What is UI/UX design, and how to master this profession fast?

• UI/UX design in simple words
• When are UI/UX designers required separately?
• Product creation according to UI/UX design principles
• How can you become a UI/UX designer as quickly as possible?
• Who is perfect for mastering this job?

Today, the design industry offers a plethora of various jobs. Some of them are not very clear to most people. One such example is a UX/UI designer. When people see the “UX/UI” abbreviation, or simply “UX” or “UI,” many have questions: what are the duties related to this job? What does the job entail? We will dwell on the answers in detail in our article.

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UI/UX design in simple words

The profession of a designer is considered one of the most demanded and popular ones in the labor market. The UX stands for “User Experience.” Simply, it means how a person directly interacts with the ready-made interface of a website, software, or app and how easy it is for them to use the product.

Today, specialists in this industry are in great demand since all products developers create must be well-developed, user-friendly and intuitive. A UX designer is also responsible for the development of navigation through the Internet resource or app, menu, and the results of interaction with categories or web pages. It’s not only about the basic part of the website but also about the communication components, which are as follows:

• setting up forms, internal search lines;
• dialog boxes;
• the buttons’ functionality.

This means that the quality of the user experience determines whether or not users can find and get what they need, which is why the usefulness of the application stands in the first place.

“UI” stands for “User Interface.” Simply put, it’s the design of a product, its internal buttons, sections, fonts, colors, etc.

While UX is the functionality of the product interface, UI is its appearance. Today, UX/UI design almost always comes as a package since these two concepts are closely related. At the same time, these terms are not interchangeable, so one specialist isn’t responsible for both tasks. In large companies, visual interfaces and user scenarios are developed by different employees.

You must delegate the project to UX/UI experts if you want excellent results. A professional web designer knows how to structure a functioning website or software. However, you may get a better understanding of the profession, basic knowledge, and skills necessary to become a UX/UI designer if you use DevEducation services.

We offer a course design that provides an opportunity to become a professional in the chosen area in just a few months.

When are UI/UX designers required separately?

Some projects require only one of the employees. Here are examples:

• UX can be more important during the creation of CRM systems, internal work interfaces, or dashboards. In these cases, the visual component does not play a key role since the most important thing is the comfort of the person using the product.
• Paying more attention to the UI is necessary when creating image websites and apps to promote high-quality premium products or services. In such cases, the main task is not to make users do certain actions but to provide an opportunity to examine the interface in detail or to get a specific experience.

As you see, these design jobs are significantly different. At the same time, not only small details but also fundamental features. Professionals do completely different things, but at the same time, they have almost the same goal. Let’s see the features of the development and implementation of the project according to the basic principles of UI/UX design.

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Product creation according to UI/UX design principles

Any project should always start with UX. This means the designer must consider the routes on the site that the target audience might use. At this stage, the employee makes research of the usability difficulties when interacting with the interface and considers tools that might help push the target audience to perform a specific action: make an order, create an account, book a consultation, etc.

When working directly on UX, the designer must remember to leave room for future development and changes in UI components. Any flaws can spoil the potential customer’s first impression of the product and interactions with it.

Various companies have different ways and frameworks when developing software or apps. At the same time, there are traditional stages of development when creating and testing prototypes and products. Let’s learn about these details further in the article.

Data collection

The first stage requires obtaining the necessary data from the customer who orders the product. For example, companies do this through an interview or by asking to fill out an application form. Designers pay attention to the following factors:

• project objectives;
• desired product’s features and distinguishing factors;
• client’s competitors;
• customer’s requirements and wishes.

This information enables the designer to create a structure of the website or software in development.

Analytics

The second stage requires the UI/UX designer to study the client’s competitors. The key task of the current step is to do the following:

• identify the product’s advantages and disadvantages;
• select the product’s beneficial aspects and compelling features;
• consider how to drag the target audience’s attention to the software design and its resources.

It’s also the stage when the designer researches potential buyers, specifically typical behavior, decision-making patterns, etc.

Creating the product’s structure

At this stage, the designer outlines the product’s key tasks. The employee also creates a user path map in CJM where they describe the product’s main goal and other parameters. The research at this stage should be thorough as it will allow experts to achieve a high conversion rate after the product’s launch.

Prototype creation

The prototype must consist of main components, plus various elements and content required in the end result. Designers think through how users will interact with all product components.

It’s a critical stage that requires attention since that’s the time to add functions to the product. Thus, the UI/UX designer must use the information collected in all previous stages, which include:

• user’s potential behavior;
• peculiarities of interacting with the product;
• a well-developed product structure;
• competitors’ products’ peculiarities.

In most cases, the prototype is created as the desktop version, and only then it’s the turn to create the mobile one. In rare cases, clients insist on focusing primary attention on developing the mobile version. The algorithm will be the same.

Type of content to place

You should discuss the type of content necessary for the client before developing the product. The specialist must understand what information will be displayed on the app or website they create. It could be the following type of content:

• photos;
• videos;
• infographics.

The prototype should be helpful with estimating the content’s peculiarities, such as images’ size or font. Typically, UI/UX designers offer recommendations to clients about what styles, colors, and images to choose so that the content fits perfectly into the overall project’s concept.

UI design

The next stage after developing a product prototype is UI design. The key tasks of the designer are:

• Selecting colors and corporate font. The designer may use the client’s brand book to choose colors and fonts or conduct a study.
• Developing and creating a set of basic elements of the product. These elements include icons, buttons, fields for entering information, and search strings.
• Visualizing the process of interaction of the target audiences with the interface. The designer must consider usability and what animation and micro-interactions to include.

It is critical to combine graphic design trends with user convenience since only in that way can one ensure that the visitor becomes a customer.

Testing

The next step is to check the interface’s usability and get feedback through testing once the product is created. As a rule, a focus group tests the finished product. The group typically consists of users who represent the client’s target audience.

How can you become a UI/UX designer as quickly as possible?

This profession requires specific skills. For instance, a designer must have a mathematical mindset that will not only allow them to create a beautiful design but also to think through interactions with the product to the smallest detail. In addition, an UI/UX designer must have knowledge in the following areas:

• marketing;
• analytics;
• psychology;
• layout principles;
• programming, and PC.

These skills allow a UI/UX designer to be in demand in the labor market and perform the assigned tasks as professionally and efficiently as possible. If interested, you must apply for specialized courses to obtain the necessary qualifications and knowledge. For example, DevEducation offers such courses.

Teachers focus their full attention on beginners, and they help them develop and use new skills and complete practical tasks. Thus, UI/UX designers can implement various projects because they already have basic experience in developing websites and apps.

Who is perfect for mastering this job?

Today, UI/UX designers are people who have an analytical mindset and are able to categorize information, fill objects with the necessary meaning, optimize products, and offer information to online users efficiently.

Typically, specialists in this industry focus on simplifying and improving users’ lives as much as possible. As a rule, designers have a fairly high level of empathy, know how to work on a common goal as a team, and communicate clearly with representatives of different industries and professions.

UI/UX designers often work as a team with:

• product managers and business owners;
• analytical information;
• developers;
• users;
• UX specialists.

As a UI/UX designer, you must acquire basic knowledge, regularly develop it, and improve your existing skills to perform your duties as efficiently and productively as possible. You may read specialized literature, follow industry experts, and regularly undergo additional training.

DevEducation offers everything you need to become one of the most in-demand UI/UX design professionals. The educational program developed by our IT аcademy covers all the features of the profession as much as possible, offering the opportunity to master the exciting and well-paid profession in just a few months.