Ishan Umayanga
Ishan Umayanga
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Everything You Need to Know About UX/UI Designers

Everything You Need to Know About UX/UI Designers

There is no set path to becoming a UX designer, as most UX designers will tell you. Designers may have a degree in arts or architecture, but others might be trained in other fields. Many designers are born with empathy for others and the desire to improve lives through design.

Getting a UX job at an entry-level level is challenging, and many newcomers might be confused by using UX and UI terms interchangeably. Before we dive into the details of starting a UX career, let’s briefly review the terms below.

What is UX/UI Design?

Let’s start by defining UX & UI design. Then we can move on to the next point.

UX Design (User experience design) is about improving user satisfaction and designing the perfect user experience. UX requires a deep understanding of psychology, sociology, and design in order to address real user problems. It requires tactical skills such as concept iteration and user research, and communication is a key skill for UX designers.

UI Design (User Interface Design). — This is about choosing the exemplary interface elements such as checkboxes, text fields, and buttons to create tangible interfaces that are easy to understand and use. UI designers in small companies may manage the entire process, from user flows to high-fidelity mockups. In larger companies, however, they will likely be more focused on the design of the app or website layout (that’s what we refer to as “Sketch” and “Wireframing.”

How to be a good UX designer?

How to become a great UX designer? This is a crucial question for both current and future UX designers and those looking to hire one or those who work with UX designers. This article will outline the qualities, skills, and characteristics a great UX designer should have, and I’ll also discuss what I believe makes a good UX design.

Designers are a rewarding profession.

To me, a UX designer should only be a designer. This requires a deep understanding and knowledge of user-centered design principles and techniques. It also means being able to design products (websites, desktop apps, kiosks, or mobile apps) that meet their goals and provide the desired user experience. This includes various design tools, including personas and scenarios, storyboards, and rapid prototyping. It is essential to know when and where you can use them.

Research is a rewarding career.

UX designers must be designers. But they should not be just designers. They must also be researchers. This does not necessarily refer to the rigorous scientific research often done by men in white coats. It can be design-focused research such as usability testing and ethnography, user interviews or card sorting, and analytics. Good research and feedback are the foundation of good designs. UX designers must be skilled at gathering this information. Although some organizations may have split UX design and research into separate teams, I believe this is not a good idea. The two functions are inextricably linked. Both go hand in hand, and a great designer must be able to participate in research from the beginning to the end.

Being a Techie?

Although UX design is not strictly a technical discipline, it requires a basic understanding of how a design could be built and its technical implications. It doesn’t make sense to create a great design if it isn’t possible to build it. Or if building it in its current form would be too costly and take too much time. When discussing a design, engineers and developers need to understand whether “this cannot be done” means that it is impossible or possible or if you can do it slightly differently. Knowing Accessibility (sometimes known as Universal Design) is a good idea since it can be hard to make specific designs accessible. Technical skills such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are helpful when creating prototypes, exceptionally since developers may not always be available to assist.

Creative people are a great thing.

UX design is a visual discipline. This is because people take in most of their input visually, whether through websites, software packages, or any other interactive systems. As such, color, layout, imagery, and typography play an integral part in all, if not all, designs. Although UX designers don’t necessarily have to be skilled, they should know basic graphic design principles like the golden ratio, visual alignment, and Gestalt Theory. They should also be able to create designs that aren’t too dog-eaten. It is also important to remember that designs that appeal to the eye can be more easily presented and sold to skeptical clients or customers, even if they are only in their most basic form.

Good UX designers should also include:

Assertive UX designers must be able to lead and direct discussions and assert themselves when needed.

UX Co-operative Designers must be able and willing to collaborate with colleagues.

Creative UX designers must be able to create original and compelling designs.

Diplomatic UX designers need to recognize when it is time to compromise and when to play politics.

Enthusiastic UX designers should spread their enthusiasm for UX design to all of their coworkers.

Humble UX designers must be open to the fact that sometimes their designs are not perfect.

Intellectual UX designers need to be able to argue for their designs or for using a user-centric design approach.

Observant UX designers need to be able to spot missed user insights and nuances.

Open – UX designers need to be open to suggestions, feedback, and ideas; and willing to share their knowledge with others.

Patient – UX designers must understand that good design and user research can take some time and patience.

Personable – UX designers don’t have to be everybody’s friends, but they should be able and willing to get along with others.

UX Designers must be persuasive– They must be able to sell a design and bring the intended user experience to life.

Pragmatic UX designers must be able to design within constraints.

Resilient – UX designers should have the ability to take a knockback.

Strong UX designers must be able to defend their position when needed.

Intense – UX designers need to understand the details.

Which area should you specialize in? UI or UX Design

It is a personal choice to specialize in UI/UX design, depending on your specific skills.

Many companies offer a combination UI/UX role.

Although the roles and responsibilities for each differ, there is still a market for UI/UX designers. It’s a good idea, therefore, to be well-informed about both.

Although it is challenging to implement, a combination UI/UX career could prove profitable in terms of salary and importance within the company.

A combined UI/UX designer position is not easy because it requires constant switching between different mindsets. It is better to focus on one role than the other.

UI design, for example, is an excellent choice if you’re artistic and can use color combinations to enhance products visually.

UX design is more suitable for that adept at managing stakeholder and user needs, can analyze well, and understand how user experiences could be improved.

How much does a Ui designer make?

Like most jobs, UX designers have a variable salary based on their experience, depending on the company they work for. You can expect a higher salary in a more prominent, more established company with a design team or the resources to create one. However, you will get a lower wage in smaller, newer companies or those just starting to invest in UX.

Payscale states that UX designers in America earn an average of $74,568 annually (between $51,000 and $108,000).

Do you need a degree to become a UI designer?

To become a UI designer, you don’t need a degree in that field. While a background in design is helpful, you don’t need it to get started in UI Design.

UI Designers are required to have a degree, but two necessary clarifications exist.

First, UI design is a multidisciplinary field. A computer science degree will not teach design skills, and an arts degree will not teach tech skills. You’ll need to learn those skills from somewhere else, no matter where you start.

Another important consideration is that employers may not expect someone with a degree in UI. This is since there is no Bachelor’s degree in User Interface Design. This is also related to the fact most people enter UI design as either a design or a development professional. Some may study graphic design, human-computer interaction, interaction design, or interaction design. Others start practicing techniques or developing their skills.

A Bachelor’s degree is often not required, and however, it is necessary to have UI design skills and an eye-catching portfolio. The criteria of a Hiring Manager boil down to whether or not the candidate has the required skills.

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