Where Do I Start When Learning a New Skill? A Product Designer and Educator Answers

Whether you want to learn web development, product design, or graphic design, or start a business, the first question is usually the same: where do I start? Derek Wood, a technical product designer and educator, hears this question constantly. Here's his answer.

Short answer: Start at the beginning, with an honest look at what you already know. Once you understand where you are right now, the right next step becomes clear.

Where do I start when learning something new?

According to Derek, the answer most people don't want to hear is to start at the beginning. Before choosing a course or a book, take stock of what you actually know about the subject you're trying to learn. Your starting point is wherever you are right now.

Which course or book should I start with?

It depends on where you are, which is exactly why you need to figure that out first. Derek points out that everyone has gotten to where they are in a unique way, with their own experiences and pressures. There's no single course or book that's the right first step for everyone, and no expert can hand you the answer without knowing where you're starting from.

Why do I feel like I should be further along?

Maybe you've already taken a bunch of courses, read a bunch of books, or thought about it so much that you feel like you should know more. Derek says it's hard to slow down and be honest about where you are, but feeling behind is common, and rushing past it doesn't help.

How do I figure out where I am?

Slow down and go back to the beginning. Walk through what you know about the subject and be honest about the gaps. As Derek puts it, if you're too rushed to figure out where you currently are, you won't be able to figure out where to go next. Once you know where you are, the next step is where you should start.

Transcript

"One of the most common questions I get is, 'Where do I start?' Whether you're trying to learn web development, whether you're trying to learn product design or graphic design, whether you're trying to start a business: where do I start? What course should I take? What book should I read? When will I be ready? And I give them an answer that they probably don't want to hear, which is: start at the beginning. Everyone's gotten to where they are in a unique way. They've got their own life experiences. They've got their own social pressures. And it's hard to slow down and just take stock of where you're at. You might feel like you should be further. Maybe you took a bunch of courses already. Maybe you read a bunch of books. Maybe you just thought about it so much that you feel like you should be further ahead, or you should know more about something than you actually do, or that some expert is going to be able to give you the answer and tell you what to do. But the best thing you can do for yourself is take the time to take stock of where you're at. What do you know about the subject you're trying to learn? If you are too rushed to figure out where you currently are, you're not going to be able to figure out where to go next. Take the time to go back to the beginning, walk through it, and figure out where you are. Then the next step is where you should start. My name is Derek Wood. I'm a technical product designer and educator, and you can find me on ProPass in the App Store."

Watch Derek answer the question (tap the video to play):