In this article, we will talk about user interface and user experience design, what it entails, and see who the people who design UI and UX are.

Who is a UX/UI Designer?

UI and UX are usually talked about as if they are the same thing, but these concepts are very different. UI (user interface) design refers to what users see on the app’s screen – text, colors, backgrounds, icons, and moving elements – such as animations. Therefore, UI design overlaps with graphic design. A career in UI design is quite similar to that of a graphic designer. The design of the user interface greatly affects the usability of the product – the design should be clear and easy for the user to browse/navigate. Also, the user interface must be unique and special, something that users will remember for a long time.

UX (User Experience) focuses on how users navigate between all the different UI elements. For UX designers, it’s about optimizing the flow of user experience and eliminating sources of problems during these interactions. Therefore, UX designers need to know methods and tools to study user behavior. A UX designer is responsible for making products useful, enjoyable, and accessible to users.

While UI manages the appearance of a digital product, UX manages it. The ultimate goal is to achieve seamless functionality for the user. A UX/UI designer combines these two fields by first conducting user research and then applying visual design results in the form of mockups, trajectories, and prototypes. They are then tested and user feedback is used to make further changes and get the product in the best possible shape before the product is released.

What does a UX/UI designer do on a day-to-day basis?

For a UI/UX designer, every working day is different. Depending on the day, UI/UX designers have different tasks such as planning, user journey mapping, designing screens, research, etc. Let’s take a look at some of the daily responsibilities of a UI/UX designer:

• Reviewing and analyzing feedback on previous designs and new projects and coordinating with the team.

• Identify new trends, and analyze what would work with users and what wouldn’t – every bit of information can help improve the product!

• Conduct surveys, field studies, and interviews and later analyze them. It aims to find ways to understand users, where the knowledge gained is used as an input to design decisions.

• Mapping user experience and user interface with users’ needs in mind.

• Conduct observations where sample users interact with the product.

• Attending design and business strategy meetings and presentations.

These are just some of the tasks that UI/UX designers do during their work day. This job is exciting because you will:

• Learn how to maximize customer satisfaction and thereby improve return on investment.

• Understand how consumer psychology works.

• Learn how to interview people from different backgrounds.

• Learn how to deal with different challenges.

• Let us know if you would be interested in a UX/UI design course.

However, we know that embarking on a new career path can be overwhelming at first, and as with any journey, sometimes you need a map to get where you are heading. We will help you achieve it. Sign up for a free UX/UI webinar here to learn more about it.