Top 10 Unmissable Resources for UX and Product Designers
As a UX or product designer, it's crucial to keep your toolkit full and updated. In this fast-paced world, you need a variety of resources to keep up with industry trends, learn new skills, and draw inspiration from. This is why we've curated a list of the top 10 resources every UX and product designer should know about. So buckle up and dive in!
1. Nielsen Norman Group
When it comes to UX design, the Nielsen Norman Group is the equivalent of the Holy Grail. This research-driven group is led by pioneers of the field like Jakob Nielsen and Don Norman. They offer a treasure trove of articles, reports, and guidelines based on in-depth research. Their usability studies and design heuristics are an excellent resource for anyone interested in creating user-friendly products.
2. Behance
Looking for inspiration? Behance is the place to be. This Adobe-owned platform is a vibrant community where designers from all over the world showcase their work. Here you can discover the latest design trends, explore unique user interfaces, and interact with fellow designers. It's a fantastic source of inspiration and a great place to get your work noticed.
3. Dribbble
Similar to Behance, Dribbble is another must-visit platform for UX and product designers. Dribbble is known for its high-quality work and its active community of designers. You can explore thousands of design shots for inspiration, find potential clients, and get feedback on your work.
4. InVision
InVision is not just a prototyping tool, but also a comprehensive platform that supports the entire design process. Their blog is brimming with useful articles and tutorials. Plus, they host webinars and offer free e-books that cover everything from design principles to industry trends.
5. Medium – UX Collective
The UX Collective on Medium is a community of designers sharing thoughtful content about everything UX. From case studies to design philosophy, you can find a wide range of articles written by fellow designers. It's a great place to learn, share, and engage in meaningful conversations about design.
6. Smashing Magazine
Smashing Magazine is a well-established online magazine for designers and developers. It offers high-quality content that covers UX design, graphic design, web development, and more. They also host conferences and workshops to help you stay updated on the latest industry trends.
7. Coursera – Interaction Design Specialization
Offered by the University of California, San Diego, this course is a comprehensive guide to the field of interaction design. It covers human-computer interaction, design principles, and practical techniques for creating user-friendly interfaces. It's an excellent resource for both beginners and experienced designers looking to upskill.
8. Awwwards
Awwwards is a website that recognizes and promotes the talent and effort of the best digital designers, developers, and agencies in the world. It's a fantastic place to discover cutting-edge designs and see what's trending in the digital design world.
9. Lynda.com (LinkedIn Learning)
Lynda.com, now known as LinkedIn Learning, offers a wide variety of professional courses in UX design. The courses range from beginner to advanced levels, covering topics like UX research, interaction design, and UI design principles. The courses are taught by industry professionals and offer a certificate upon completion, which can be added directly to your LinkedIn profile.
10. UX Stack Exchange
UX Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for user experience researchers and experts. It's a great platform to ask specific UX questions, share your knowledge, and learn from others in the field. The content on UX Stack Exchange is community-driven and covers a wide range of UX topics.
There you have it - ten unmissable resources for UX and product designers. These resources will keep you inspired, informed, and always ready to design the next big thing. Remember, the design world moves quickly, so it's essential to stay updated and keep learning. Happy designing!