Play of the Week newsletter by Chris​ ​ ​​​​

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Newsletter issue: #180
Read time: 1m 48s

Zach, a newsletter reader asked me:

Oh boy. Where to start?

Look, I've been there. Back in 2014, jobless, no savings, crashing at my grandparents' place. Not a vibe.

From “I’ll design anything” to UX Lead in 6 months wasn't an accident.

I spent time understanding what good UX actually is.

Lesson #1: Pretty doesn't equal usable.

Your perfect UI might look cool, but it can still make users want to throw their phone if:

• The flow is broken
• The copy is confusing
• It takes 12 clicks for a simple task

Your graphic design skills aren't useless though. They're your superpower in a world of wireframe-only designers who make functional but FUGLY products.

The shift is:

Graphic design asks: "Does this look good?"
UX design asks: "Can someone use this?” (without screaming)

Massive difference.

So let me give you the crash course that cost me years to learn:

1. Process > Pretty Pixels
   Hiring managers want to see how you think, not just what you create. Show your work early. Get comfortable with "this looks like crap now but works beautifully."
2. Problem-solving is your new religion
   UX is about reducing friction, guiding users, and helping someone complete a task (without crying). Software is complex. Problems will be your best mate. Document EVERYTHING.
3. Your portfolio needs a "Playground"
   No real UX projects yet? Create practice ones. Pick a real problem (like "I hate how hard it is to book a dentist online"). Show your process. Even if it's fake, show how you'd work IRL.
4. Reframe your existing design work
   Don't toss your graphic design portfolio. Translate it: Who was the audience? What problem did this solve? Why these choices? What’s the impact of the work?

Switching from graphic design to UX isn't a step backward. It’s horizontal.

You're just starting differently.

Your aesthetics, taste, attention to detail, might be your edge in the UX world.

I was fired from my marketing job in 2014. I built a friend's website the next day.

Hours spent designing in Wix.
I was instantly addicted.
Within a year?

My first UX job.

Four years later? Head of Design.

You're not late. You're early in something new.

And that, my friend, makes all the difference.

Still not sure how to do it? Check out my complete 10-step roadmap — with a UX Glossary.