Interface design, portfolio, freelancing, and what to do next?

Question

Freelance

In short, I am a software engineer by profession who absolutely dislikes coding. I decided to migrate to the field of UI / UX design (which is really interesting for me and where I can somehow apply my diploma when applying for a job).
While I was doing (I continue to do now) a portfolio, I tried my hand at Upwork and even managed to take and complete an order. Another thing is that he received 4.2 stars for him (he managed to run into not the most adequate customer), which, apparently, turned out to be a failure, because the matter did not go beyond this order (although I hoped that after the first review it would trample). With a permanent device in the studio, the same result, either a test task with subsequent ignore, or ignore immediately. I look towards Rostov and Krasnodar, there is not a very large selection of studios here.
The problem is that I don’t know people from this field who could give an adequate assessment of my work, point out weaknesses, give me the necessary direction for development in design, or even say that it’s not mine.
In addition to what I learned in design and the basics of programming, I can do all sorts of Enikey stuff like reinstalling and configuring the OS, troubleshooting hardware, setting up simple networks, etc.
Since I began to lose confidence in myself as a potential UI / UX designer, and taking into account the fact that it is necessary either to receive official experience, which is not available at all, or to settle firmly on freelance, the problem of choice has aggravated. Is it worth it to continue moving in the chosen direction, maybe invest in premium accounts on Russian freelance exchanges (again, does the level of my work allow?), continue to monitor Upwork, or look towards works like enikey, content manager, seo-optimizer and etc.? The last options are frightening with the absence of any prospects, and ideally, in any case, I would like to return to freelancing sooner or later. I do not rule out that I will have to code one way or another in the future, but I would not at all want to go into the jungle beyond layout / jQuery, because this is not mine.
It wasn't very short. I will attach a link to the portfolio:
behance.net/averntkm
Thank you all in advance for any advice/answers)

Answer 1

Banal envy in the comments, do not pay attention. This is the psychology of people - a basket of crabs. I also advise "not to read Soviet newspapers", that is, some puffy success stories from anonymous people (or not from anonymous people). Firstly, most of them are simply invented or decorated with fictitious details / whistles / fakes (many are generally so passionate about lies that they have already lost touch with reality), and secondly, they inspire unnecessary despondency and lower self-esteem. Just do your thing and leave your contacts everywhere. Sooner or later success will come. Z. Y. asking such questions on the Internet is also pointless, because of the same basket of crabs and banal envy.

Answer 2

My personal recommendations as a freelance mobile app designer:

1. To improve your design, copy the work of the designers you like for the first time. Directly 1 in 1. But do not put them in your portfolio - this is only to improve the quality of the design and understand how it was drawn.

2. Come up with a small project and draw it, but do a good style. Make 3 such projects and you will already have an initial portfolio.

3. Sit more often on Facebook - this is where the main IT community / business people are now concentrated. Appear there in topics about design. Subscribe to designers and heads of mobile studios.

4. Leave applications for interesting vacancies in the Facebook group Seeking_Designer

5. Write an honest review that you want to work with a developer or studio for the first time for the experience. I see posts like this all the time. It can be placed, for example, in the creativerussia.co design community in the #talant

6 channel. Read the blog of the designer, who was also a former developer. He has everything written according to his mind bizikov.ru
7. You can master the work in the mornings and evenings, when you have free time from your main job
8. Practice every day. Only hard work will lead you to good results.

Answer 3

In short, I am a software engineer by profession who absolutely dislikes coding. I decided to migrate to the field of UI / UX design (which is really interesting for me and where I can somehow apply my diploma when applying for a job).

Obviously, programming is not for you. If you do not want to ruin your life, stop doing what your diploma, parents or friends dictate to you. Most likely you are a very creative person who is closer to art. Just ask yourself one question - if I had an unlimited amount of money, what business could I do 24 hours a day without getting tired and waking up thinking about it? Perhaps you had a dream as a child, but it had to be "postponed".
Once you answer this question, build your life so that the ultimate goal is to provide services or products in the area you love. Do not pull and do not waste time on nonsense.

Answer 4

well, throw your work on behans and similar sites to
Lebedev in business lynch
there are a lot of options, I don’t know why you don’t do this

Answer 5

Create a site layout and start again and in a week again from scratch. Try to sell for 7-15ue. Look always to the west. Lam encoders and everything is ready for a penny.
PS. Do what you like! Or to the factory, and UI / UX as a hobby.

Answer 6

Freelancing mostly has ungrateful customers, and the service itself is greedy for money, despite the fact that every year it gets worse. I don’t want to make advertisements, but still I’ll give a link https://yukon.to/rus/ look, maybe you will find a job there according to your vocation. They do not require individual entrepreneurs, the exchange almost does not take any commissions, while defending the rights of customers and freelancers quite tightly and almost for nothing. Thanks is not worth it =)

Answer 7

Well, you have a period when you are not a professional yet and you need professional growth. In freelancing, growth is much slower than in a studio/office. So decide.

Answer 8

To raise the level of design - you have to go to work in a team. Well, if there is someone a level higher nearby. Freelancing is good for strong middle peasants. Level is low but good. Keep up the good work, make, copy, learn.
If you can draw (add a little in the design level), type-code it yourself, lay it out and at the same time be quick and responsible - you are a valuable shot for many offices, both as an independent unit and as a help to an experienced designer or layout designer. While you are leveling up, you can go to the "factory" or to the office, where there is stability and growth.

Answer 9

If you like it, then continue)
the main thing here is practice and how you delve into the field of web design. The main thing is to think like a designer, not like a coder. Learn from your mistakes, analyze previous work, see what is wrong with them and do better. Before starting the design, the main thing is to understand for yourself the goals and objectives of the project, as well as the goals and objectives of its elements or blocks that will be present there. And most importantly, you need to remember that you are designing for users / consumers, which means imagine yourself in their place. So it will be clearer from what should be repelled and in which direction to move.
It should also be remembered that design requires constant improvement, you need to constantly develop. Much depends only on you.
Not all studios can guarantee the growth of your skills, and there are a lot of freelance projects that will not contribute to your growth. In the end, everything comes with experience.

Answer 10

Your design is fine, just keep looking for opportunities. It's not that easy. But generally easier than in many other areas. Once I couldn't find a job for half a year, I was interrupted by all sorts of garbage. Then I left offices altogether and have been working at home for about a year and a half - freelancing / remote work. There are many opportunities for designers on the Internet. Weight . And even completely sucky (if not backward) designers and designers of all stripes find their own source of income.
So keep looking.

Answer 11

Yes, normal design. You will definitely find customers. I don't see the root of the problem. If these were Yukoz pages, otherwise they have a clear design, everything is also decorated quite well. Even I would say more - it is well designed.

Answer 12

Hey!
Do not be discouraged, I offer a selection of articles that may help you in motivational terms and understanding the development prospects.

Answer 13

Is it worth it to continue moving in the chosen direction, maybe invest in premium accounts on Russian freelance exchanges (again, does the level of my work allow?), continue to monitor Upwork, or look towards works like enikey, content manager, seo-optimizer and etc.?

You need to try everything and see what you like, where talent will manifest itself. I would not classify SEO optimization as unpromising - if you understand this specific niche well, and if you have good sales skills (you can find customers for yourself), then you can make very good money on SEO. But again, this is a very specific area.

Answer 14

Go to hire, gain seniority and experience. Don't quit freelancing either. While there will be rare orders, it is bearable to combine. When freelancing starts to generate regular income and additional time is required. go out of employment.

Answer 15

My advice to you, make several projects for free, so that people leave good reviews about you, so you will improve your skills even better - then there should be no problems with work, good designers are now worth their weight in gold)