistake I made at the beginning was trying to do too much at once. I had a big idea for a SaaS application requiring a database, AWS, and a lot of technical support to build. But soon it became too much to handle with my limited time. Switching to a smaller project allowed me to plan things more effectively and expand my network.
2. ChatGPT is Like Another Developer
Thanks to ChatGPT, it's like having an extra developer on my team. It helps me explore technical possibilities and refine my ideas.
3. Humans Aren't Machines
People aren't like machines. Just because you pay them doesn't mean they'll automatically deliver what you need. You have to work closely with them every step of the way and make sure they understand what needs to be done.
4. Design Improves Over Time
Design is an iterative process. As we start building a product, it evolves and improves over time. Initially, it might be rough around the edges, regardless of how much research we've done. In a corporate setup, we often miss out on this — we confine ourselves within the design phase, and any iterations identified afterward have to wait for the next release.
5. Feeling of Ownership
Now, I have my own small product. It's something I created and own. Even though it's not making money or breaking records, the time and money I invested were worth it. I'm now prepared to take on bigger projects.
6. Achieving Pixel Perfection
Developers typically use a framework like Tailwind CSS or Bootstrap to code the UI. These frameworks come with their own utility classes and design tokens. Following the design tokens they offer for typography, colour, and space allows developers to adapt the design quickly and achieve pixel perfection even in responsive states.
7. Delivering in Batches
My style was to complete 100% of the design before moving to development. A better approach is to create the key screens and share them with developers to start development, then observe how they are executed and improve the process, delivering the next batch of designs.
Summary
In short, it was a wonderful learning experience — definitely worth the investment of both money and time. I believe self-learning is not just for those who lack access to formal training; it's for everyone who wants to delve deeply into a skill.