77 UX resources I used to become a UX Designer
When I became a user experience (UX) designer in 2019, I read every book on UX on UX Design and listened to as many podcast on UX design as I could. I also attended as many UX conferences to meet like-minded people. Also, I know how challenging it can be to find the right resources to support your work from the books to read, the topics to cover to the laptop you need.
It took me a while to find the best ones, but once I finally did, I compiled them all into a little UX resource list on my Chrome bookmarks. As I learn and grow my skills, I’ve added to my UX resources list, and today I want to share that list with you so that you don’t have to scour the internet for the best UX resources on your journey to becoming a UX Designer.
This list has you totally covered. It contains everything from:
- Design Thinking
- UX Research
- Wireframing
- Prototyping
- UI Design Resources
- Interaction Design
- Accessibility
- Coding
What are the Top UX Design Resources?
Here is the list of UX resources I used to become a UX Designer. These UX design resources will improve your design skills, keep you up to date with the latest trends, and help you create exceptional user experiences for your customers.
Related:
Understanding User Flow (UX Design): A Beginners Guide
What is a UX sitemap and my step by step guide on how to create one
Nielsen Norman Group
The Nielsen Norman Group offers a free Design Thinking 101 course that covers the fundamentals of the design thinking process, including problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
This is my go-to resource to learn everything and anything in UX design till today. Don Norman is the industry leader, and you can’t learn from anyone better.
IDEOU
IDEOU offers a free Design Thinking Course that covers the design thinking process, including empathy, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
I love how clean and practical their resources are. It’s super easy to plug and play when working on a UX project.
Optimal Workshop
Optimal Workshop offers a free resource called “The Ultimate Guide to User Research,” which covers various research methods and best practices for conducting user research.
This is the first UX research tool I used, to test a website. It’s super user friendly to use and it’s free!
Lottiefiles
A hub for animations, housing a vast collection of interactive and customizable Lottie animations for seamless integration into web and app interfaces.
I don’t know how to animate, so this is where I go to get animations; also it’s free!
UXPin Design Library
A library of free UI design and interaction design resources, including UI kits, icons, and templates.
This is your savior when it comes time to hand off your design to your developers. In simple English, it basically will save you the pain of having your designs not coded exactly the way you designed them.
Smashing Magazine
A website that offers a wealth of free articles, tutorials, and resources for interaction design and UX. Their articles are super detailed, and I always learn something new!
What are the Best design thinking resources?
This category will introduce you to the design thinking process and provide you with tools and techniques for empathizing with users, defining the problem, ideating solutions, prototyping, and testing.
Related:
- 6 Best Design Thinking Tools for 2023
- Design Thinking Workshop: Tips & Tricks (2023 Guide)
- 8 UX Workshops and when to use them
- Workshop Facilitation for Beginners: A Practical Guide
Stanford Design School
Stanford Design School’s Design Thinking Bootcamp Bootleg is a free resource that provides an overview of the design thinking process, including methods and tools for each stage.
IDEO
IDEO is a design and innovation firm that offers a free Design Kit that includes a Field Guide and Toolkit to help you apply design thinking to real-world challenges.
Nielsen Norman Group
The Nielsen Norman Group offers a free Design Thinking 101 course that covers the fundamentals of the design thinking process, including problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
IBM Design Thinking
IBM offers a free Design Thinking Field Guide that provides an overview of the design thinking process and includes methods and tools for each stage.
Creative Confidence
Creative Confidence is a book by Tom Kelley and David Kelley that provides an introduction to design thinking and includes case studies and examples to help you apply design thinking in your own work.
The Interaction Design Foundation
The Interaction Design Foundation offers a free Design Thinking Course that covers the fundamentals of the design thinking process and includes case studies and examples to help you apply design thinking in your own work.
IDEOU
IDEOU offers a free Design Thinking Course that covers the design thinking process, including empathy, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing.
The Design Gym
The Design Gym offers a free Design Thinking Toolkit that includes methods and tools for applying design thinking to challenges in business, education, and social impact.
What are the Best UX Research resources?
After I had a good grasp of design thinking concepts, I moved on to tackle UX Research. Here is a list of UX research resources that can help you conduct user research to gather insights and validate assumptions.
Related:
- 15 Best User Testing Tools & Usability Testing Tools of 2023
- Top 3 UX Research Conferences (2024)
- What is a UX researcher? How I got the job and what I do exactly
- How to Write Insights that are powerful (Guide + Examples)
Usability.gov
Usability.gov is a free resource that provides guidance on how to conduct usability testing and user research, including templates, checklists, and case studies.
UserTesting.com
UserTesting.com offers a free eBook titled “The UX research methodology guidebook,” which provides an overview of the UX research process and includes practical tips and best practices.
Nielsen Norman Group
The Nielsen Norman Group offers a free Introduction to Usability course that covers the basics of user research and usability testing.
Qualtrics
Qualtrics offers a free UX Research Toolkit that includes templates for conducting surveys, user interviews, and usability tests.
Google Ventures
Google Ventures offers a free resource called “Sprint,” which provides a step-by-step guide to conducting design sprints, including user research and testing. You’ll need this when your boss asks you if you can do UX research quickly.
Optimal Workshop
Optimal Workshop offers a free resource called “The Ultimate Guide to User Research,” which covers various research methods and best practices for conducting user research.
Userfocus
Userfocus offers a free resource called “Bright Ideas for User Experience Researchers” which covers the basics of user research and usability testing.
Userzoom
Userzoom offers a free eBook titled “Complete guide to UX research” which provides a how to guide for every step of the design and development journey.
Interaction Design Foundation
The Interaction Design Foundation offers a free course titled “User Research Methods,” which covers various research methods and best practices for conducting user research.
What are the Best wireframing and prototyping resources?
With a deeper understanding of your users and their needs, I moved on to learning about how to make my designs come to life through wireframing and prototyping. The next section will uncover UX tools to help you create low and high-fidelity prototypes to test and iterate on your ideas.
Pen and paper
Pen and paper is a classic and simple method for creating wireframes and prototypes. It’s a great way to quickly get your ideas down on paper and start the design process, allowing for easy collaboration and iteration with team members and stakeholders.
Figma
Figma is a free design tool that allows you to create wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces collaboratively. It also provides access to free design resources such as icons, illustrations, and UI kits. These UI kits are super helpful when you are starting out in design.
Uizard
Uizard is a cutting-edge design platform that offers a free trial version for crafting wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces with utmost efficiency. Not only does Uizard grant access to an array of powerful features within its trial period, but it also offers a range of complimentary plugins that elevate and enrich its capabilities.
Visily
Streamlined wireframe design platform offering efficient tools for creating intuitive user interfaces, facilitating innovation through a user-friendly interface and collaborative features.
Sketch
Sketch is a popular design tool that provides a free trial version for creating wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces. It also provides access to free plugins that enhance its functionality.
Adobe XD
Adobe XD is a free design tool that allows you to create wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces. It also integrates with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps and provides access to free design resources such as UI kits.
InVision Studio
InVision Studio is a free design tool that provides a powerful set of features for creating wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces. It also provides access to free design resources such as UI kits and animations.
Balsamiq
When I first started in design, I had no knowledge of how to use any design tool and Balsamiq was a lifesaver. Super easy for anyone to quickly create a wireframe.
Balsamiq provides a free trial version for creating wireframes that mimic hand-drawn sketches. It also provides access to free design resources such as UI elements and symbols. When I first started in design, I had no knowledge of any of the design tools listed here and Balsamiq was a lifesaver.
Wireframe.cc
Wireframe.cc is a free online tool for creating wireframes quickly and easily. It also provides the ability to collaborate with team members and share wireframes with stakeholders.
Moqups
Moqups is a free online tool for creating wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces. It also provides access to free design resources such as UI elements and templates.
Proto.io
Proto.io provides a free trial version for creating high-fidelity prototypes with advanced interactions and animations. It also provides access to free design resources such as UI elements and templates.
Marvel
Proto.io provides a free trial version for creating high-fidelity prototypes with advanced interactions and animations. It also provides access to free design resources such as UI elements and templates.
Axure
Axure provides a free trial version for creating wireframes, prototypes, and user interfaces with advanced interactions and animations. It also provides access to free design resources such as UI elements and templates.
Fluid UI
Fluid UI is a free online tool for creating prototypes with advanced interactions and animations. It also provides access to free design resources such as UI elements and templates.
What are the Best UI Design resources?
Once I had a good grasp of my designs, it was time to refine my prototypes to create the best user experience. The next section will cover user interface (UI) design resources that can help you create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces that meet the needs of your target audience.
Related:
- 21 UI UX Design Examples That Will Inspire You In 2023
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- 9 Inspiring Design System Examples
Material Design
A comprehensive design system developed by Google, including guidelines, tools, and resources for UI design.
Unsplash
A platform that offers a vast collection of free, high-quality stock photos that can be used in UI design.
Font Awesome
A library of over 1,500 free vector icons that can be used in UI design.
Flat UI Colors
A collection of flat color palettes that can be used to create modern and minimalist UI designs.
Dribbble
A social network and platform for designers to showcase their work, discover other designers, and get inspiration for UI design.
Canva Color Palette Generator
A tool that generates color palettes based on an uploaded image, allowing for easy color selection for UI design.
Behance
A social network and platform for creatives to showcase their work, including UI design projects.
UI Design Daily
A website that offers free UI design resources and inspiration every day.
Figma Resources
A website that offers free UI design resources and plugins for Figma, a popular UI design tool.
Lottiefiles
A hub for animations, housing a vast collection of interactive and customizable Lottie animations for seamless integration into web and app interfaces.
What are the Best Interaction Design resources?
The next thing I learned was interaction design. Here is a list of UX resources that can help you create engaging and meaningful interactions on your designs that keep users engaged and motivated to complete tasks.
Smashing Magazine
A website that offers a wealth of free articles, tutorials, and resources for interaction design and UX.
InVision Blog
A website that offers free articles and resources on interaction design and UX, as well as tutorials on how to use InVision’s prototyping and collaboration tools.
UXPin Design Library
A library of free UI design and interaction design resources, including UI kits, icons, and templates.
UX Archive
A website that collects and showcases examples of app and website interactions for inspiration and analysis.
Muzli
A website that collects and showcases examples of app and website interactions for inspiration and analysis.
Sidebar.io
A website that collects and showcases examples of app and website interactions for inspiration and analysis.
Interaction Design Foundation
A website that collects and showcases examples of app and website interactions for inspiration and analysis.
Awwwards
A website that showcases and awards the best in web design, including interaction design examples.
UX Booth
A website that offers free articles and resources on interaction design and UX, including a Complete Beginner’s Guide to Interaction Design.
What are the Best Accessibility resources?
After I tackled interaction design it was time to design for all users and that is when I tackled accessibility. These UX resources will help you ensure that your designs are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
Related: 6 Best Accessibility Testing Tools for Websites
WebAIM
A website that offers a range of resources, including accessibility evaluations, training, and tools.
W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
A comprehensive guide to designing accessible interfaces, including tips, best practices, and code snippets.
The A11Y Project
A comprehensive guide to designing accessible interfaces, including tips, best practices, and code snippets.
Learn the Web: The Accessibility Cheatsheet
A comprehensive guide to designing accessible interfaces, including tips, best practices, and code snippets.
Accessible Web Handbook
An online handbook that covers the basics of web accessibility, including design considerations and testing.
What are the Best Coding resources?
Finally, I learned how to become a Unicorn Designer. Just kidding, I’m still tackling this one day by day, little by little. The next section will teach you how to code.
Now, you don’t have to master this in the beginning, but trust me, it really helps you when you have to converse with developers on your team. Yes, you will work with developers when you hand over your design work to them to code and bring to life.
W3Schools
A website that provides tutorials on web development languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Codecademy
A website that provides tutorials on web development languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
WordPress
A website that provides tutorials on web development languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, this list of UX resources covers a wide range of topics, from design thinking to website development, and is perfect for newbie UX designers looking to enhance their skills.
But, this is just the beginning! I’ll be updating this list regularly, and I aim to hit 77+ resources in the near future. If you found this article helpful, be sure to bookmark it and share it with your fellow designers. If you found a useful UX resource that helped you share them with me and if it’s good I’ll publish it on my list.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four components of UX?
- Usability – how easy and intuitive the product is to use
- Functionality – the features and capabilities of the product
- Aesthetics – how the product looks and feels
- Emotion – the feelings and experiences that the product evokes in users
The 7 pillars of UX design are?
- Useful – the product must fulfill a need and be useful to users
- Usable – the product must be easy to use and intuitive
- Desirable – the product must be visually appealing and emotionally engaging
- Findable – the product must be easy to find and navigate
- Accessible – the product must be accessible to all users, including those with disabilities
- Credible – the product must be trustworthy and credible
- Valuable – the product must provide value to the user and the business
What is UX Design?
UX design, short for User Experience design, is the process of designing products, systems, or services with a focus on creating the best possible experience for the user. This encompasses everything from the visual design of a website or app to the layout and organization of content, and even the overall functionality of a product. Good UX design is essential for creating a product that users will love and continue to use.
What are UX Resources?
UX resources are essential tools and materials that UX designers use to create and improve user experiences. They include a wide range of resources, from design thinking frameworks to wireframing and prototyping tools.
If you’re new to the field of UX design, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. I hope my list of UX resources helps you find your ground as a UX designer.
