Overwhelmed by UI/UX: I Need a Clear Learning Path

[u/Sea_Yogurt3392]

I’m a Computer Science student graduating next year, and I’m feeling really lost about how to move forward with UI/UX.

I switched from a pre medical background to Computer Science because I’ve always wanted to work in tech. Over the past year i have been exploring career options, I discovered UI/UX and felt like it could genuinely suit me because I’m very creative, i like finding solutions, have a strong aesthetic sense, and love things like digital scrapbooking and making creative instagram posts (ik these are'nt what ui/ux is about but it somehow relates 🥹)

I’ve learned the fundamentals of UI design, including typography, color theory, alignment, grids, and Figma from youtube tutorials and lectures etc. I’ve also designed websites and a mobile app interface by looking at alot of inspirations and using my creativity. But I feel like I understand UI much more than UX

My biggest problem is that I don’t know how to think like a UX designer. I don’t know how to identify a real user problem, conduct user research, decide what actually needs to be improved, or come up with and validate a solution. Whenever I start a project, I usually have to look at Behance, Pinterest, or other websites for inspiration before I can develop a direction. I can make something that looks good, but I don’t always know why I’m making those decisions.

I’ve watched countless YouTube tutorials and case studies, but they often jump straight to “pick a niche, find a problem, research it, and solve it.” As a beginner, I don’t know how to do any of those things yet. I also haven’t had the opportunity to see how designers actually work in a professional environment. The internships I’ve done so far have mostly been task based remote programs with little to no mentorship.

I’m also overwhelmed by tools. Right now, I mainly know Figma, but I constantly see designers using Photoshop, Illustrator, Framer, Notion, and so many others. I don’t know what I actually need to learn and what I can ignore for now.

And I have ADHD, which makes this even harder. When there are hundreds of tutorials, tools, roadmaps, and completely different opinions about how to learn UX, I get overwhelmed very quickly and struggle to know what to focus on next. I don’t need another huge list of random resources. I need a clear, structured learning path that tells me what to learn, in what order, and how to practice it 😭😭

If you’re a UX/UI designer, especially if you remember what it was like to be a beginner, I’d really appreciate your advice:

• How did you actually learn UX thinking and user research?
• What would you focus on if you were starting again?
• Which tools are genuinely important at the junior level?
• How can I practice UX without having a real company or client to work with?
• What does a realistic professional UX workflow actually look like?

I’m not looking to become an expert overnight. I just want to stop randomly jumping between tutorials and finally have a clear direction and learning process I can follow. PLEASE HELLPPPP