🎯 Goal

Pivot into UX design with a portfolio of 3 strong case studies in 12 weeks.

🧠 Skill Breakdown

• UX foundations
• User research
• Information architecture
• Figma & prototyping
• Portfolio storytelling

📅 Curriculum Plan

Week 1: What UX really is

• Objective: Mindset and process.
• Practical Tasks:
  • Read 3 canonical articles
  • Audit one app you use daily
  • Write a 1-pager
• Expected Outcome: Clear mental model of UX.

Week 2: Research basics

• Objective: Interviews & surveys.
• Practical Tasks:
  • Run 3 user interviews
  • Synthesize into themes
  • Affinity map
• Expected Outcome: First user insights.

Week 3: Personas & JTBD

• Objective: Translate research to design intent.
• Practical Tasks:
  • 1 persona
  • 3 jobs-to-be-done
  • Problem statement
• Expected Outcome: Clear target user.

Week 4: IA & flows

• Objective: Structure your product.
• Practical Tasks:
  • Sitemap
  • User flow
  • Card sort
• Expected Outcome: Clear product structure.

Week 5: Wireframes

• Objective: Low-fidelity sketching.
• Practical Tasks:
  • Sketch 5 screens
  • Translate to Figma
  • Get feedback
• Expected Outcome: First wireframes.

Week 6: Figma deep dive

• Objective: Components, auto-layout.
• Practical Tasks:
  • Build a small DS
  • Reusable button + input
  • Auto-layout exercises
• Expected Outcome: Confident in Figma.

Week 7: Hi-fi & prototyping

• Objective: Polish and interactivity.
• Practical Tasks:
  • Hi-fi 5 screens
  • Interactive prototype
  • User test 3 people
• Expected Outcome: Tested prototype.

Week 8: Case study #1

• Objective: Write up project 1.
• Practical Tasks:
  • Outline narrative
  • Gather assets
  • Publish on Notion or Framer
• Expected Outcome: Public case study.

Week 9: Case study #2

• Objective: Project 2 from research to UI.
• Practical Tasks:
  • New brief
  • Compress timeline
  • Ship case study
• Expected Outcome: Second portfolio piece.

Week 10: Case study #3

• Objective: Project 3 polished.
• Practical Tasks:
  • Bigger scope
  • Stakeholder framing
  • Ship case study
• Expected Outcome: Third portfolio piece.

Week 11: Portfolio site

• Objective: Tie it all together.
• Practical Tasks:
  • Build a simple site
  • Write About page
  • Add CTA
• Expected Outcome: Live portfolio.

Week 12: Job hunt sprint

• Objective: Apply with intent.
• Practical Tasks:
  • Tailor CV
  • Apply to 10 roles
  • Reach out to 5 designers
• Expected Outcome: Active pipeline.

🚀 Final Project

Three published case studies + a live portfolio site demonstrating end-to-end UX work.

📚 Books & Long-Form Reading

• A canonical book or course in this field

👥 Communities to Join

• Active subreddit, Discord or forum for this topic

🔁 Progress Tracking

• Weekly self-check questions and a clear "ready to move on" criterion