If you’re curious about how to become a UX designer, then you’re in the right place!

Though it’s a new(er) position, UX design has quickly become in demand because it adds a human touch to tech. It’s driven by numbers and research, but still gives you room to be creative while helping users solve a problem.

After a record number of people changed careers because of the pandemic, you may have wondered if a career in UX is right for you. Becoming a great UX designer will not happen overnight, but knowing where to start is half the battle. 

So if you want to know how to become a UX designer, CreateApe is here to help! We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to get you on the fast track to mastering UX.

How to Become a UX Designer in 7 Steps:

• Study Hard!
• Mastering Design Thinking and UX Best Practices
• Learning the Tools of the Trade
• Your First Project
• Practice, Practice, Practice!
• Build Your Portfolio
• Finding Your First Job

But First, Some Basics

What is a UX Designer?

So, what is a UX designer, and what makes the job so attractive? They’re like a web designer, but so much more! Instead of just making cool designs for a website, a UX Designer creates everything the user experiences from end to end. 

Think about the last website you visited that was super easy to use. There’s a good chance a UX designer was behind it, planning everything out meticulously.

UX designers base their design choices on several hours of research, evaluation, and user testing—finding that sweet spot between what their client wants and what helps the user through conversion.

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What do I Need to Become a UX Designer?

A computer and an internet connection…and that’s it!

About 82% of UX designers surveyed by the Nielsen Norman Group hold a bachelor's degree or higher (according to this March 2022 article from coursera.org), but you don’t NEED a degree to become one. UX design is so new that there’s not really such a thing as a bachelor’s of UX design (although a degree in graphic design or a similar field definitely wouldn’t hurt).

Chances are that the quality of your portfolio will matter more than your education level when searching for UX designer jobs. 

Skills

Like with any job, the hard and soft skills you bring to the table make a big difference. Anyone can learn the UX process, but these qualities (along with design prowess) separate the wheat from the chaff.

• Curiosity

You love thinking about why humans do what they do and what drives their actions on a website.

• Empathy

Your ability to understand and empathize with your users’ needs will leave them feeling satisfied with your designs.

• Perceptive

From research to the actual design, recognizing patterns and certain user behaviors will help you identify potential problems before they happen.

• Communication

UX design is usually a client-facing job, so communicating ideas and finding compromises will make the UX design process as smooth as possible.

• Adaptable

Your initial design WILL go through several stages of iteration until you get an MVP, so be open to new suggestions and prepare for an odd curveball here and there.

• Creative

Not every project is the same, so always think about simple, but innovative ways to help your user.

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How to Become a UX Designer in 7 Simple Steps:

If you’ve read through everything above, meet all the criteria, are truly passionate about UX, and can stay patient and persistent—then your path to becoming a UX designer starts here (congrats!)

Follow these 7 steps to learn how to become a UX designer.

Study Hard

We hate to sound like your math teacher, but research and studying are a HUGE part of the job. You can prep yourself for all the research you’ll be doing by learning the ins and outs (and the not-so-fun parts) of the job. If you really enjoy reading and reporting about user experience, this is the perfect job for you!

Thankfully, there are a plethora of resources out there that’ll help you dive deep into the world of UX. Books are always a good place to start but you have a variety of multimedia options to choose from.

CreateApe’s Picks for UX Design Books and Sources

• Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal and Ryan Hoover
• The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman
• Designing Products People Love: How Great Designers Create Successful Products by Scott Hurff
• Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug
• Designing User Interfaces by Mike and Diana Malewicz
• User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design are Changing the Way We Live, Work, and Play by Cliff Kuang with Robert Fabricant
• Laws of UX: Using Psychology to Design Better Products & Services by Jon Yablonski
• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• Just Enough Research by Erika Hall
• Lean UX by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden
• Rework: Change the Way You Work Forever by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

These resources will show you how to become a UX designer at the ground level—helping you learn the basics of UX, methodology, and how it applies to everyday life. Give yourself a solid foundation of knowledge to build off.

As always, networking is a great way to get ahead in any job. Take a chance to expand your professional network early on by asking for advice and making friends in the UX field. Chances are there is a UX-pert out there dying to share their wisdom with you!

 Mastering Design Thinking and UX Best Practices

You’ll hear the terms Design Thinking and UX Best Practices a lot. Let’s break down what they mean and show where they overlap.

Design thinking is a strategic, but human-focused process where UX designers draw up concepts after getting to know their users. This is how they create solutions that work for real people.

Design thinking is the iterative process of how you’ll approach your designs. Basically, you’ll rinse and repeat until you have an MVP (minimum viable product.)

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UX best practices act as guidelines for building the actual design. Think of these as general rules for building a usable website. 

Tech advances and UX trends may shape best practices as time goes on, but there are always a few consistent rules you can fall back on.

Evergreen UX Best Practices

• Know the difference between UX and UI
• UI-Everything users interact with on the page
• UX-How users feel while interacting with the page
• Know your audience
• Keep content short and scannable
• Simplicity and clarity are paramount
• Consistency between screens=intuitive navigation
• Make your designs accessible for all your users

Learning the Tools of the Trade

Coming into UX design with some software knowledge isn’t a bad thing, but you’ll have plenty of UX design tools to choose from (and a bunch of free video tutorials and crash courses online.)

The trick is to choose the software that works best for your skill level and gives you the biggest bang for your buck.

 At CreateApe, we’re pretty big fans of Figma because it’s a web-based app that allows for real-time collaboration. But it’s an excellent option for beginners because it’s cheap, easy to use, comes with plenty of tutorials, and lets you do anything from wireframing to prototyping.

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CreateApe’s Favorite UX Design Tools:

• Figma!
• Adobe XD
• InVision
• Sketch
• Canva
• Proto.io

There’s no shortage of video tutorials for these programs on YouTube, or you can take a crash course on LinkedIn learning. But if you really want to sharpen your design skills, sign up for a Boot Camp so you can get hands-on experience working with these popular UX design tools.

Your First Project

Once you've brushed up on design methodology, learned your way around some UX design tools, or finished a Boot Camp, you’ll probably be eager to take on your first project and start making money. But, like all things, practice makes perfect!

Start your professional career by taking on a personal project, making sure you’re following the design thinking process from start to finish. This also shows that you understand UX best practices and can apply them in real-world situations.

Do you have an awesome idea for a mobile app? Now would be the perfect time to put your user research skills to the test and create a prototype around your findings.

Or maybe you noticed a significant roadblock in navigating a website. Come up with a solution to make it more intuitive and user-friendly, then do some A/B testing to see which works better.

Use this hypothetical project in your portfolio. Recruiters/potential clients will be impressed with your creativity and ability to follow the UX process from start to finish.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

We may sound like a broken record…but the more hands-on experience you get, the better designer you’ll become. And the better chance you’ll have at landing some awesome UX designer jobs.

Try to get experience with as many different clients in different industries as possible. This will test your versatility as a designer, and you’ll learn to build solutions that work for all different kinds of users.

A 60-year-old Grandma and a 21-year-old computer programmer don’t have the same set of capabilities or knowledge of online platforms. Knowing how to cater to different personas will help you with both niche products and products with a wide range of users.

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Plus, a diverse list of clients in your portfolio shows your adaptability and overall understanding of the user’s needs.

Building Your Portfolio

Building your UX portfolio goes a little deeper than just showcasing your finished product. Your potential client wants to see HOW the final product came to be. 

Don’t be afraid to go into detail and show them how you applied your research and testing to the design. Cherry-pick through all your projects to showcase your best work, then explain why you chose that project in particular. 

Did you turn a complex concept into something streamlined and easy-to-use? Were you designing a web app for a group of users that weren’t very tech-savvy? Or did you get INCREDIBLE feedback from user testing sessions on a particular project?

When showcasing your design choices, don’t be afraid to talk about a hurdle you encountered and how you overcame it. After all, UX design is all about solving problems.

View a Web Design Case Study

Make Sure Your Portfolio Includes:

• UX Research
• Product Evaluations
• User Flows
• Wireframes
• User Testing
• Information Architecture
• Different Versions (and where/why you applied changes)
• High-Fidelity Mockups
• Prototypes
• Graphic Design Work (Especially if UX research went into it)

Finding Your First Job

Now that you’ve studied hard and built a solid portfolio, you’re ready to start applying for UX designer jobs!

The good news is that UX design is super in-demand, so you’ll likely have plenty of open positions to choose from. The bad news is that all those positions with a really high UI/UX designer salary will probably require a lot of project work before they hire you. 

But don’t despair just yet! There are plenty of freelance job boards out there for you to get some client work under your belt. Hundreds of exciting projects are posted every day on websites like Dribble and Behance (where you can also showcase your designs on your profile.)

Who knows…maybe you’ll impress your freelance clients so much that they’ll bring you in for ongoing work (hopefully with that super high UI/UX designer salary we mentioned  )

You can also look into open positions at your current company. Show your employer some initiative by doing a redesign of their website, and how this new position can really benefit their company in the long run.

And finally, don’t limit yourself to just UX design! There are a lot of jobs that fall under the UX umbrella, and the skills you’ve learned could translate well into another position. 

Other Similar Positions:

• UX Researcher
• Usability Analyst
• Information Architect
• UI Designer
• UX Writer
• Product Designer
• UX Strategist
• UX/UI Developer

So, What’s Next?

Like anything else, you’re not going to become a UX-pert overnight. But UX design is a useful skill to have in our new, tech-forward world—and it’s more than worth the time and effort.

Learning how to become a UX designer could be your next move towards a more meaningful career, and there’s a wealth of information online to help you along the way. 

Want to work for CreateApe? We don’t blame you. Check out our job openings!

Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn for more tips on how to become a UX designer!

Over the years we’ve worked with some great companies and amazing individuals. We love the work we do (or we wouldn’t do it). But more importantly, we love and value the relationships we create with our clients. This is the story of one of those relationships.

Six years ago, we met Steve Feldman, founder of Renovation Angel. In addition to what was at the time two subsets of their company, Green Demolitions, and Kitchen Trader. Since 2005, Steve and his super talented team have conducted thousands of projects for members of the Forbes 400, professional athletes, and everybody else in-between. With a long term retainer in place, Renovation Angel, America’s premier recycler of luxury pre-owned kitchens and renovation items, allowed CreateApe to lead them on a digital rebrand.

What Are The Benefits Of A Retainer?

First, let’s discuss the parameters of a retainer. Retainers are beneficial for several reasons. One of the most obvious is that the client receives a discounted rate in exchange for a long-term commitment. In the bigger scheme of things, however, the best benefit of a retainer is the freedom of collaboration. Both the client and the design team know there is a wealth of hours to allow room for excellent products to be created. Neither side is worried about pinching hours to stay within a certain budget. All the work being done is already included!

It isn’t just the security, trust, and speed; it’s the collaboration and the teamwork. As an agency, we’re able to fully enmesh ourselves into the brand. We learn the nuances which help us deliver consistent success. Working with Renovation Angel, we knew the brand inside and out. We knew the stakeholders and what they were expecting and the best way to approach success. This kind of investment from both the vendor and client is priceless.

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How A Retainer Transformed Renovation Angel

When Steve initially contacted us it was to revitalize their website’s User Experience design. Since then, we’ve helped them kick off and improve their entire digital footprint from Renovation Angel to Green Demolitions. Now that they have let go of their other two brands: Kitchen Trader & Green Demolitions.

What had begun as an initial “UX-friendly” revamp turned into a full-blown site re-launch. At the time, not only were we just working on Renovation Angel, but also Green Demolitions, the e-commerce portal of their company. With our help, their website traffic increased by 40%, and their overall sales increased by 15%. Brand engagement almost doubled, and the sleek modern feel we helped to create was being mentioned by consumers and industry professionals alike.

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Increased Flexibility

There are many moments when both the client and us, as the vendor, benefit from the flexibility of being on a retainer. On a retainer, the client can pivot from idea to idea. Because they have a clear outline of the scope of work possible, (the actual tasks we can do), without worrying too much about budgets. Our dedication to transparency keeps expectations manageable and deliverables on schedule.

For example, every month Renovation Angel had a monthly sale that required a lot of soft and hard collateral to be created. Several different web banners of various sizes, an email design, and a price tag design (for use on the showroom floor) were created. Being on a retainer allowed the entire team the flexibility of trying different things over a period of time. That eventually served as the foundation of our well-oiled design process.

Design Processes

Flexibility and agile design processes are definitely important parts of our long-term client success. When redesigning their site to be an e-commerce website, it made it easy to spec out the scope of the project together. Even while decisions were being made, we were able to maintain the status quo of business as usual while putting our best foot forward. We had accumulated knowledge over the span of several years on their target client demographic. This allowed us to come up with impactful conversion-centric designs in much less time.

“That was a really big win for the retainer because we were able to work even at times when they weren’t available to provide guidance and ultimately help move the needle forward. Having the opportunity to work within the boundaries of a retainer proved to be advantageous for the business in more ways than one,” said CEO Alessandro Fard.

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Efficiency of Operations

Renovation Angel took many risks over the years, especially when it came to brand architecture. While Renovation Angel focused on the donations side of their company, both Green Demolitions and Kitchen Trader were e-commerce based sister-brands. Each sold luxury kitchens and home renovation items. Fast forward to 2019, the brand organization is has undergone another transformation. All three brands have merged under the Renovation Angel umbrella, bringing its own set of challenges and opportunities.

Our new job was to capture the attention of many verticals. The new website, one that merged all three aspects of the brand so far, had to be luxurious, modern, edgy and welcoming. It’s part non-profit, part recycling, part luxury, and interior design. We had to create a fully immersive online space that customers could easily shop and understand.

The feedback from their team was, “Oh my gosh, this makes it so much easier to not only upload information and keep the information up to date for the users to see, but also for our team to manage information.” Now, when Renovation Angel would receive phone calls asking questions about their products, they were able to reference a fully robust website. They now had up to date information that was not only easy to engage with, but impactful. Not only did they see an increase in sales, but in their daily efficiency of overall operations.

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A Synergistic Win

One of our favorite aspects of collaborating with a client within a retainer framework is the opportunity to work on exciting new projects all the time. As Renovation Angel took off, we had the privilege to work with an organization that had undergone many iterations for continued quality improvement. We ultimately saw improved success markers across the board.

Not only were we working on keeping their websites up to date and ensuring things continued to convert, but we also got to develop social media channels, and direct marketing campaigns. The work that we did went from just a one-off project to become a six-year collaboration that we’re very lucky to be a part of.

In the end, the most important aspect of a retainer is the ongoing relationship between the agency and the client. Risks, opportunities, and great ideas don’t exist in a vacuum. Our retainer with Renovation Angel allowed us to bring those ideas to life in the best way possible. We feel so lucky and grateful to have worked with such an amazing team at Renovation Angel over the years and can’t for what lies ahead in the future!

Want To Learn More?

Let us help get you #JungleReady. Let our CreateApe expert team be your jungle guide. We will help you traverse the wilds as we take your project to new heights.

This week we wanted to share a great article from the desk of our founder Alessandro Fard. Read on to learn more about user experience storytelling.

Isn’t it bananas how fast Apple releases a new and improved product every quarter? Ever wonder why they are even able to sell those new products so rapidly after just launching the last one? What makes consumers go back for those new and improved products? Hint: it is not the advertising of words that Apple spends on; it’s the experience that keeps the consumer coming back for more.

I mean think about it, you get a new phone with an amazing camera on it and you think that it is the best of the best in the world, but then Apple comes out with an even better phone than yours and all of a sudden you need to see for yourself how the grass is greener! Apple doesn’t need to dazzle you with words, you just know and expect that the newer product will be even better. Each. And EVERY. Time!!!!!

Welp, ladies and gents…that experience, that expectation, that innovative mindset, and branding is what marketing has evolved into. You can thank Apple for setting that bar so high…jk! ?

But in all honesty, marketing is no longer just a play on words and creative campaigns. It has converged into a massive beast that we like to call experience.

Marketing Then v. Now

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Back in the 60s a brand’s communication strategy was separate from the design of the product or service. Today, both branches collide, collaborate, and produce the product and design together for a successful service or product launch. As a result, products and services must deliver engaging stories, deepen customer engagement, and organizations must structure creative teams differently in order to grow revenues.

Alongside these changes is the task of delivering the experience to multiple platforms within a network of multiple brands. Whereas in the 60s you really only had the TV, radio, or newspaper as your communication channels; nowadays there is that plus websites, social media, blogging, stories, videos, podcasts, and more. The complexity can be challenging and intimidating when marketing for every platform, but it also gives organizations great tools to get creative and collaborate with their team about the product or service, and an even greater experience for their diverse audience.

Calling Allllll Teams!

So what should teams look like if not separate anymore?

As my peeps at UX Magazine so nicely put it, “marketing and product teams need to work more closely. Copywriting and story teams need to collaborate with user experience teams. Likewise, interaction and interface designers, rooted in human need and usability, need to work in integrated ways with marketing and advertising creatives.”

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In other words, everyone works with everyone. Don’t separate your teams, as difficult as it can be to have everyone stirring the same pot, it is what makes the difference in your campaign strategy because it will be so uniquely progressed through multiple layers, professionals, and creative mindsets.

I want to encourage you to switch it up and take the challenge of team collaboration beyond designated branches. It will greatly impact your product or service to more meaningful, relevant connections with your consumers.

10 Paradigm Shifts to Part With

What you create is more important than how you create it.

There are so many tools to get you to the finish line of designing a masterpiece, each and every one to ease the process. That being said, keep in mind that the tools or methods you use don’t matter as much as the finished product does. Don’t try to dazzle your clients with how fast your turnaround rate is, take your time to create something that matters beyond what has been requested of you.

Your brand must be built around a meaningful idea, not the other way around.

Everyone is branding themselves these days on social media, but a true brand begins with a meaningful, purposeful idea. Don’t let the filters, grids, and logos drive your brand, but instead the mindset and goal should be the focus. What is the meaning of this brand? Why is it important to consumers? What does it feel/look like long term?

Maximize the benefit of your brand.

Dive deep into the benefit of your product/service brand. People want to know why your service or product is necessary and what it will help them achieve. Don’t just settle for the best on the market, because let’s face it…there is always better out there or the next best upgrade. Truly conveying why a product/service is going to benefit a consumer is the best way to maximize your brand. Apple doesn’t claim to be the best cell phone in the market, they capitalize on what the cell phone features and the type of consumer that would love it.

Own your craft, don’t settle for average.

Take the time to own your craft, focus on those small details that set you apart from the rest, choose to make the experience one that keeps consumers coming back again. Chances are if they’re coming back, they’re likely to share that to other consumers creating that domino effect that can happen through well crafted design.

Charm them with simplicity.

Less is always more. Charm can be extravagant, but those grand romantic gestures in movies that are way over the top–yeah those aren’t a win in design. Think about the speed of life lately, everyone only has a few minutes to do things, the faster, easier, and simpler the better when it comes to interface and design flow.

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Continually assess your strategy.

With technology shifts and social media trends changing on what seems like every day, it is important to reassess, improve, and reinvent what you’re delivering to your customers and the methods you are using to do so. I like to take some time at the end of every month to assess what worked really well, what could be improved, and what was a bust.

Update only what is necessary and keep what is working.

I know it is redundant considering number 6, but assessing and changing the version are really two separate parts. Version upgrades and updates can both increase or harm your customer base. Consider all personas when updating what is not working, and also when deciding what is working. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

Remember social media goes both ways, beware of creating bad rapport with clients.

If you’ve been to high school you know the role that social media plays in destroying and raising ego. Needless to say, it is all too easy for consumers to completely defame a company or any entity. The best way to mitigate that is by ensuring that the client/consumer doesn’t feel fooled or wronged through faulty promises/products. Don’t create crap that creates crap!

Keep the core brand promise.

Let’s face it, sometimes we get too creative and lose sight of the central truth that a brand was developed for. We want to create art that impacts without considering the impact itself to be the core truth about a product or service. In my experience it is far better to create around a central truth, than to create and then try to apply that truth to what you magnificently created.

Be a trendsetter, not a copycat.

It was true when your mama told you, and it’s still true today. Stand out means not blending in. Blending in means copying what’s being done. There is not one client design that is similar to another in my portfolio, and for good reason. I truly believe that every product or service has something unique to offer, and it’s up to me and my team to find that out. Thinking outside the box is truly an art that I’ve come to master and love. The more personalized the better rapport with clients, the better experience with consumers, the better product design, the clearer the focus, and so on..

Create the Experience

In order to create the experience and succeed in branding, both product development and campaign marketing teams must work together, collaborate, and reinvent the experience to match the story and core brand. We’ve come a long way since the 60s, but the main thing has always been the main thing, tying them together into a story that results in a positive experience for consumers is the trend…and it looks as though it’s here to stay.

Imposter syndrome: An internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be — a persistent feeling that you have lied or conned your way into your job.

If you’re looking at that definition and thinking: “Hey, that’s me!”, then this blog is for you.

Though it’s not a diagnosable mental illness, it’s incredibly common among professionals (especially in the UX field). It’s not a good feeling. It impairs your confidence, your ability to own your creations, and your willingness to learn and grow.

You went through the interview process, proved your skill set, accepted your offer, and turned in some amazing projects. But no matter how much good work you do, you still can’t help but feel like two kids in a trench coat trying to sneak into an R-rated movie. 

Let us give you some reassurance before we show you how to face your self-doubt:

• You are not alone! Up to 82% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point. Even the best UX designers in the game have experienced feelings of inadequacy before.
• You earned your job. Either through years of hard work or an impressive portfolio, you were chosen for the job for a reason.
• When you get harsh feedback or feel like you’re turning in subpar work, just remember that one bad project does not mean you’re a bad UX/UI designer.
• No one goes into a job knowing everything. Even the top-earning UX designers still run into trouble.

The CreateApe team is full of experienced and accomplished UX professionals with some impressive projects under our belts. But that doesn’t mean we’re safe from doubting our skills.

Here are just a few ways we fend off imposter syndrome at CreateApe. If you ever catch yourself feeling like you don’t deserve your job, keep these tips in mind for a little self-confidence boost.

Tips for Combatting Imposter Syndrome

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Be Transparent

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When you can’t will yourself out of imposter syndrome, talking to someone about it always helps. One of your teammates could have some insight, or just be willing to lend a sympathetic ear.

Speaking your thoughts out loud is a great way to put things in perspective. We have thousands of thoughts a day, and they’re not always rational or organized. Give yourself some grace and realize that everyone gets overwhelmed and needs help.

It also helps you build trust and deepen relationships with your design team. Chances are that someone is willing to offer their experience and support to guide you through project pitfalls and further your UX skills.

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Keep Practicing

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It may be cliche, but everyone starts somewhere. When you have a solid foundation for a skill, the only way to go is up! 

Don’t view your weaknesses as shortcomings. See them as room for improvement. When your imposter syndrome tells you “You don’t know how to do this? You must not be a real UX designer.” reframe your point of view to say “Learning how to do this will make me so much better than I already am.”

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Be Open to Change

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UX is iterative by design. New technologies, new best practices, new things to learn. Don’t beat yourself up too badly if you’re not up on the latest trends. Every designer needs to catch up at some point in their career.

Keep an open mind and welcome change. Follow design publications or even social media profiles to keep an eye out for trends and think about how they can improve your designs. A fresh eye never hurts.

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Take Baby Steps

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When some people feel overwhelmed at work, they find the best way to meet the challenge is to just charge ahead. But, we all don’t work the same way.

You absolutely need to take a breather when you need it. To help yourself feel more organized before taking on your next big task, sit down and think about the specific things you need to do. Write them down if you must. This will help you visualize everything you're responsible for and hopefully make everything seem more manageable.

Professional burnout is no joke. Not only does it affect your performance, but it also has serious physical symptoms that impact your work-life balance. Remember that no one is invincible and that everyone needs to take a step back every now and then.

Understand That You Don’t Know Everything

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Think of the smartest person you know. No matter how knowledgeable they are, chances are that you’re better at something than they are. Elon Musk can build a rocketship, but would you trust him to cook a stunning 5-course meal or sew a dress for a big, fancy gala?

There’s no way for us to be good at everything and no one expects us to be. Trust your skills, but accept that there are always things to learn that will make us better at our jobs. You will never reach that all-knowing status (and that’s okay)!

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Focus on Positives

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Everyone needs a pick-me-up now and then to pull themselves out of a funk. It’s hard to not dwell on the negative when imposter syndrome rears its ugly head. Try to reflect on past successes and remind yourself that there will be plenty more down the line.

Remember that imposter syndrome is just a temporary state of mind. It comes and goes just like the weather. Give yourself a break, focus on your favorite projects, and get excited for the next one coming around the corner.

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Imposter Syndrome is Creeping in, What Should I Do?

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Relax, take a breather, walk outside, get some coffee, and (above all) be kind to yourself.

We take mental health seriously here at CreateApe. Because when we feel good, we put out our best work (and vice versa).

Whether you’re an industry newbie or a senior UX designer with tons of projects under your belt, imposter syndrome can creep up anytime, anywhere. Just remember that you got your job for a reason. No one can pull a random person off the street and have them do what you do.

When you’re feeling underqualified, reassure yourself that everyone feels this way from time to time. Keep these tips in mind, and as the British say: “Keep Calm and Carry On.”

Does CreateApe sound like your kind of place? Think you’d be a great fit for our Jungle? Check out our open jobs and start your UX career today!

Want to brush up on a few UX topics? We have a beginner's guide for how to become a UX designer, a directory of our favorite UX/UI design courses, a comprehensive UX writing guide, and much, MUCH more! Our team is all about sharing our knowledge, so check out those resources and others on the CreateApe blog.

As we swing into quarter two of 2021, we’ve got some tree-mendous news from the information hut to share with all of you: DesignRush has named CreateApe the top digital agency of 2021! Rock on, team!

DesignRush is a B2B marketplace that connects brands with agencies. It was founded in 2017 and has grown into a global agency network with over 8,800 listed professional agencies from over 60 different countries and consulted by thousands of decision-makers looking to start a project.

CreateApe was ranked one of the top digital agencies for our user experience & user interface (UX/UI) design expertise and consistent ability to provide the highest quality of customer service possible.

We could not be more appreciative of being singled out for this award. We’re going bananas over it since it validates all of the awesome work we’ve designed and developed in quarter one for our clients. Our commitment to them and to our users is the foundation of who we are.

At CreateApe, we tackle every project, no matter the level of complexity, with a sense of purposeful passion because we value our clients’ success as our own. We develop modern, visually appealing products that aren’t just designed to look good but are also functional and intuitive to the user’s experience. However, we would be nothing without happy clients.

We’re always looking to act as a jungle guide to navigate you through the wild. If you need some help but don’t know where to start, drop us a line. We’ll do our best to clear out the brush and guide you down the path toward your digital and print goals.

One of Europe’s leading marketing events is hitting SoCal for the first time this year! The B2B Marketing Expo began and planted its roots in the UK. This year the event will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on October 2nd & 3rd, 2019. THIS WILL BE THE FIRST B2B MARKETING EXPO OF MANY (we’re sure)!!! Our proper villain, Alessandro Fard, is one of the key speakers and we can’t help but brag.

Each year the event attracts vast, highly targeted audiences and offers a truly engaging experience. We expect this event will be even larger as it will be the first time it hits the US. The B2B Marketing Expo is currently responsible for over 50 shows across the world ranging from niche industry events to major global events. No discrimations!!! They have offices set up in Germany, Hong Kong, US, and the UK (and we’re sure it’s not stopping there).

Our CreateApe team will also be exhibiting at this event along with over 200 other exhibitors. There will be hundreds of seminars and the expo is expecting over 10,000 visitors at the Los Angeles event this fall. THIS WILL BE A HUGE EVENT! You don’t want to miss…

The marketing industry is always changing, and this expo offers organizations some insight from thought leaders like Alessandro who can share their strategies and breakthroughs. Free access to proven leaders in their fields? No brainer. #winwin

Alessandro will be hitting the stage to talk about all things UX/UI related. LIKE A BOSS. Other keynote speakers include Nike, Google, and Microsoft to be sharing their thought leadership ideas. 

Jeetendr Sehdev author of The Kim Kardashian Principle will be the official headline host for the event. Sehdev is a media personality, the world’s leading authority on celebrity branding, and a sought-after advisor to top international companies. We are prepared to be dazzled by THIS INFLUENCER’S INFLUENCER. 

Some of the event highlights will include influencer marketing, data and analytics, direct marketing, AI, account based marketing, and UX/UI development (of course), among many other topics. This is the ultimate event for keen sales professionals.

Tickets are free for this event and can be requested here. Don’t worry if you can’t make it, you can still follow Alessandro Fard’s stories on Instagram/Facebook to get behind the scenes and watch him live in action! 

We are looking forward to this event and hope you will be too. SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday October 2nd, and be prepared for some “proper villain” magic from our CEO. Make sure to stop by our booth for more information about UX/UI. Let us show you how much proper UX/UI can benefit your business. See you in October!