Hiring self-taught UI/UX designers can be a risky business, especially if you’re looking to your designer to create the whole design from scratch. Self-taught designers are often limited in their abilities and might not have the skills necessary to complete tasks that others do with ease.
So, it can be hard to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth when hiring them to do the job on their own. And as a web design company in the UK, you’ll want to be certain you’re getting quality UI/UX designers.
This article breaks down the pros and cons of working with self-taught UI/UX designers, so you can decide if they’re the right option for your business.
Why do people hire self-taught UI/UX designers?
There are many reasons why people choose to hire self-taught designers. Perhaps they admire the designer’s grit and determination. Maybe they respect the fact that the designer has taken initiative to teach themselves. Or maybe, as a web design company in the UK, they simply like the aesthetic of the self-taught designer’s work. Whatever the reason, here are two common reasons people hire a self-taught UI/UX designer.
∙ Self-learners often have good knowledge of design trends and principles. They can quickly get up to speed on any new changes in design software or technologies.
∙ It can be cheaper than hiring an experienced professional. If you pay for formal education in your company, you may find that it takes years before your money is recouped from their salary after training is complete – not to mention their expensive educational loans!
On the other hand, with less experience comes less baggage. A talented but inexperienced worker will do more for your company than someone who is no longer growing professionally as a designer.
The downside of hiring a self-taught UI/UX designer
Self-taught designers are often very passionate about their craft and are always learning new things to stay ahead of the curve. However, because they haven’t had any formal training, they may not have the best foundation in design principles.
This can lead to design choices that may not be user-friendly or accessible. Another con is that self-taught designers may not be as efficient as those with a formal UI UX certification since they haven’t had as much practice working on real projects. They may also be less likely to follow industry best practices.
How to tell if they are right for you
As a web design company in the UK, it’s key to know the pros and cons of hiring a self-taught UI/UX designer. Even when the pros outweigh the cons, it can still be difficult to tell if a particular self-taught designer is right for your business. Here are a few things to consider:
1) What level of skill does the candidate show on their portfolio?
2) How experienced are they with specific software programs that are key to your business?
3) How much time can you afford to invest in training them on what they don’t know yet (and there will always be something)?
4) Do they understand UI/UX design best practices?
5) Do they have the 8 essential traits of a good UI/UX designer?
6) What type of business do you run? If it’s one that requires a lot of creativity and innovation then this might work out well. But if your company needs consistency and reliability then this might not be such a good idea.
How people become self-taught designers
Here are the steps you’ll need to take if you want to become a self-taught UI/UX designer:
- Research the basics of UI/UX design.
- Find some good resources (books, online courses, etc.) to help you learn more about UI/UX design.
- Start practicing by designing simple interfaces for yourself or friends/family.
- Get feedback from others on your designs, and use that feedback to improve your skills.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you feel confident in your abilities.
- Start looking for opportunities to work on real-world projects, either as a freelancer or as part of a team.
Conclusion
We’ve recently seen an increase in the number of self-taught designers even for those established as a web design company in the UK, and many hiring managers have expressed concern about whether these individuals can make the grade or whether they’re too inexperienced to be worthy of hiring. In the end, when deciding whether or not to hire a self-taught designer, it is important to consider what skills your business needs. Ultimately, the right person for the job might just be somebody who learned how to do it all by themselves.
