5 Reasons Why Now Is the Time to Switch to UX Design

You've probably heard that the UX Design industry is thriving and set to grow even further in the coming years.

With that in mind, you might think, 'Great! The industry is growing, which means there will be plenty of opportunities for the foreseeable future. I can take my time to switch.'

But here's the thing, by waiting too long, you might miss out on the chance to establish yourself as a UX Designer and reap the benefits that come with it

So keep reading this article because we will show you 5 reasons why it's better not to wait to switch to UX Design!

1) Make the most of the booming UX Design industry

It's no secret that the UX Design market is experiencing exponential growth. In fact, studies by NN/g project that there will be 100 million people in the profession by 2050.

This rapid growth presents a unique opportunity for professionals looking to make a switch to UX Design.

However, with competition increasing day by day, it's crucial to act sooner rather than later.

By taking advantage of the market's growth now, you can position yourself ahead of the curve and build a successful career in this exciting field.

We can point out some factors that contribute to this growth:

Technology and Innovation: Technology is increasingly geared towards customer comfort, with a view to the growth of IoT – Internet of Things;
User-Centered Design: The concept of user-centered design is becoming more widespread in the market;
Companies hiring more Product Designers: Companies increasingly understand the importance of user focus and how this is a fundamental strategy for their development;
Increase in companies' investments in UX: Companies hire more and consequently invest more in UX Design.

Despite this boom, don't get too comfortable! We are still at the beginning of this growth curve, but that doesn't mean it's advisable to wait to switch to UX.

As time goes by, the market becomes more mature, and the selection processes become more rigorous because there will come a time when there are many experienced professionals.

Therefore, take advantage of this stage we're at. The market and companies are still beginning to understand the importance of UX Design and are thus opening opportunities for less experienced professionals due to the lack of specialization.

Reading tip: How to Pivot Into a UX Design Career: 10 Initial Steps

2) Companies are more open and less demanding, for now

With the market still growing, it is natural that companies are also starting to understand the importance of UX Design in their strategy.

Research already points out how important the investment in usability and UX is:

88% of online consumers claim to have less chance of returning to a site after a negative user experience;
Websites that take too long to load cost companies $2.6 billion a year;
In 10 years, a $10,000 investment in a design-centered company would have given a 228% higher return than a conventional investment in the stock market.

With this awareness of the importance of UX, companies are hiring more professionals and increasing their teams.

According to InVision's 2019 Product Design Hiring Report, UX teams have grown by 70% in the last period.

70% of managers have increased their team's headcount, and there is an expectation of a further 21% growth in teams.

But what does this mean?

What does it mean if the market is still growing and has not matured yet, and companies are increasing their UX staff?

Well, it means that companies are hiring people with less experience and investing in their growth because they are not finding more experienced professionals in the market.

By understanding that UX is an important area for them, companies are rushing to hire professionals, even if they are beginners.

Of course, technical skills (hard skills) are important, but companies are also evaluating behavioral skills (soft skills):

Good communication;
Teamwork;
Empathy;
Leadership.

At the end of the day, having a profile that fits the company is more interesting than having all possible technical skills.

Therefore, take advantage of the opportunity to transition while companies are still hiring junior professionals, and count on your growth within the organization.

Reading tip: 5 Soft Skills to Make a Difference as a Designer

3) Salaries in UX are competitive

With the market still lacking professionals, companies seek to attract UX Designers by offering a very competitive salary.

Not only that, but companies are also increasing the salaries of their teams, often as a tactic to prevent these professionals from leaving.

According to the 2019 Product Design Hiring Report, 84% of UX Designers have had a salary increase in the last 2 years.

And the perspective is that salaries will increase by another 20% in the next period. Of course, these actions may be momentary due to the scarcity of labor.

Once the market becomes more mature and there are more experienced professionals, the entry-level salary for the category may decrease.

Good professionals will always have higher salaries, but initial salaries may not remain in the same range in the coming years.

Reading tip: Breaking Barriers: The Future of UX and Product Design Careers for Latinos

4) International opportunities booming

If you want to have the opportunity to work abroad, the moment for the UX Design market is in your favor.

Many international companies are opening opportunities to hire professionals abroad, including those without previous experience in large UX companies.

This is actually what happened with several of our Bootcamp MID students, who were able to secure international opportunities:

Daniel Hildebrandt: lives in Canada and works as a Product Designer at BMO;
Israel Mesquita: was hired as a Product Designer at a company in Austria;
Inis Leahy: currently lives in Dublin and works as a Product Designer at Udemy;
Rodrigo Medeiros: lives and works as a Product Designer in Lisbon;
Louise Santos: works as a remote UX Designer for a US-based company.

In addition to our students, our mentor and founder of Aela, Felipe Melo, has an international career, having worked in various companies and countries in Europe.

These opportunities arise precisely because other countries are also lacking professionals.

However, the trend is that, over time, this demand will be met. As the market matures and Designers improve their skills.

Soon, companies may decrease their demand for international professionals or even limit it to highly differentiated professionals with extensive product delivery experience.

This is because the bureaucratic expenses in the expatriation process are expensive!

Reading tip: Remote Work: What is the Outlook During and After the Pandemic?

5) Planning ahead will assist you in creating the industry of the future

One of the greatest advantages of seizing this moment and transitioning to UX Design is that you will be among the pioneers to do so.

In this initial stage, you can learn alongside the market and companies as they mature instead of entering a consolidated market with limited room for influence and learning.

As one of the first, you'll be able to contribute to improving the field and the industry and build strong teams with skilled professionals.

The beginning might be challenging, with many responsibilities and the likelihood of working independently.

However, entering the market as soon as possible will be highly advantageous in the medium to long term.

If not now, then when?

As we've seen, the UX Design market is growing and is expected to continue its upward trend in the next few years. This means that opportunities will always be available.

However, the future will be vastly different from today. For example:

The market will be more mature;
Companies will be more experienced;
You'll be competing with many other seasoned designers.

By entering now, you'll have the advantage of learning alongside

We have examples of students who migrated with just a few months of study in our MID Bootcamp:

"I relied heavily on the opportunities on LinkedIn and what the Aela community shared. You have to go after them because there are opportunities for everyone, no matter the level." – Daiane Thomé

"I explained that I'm at the beginning of my career in UX Design and don't yet have a complete portfolio. But I'm working on developing the material. He also told me about his problems and difficulties while finding someone for the position. He was willing to teach and help me in the early stages of my career, so he hired me." – Alyson Ambrosio

Therefore, it's not that switching to UX will be impossible in the future, but it will certainly be more complicated than it is today.

How do I pivot into UX Design?

If you are really willing to enter the growing UX Design market, you need to consider a few things:

Studies;
Networking;
Portfolio;
Getting hands-on experience.

Studies

Studying is fundamental for all areas. And UX Design is a relatively new field that keeps evolving as technology also advances.

So keep your curiosity for learning alive. Look for books, articles, and any type of content to stay informed and absorb as much knowledge as possible.

If you are not a self-taught person, it is advisable to look for a UX Design course. This way, you can learn from industry professionals and establish interesting networking with a course.

Aela's mission is to help people interested in the fields of Design, UX, and Digital Products become international talents positioned in the best companies in the world.

Through our Mastering Interface Design Bootcamp, we have been able to fulfill this goal.

Several students have achieved international opportunities and positions in prominent companies.

Get to know more about our program:

Student Testimonials: What Do They Say About MID Bootcamp?

Networking

Getting to know people who already work in the field helps with exchanging experiences, information, and even job opportunities.

That's why it's important to participate in groups and communities, update your LinkedIn, and participate in workshops and lectures.

This way, you can establish a network of contacts to start entering the market.

Portfolio

The portfolio is essential for the UX Designer. It's through it that you can demonstrate your work, your processes, your reasoning, and your personality.

Therefore, to be able to migrate to UX, it's important to establish an interesting portfolio. But don't worry if you don't have UX Design-focused projects yet.

It's possible to compose a portfolio with fake projects using redesign! Or, if you're a MID student, you can compose your portfolio using course exercises, as many students have done and secured a UX job.

"I was in São Paulo when I received a call from someone at the company saying they liked my LinkedIn and my portfolio. In fact, my portfolio only had two UX works at the time, which were developed during the first two levels of MID." Rodrigo Guilherme

Taking action

"Getting your hands dirty" is essential to start a career in UX design, as it is an area with a lot of technical content.

A valuable tip for those who want to change careers is to practice a lot! Do redesign exercises, "fake" projects, exercises, etc.

Start putting theory into practice. It is the best way to begin to understand and master UX Design processes.

Background

One of the biggest doubts when it comes to working with UX Design is related to an academic background.

Many people believe that you need a background in Design to work with UX. But that's a lie. It is not necessary to have a background in UX; companies might even prefer a different background to compose their teams.