ImaginXP
What is UX/UI designing?
All those who are somewhat a tech person, have heard once about UX/UI designer. But do anybody know, What is it? What is the work of these designers?
So, here you will be able to know each and every part of it.
Basically, UX design stands for user experience design, whereas UI design stands for user interface design. Both the type of designs is very crucial for an IT product and to work closely together. Despite being very integral to each other, the role of both of them is different.
Now let’s talk about both of them individually:
If we compare UX and UI design, UX design is comparatively a new field. Nowadays many companies just waked up with the fact that they required someone on their payroll if they want to succeed in attracting and retaining customers.
The main function of a UX designer is to know who the target customers are, how to make their experience more wonderful and delightful with the product. These responsibilities are under the UX designer’s team. Functionality, usability and user adaptability of the product are the topmost priorities for them.
Instead of just the functionality, etc. all the UX designers also require some of the theory knowledge and process that can be applied to just about anything:
| STRATEGY AND CONTEXT | WIREFRAMING AND PROTOTYPING | EXECUTION AND ANALYTICS |
| Competitor analysis | Wireframing | Coordination with UI/UX designers |
| Customer analysis | Prototyping | Coordination with developers |
| Product structure/strategy | Testing/Iteration | Tracking goals and integration |
| Content development | Development planning | Analysis and Iteration |
So, by this, we can say that a UX designer plays a variety of roles i.e. marketer, designer, project manager, etc.
Ultimately, the aim of a UX designer is to connect business goals to user’s needs. This may require some process, testing and refinement towards that which both sides of the relationship satisfy.
UI design
If we talk about the user interface, people think it’s a joke. If they have to explain it, they say it’s not that good.
Everyone knows that a plane can fly from its cockpit. The UX is there to fly it but the controls, not the part of UX it is the part of UI, not only just UI but a complicated UI.
It is a great challenge to create a great UI, especially when it has to be intuitive.
There was research held in which people were asked which company of mobile phones would they prefer from Samsung and Apple. The majority of people chose Apple instead of Samsung irrespective that both the companies have the same experience in manufacturing phones. When they were asked the reason, they said that the intuitive of Apple is better than Samsung.
The Apple company has embedded its UI so well in the UX that it doesn’t even feel like it’s there. The more seamless the UI is the more intuitive the product feels.
The UI designer’s job includes the following:
| LOOK AND FEEL | RESPONSIVENESS AND INTERACTIVITY |
| Customer analysis | UI prototyping |
| Design research | Interactivity and animation |
| Graphic development and branding | Adaptivity to all device screen sizes |
| User guides/storyline | Implementation with designer |
The main work of the user interface designer is to make technology easy and intuitive for people to use. UI designers work on the areas where the users directly interact with the product.
It happens sometimes that when something looks great but is very difficult to use, it is exemplary of great UI but poor UX; similarly, something very easy to use but looks terrible, that is the exemplary of great UX and poor UI.
Career opportunities in the field of UX/UI Designer
If there is a designer inside you and a digital product lover and a desire to work in tech, then becoming a UX or UI designer may be the job you are looking for. But are you unaware: What do UX/UI designer jobs require, and how do you become one?
There are some common questions related to the career opportunities in this field:
What exactly does a UX/UI designer do?
First of all, you should know that UX and UI design are two different elements of a single consumer experience. UX design refers to the user experience, which concentrates on how something works and how people can interact with it, whereas, UI design or we can say that user interface, concentrates on the looks and layout. Think of UX as the way a car drives, shifts gears or protects you in an accident and UI as the color and design of that car, says Matthew Cogswell, the senior art director and UX/UI designer at Modop which is a digital advertising and marketing agency in Los Angeles.
What skills do you need?
The skills which are required for a UX designer are how to execute, analyze research and facilitate data. Whereas the skills required by UI designer are they needs to know composition, graphic designing, have a knack for palettes, branding and typography.
Who is a UX/UI designer’s boss?
Basically, the art director or creative director functions as supervisors, though this concept can vary from agency to agency.
Are there other titles with similar responsibilities?
These titles are ambiguous. A UX/UI designer working with agency A may has the same work and duties as a web developer at agency B. Other agencies use titles such as web designer(UI), Interaction Design and experience designer(UX).
What do I need to get ahead in this position?
It helps you to learn constantly. It also improves your advisory skills. Constant strive to improve and broaden your skills is a surefire way to shine.
How can I get my foot in the door?
Many of the designers get a fine art degree, but it’s not all about that piece of paper. You just have to work hard and build a portfolio that shows your work process from beginning to end, especially finished comps. And be persistent—don’t take no for an answer.
Top 10 essentials skills that every UX/UI designer should have
- Communication (visual and non-visual)
- Agile and Lean Software Development Skill
- User Advocacy
- Rapid Prototyping
- Participatory Design
- Persuasion
- Business Skills
- Revising Skills
- Crowd Sourced Design
- Responsive Design Skills