UI/UX designers are currently in high demand within companies all over the world. There is therefore no surprise that people are delving into this highly sought after and profitable profession. The job of creating a positive user experience that would in turn encourage customers to stick with a brand or a product lies in the hands of the UI/UX designer.
There is a substantial difference in the roles of a UI designer compared to that of a UX designer. Despite such differences, they are mostly classified together as their job roles are quite similar.
What Is UI Design?
User Interface (UI) is the part of an application that users see and interact with. The look and feel of an app, website or digital product is referred to as its UI design. The first impression towards an app, website or piece of software is shaped by its user interface. The primary responsibility of a UI designer is to make sure the user interface is aesthetically pleasing and practically intuitive, this means making sure that the user can navigate the digital product with ease, as this creates a customer’s perception of a brand.
UI design focuses on features such as fonts, colour scheme, graphics, typography, buttons, menus, screen functionality, etc. All of these design features as decided by the designer work together to make it clear to users what can be clicked, touched or swiped and which of the series of buttons is most significant.
What Is UX Design?
User Experience design is the aspect which deals with building products that meet the goals of the brand and at the same time provides a fulfilling experience for the customers. UX design is primarily focused on aspects of the product’s development ranging from design, usability and function. To ensure a positive user experience, the entire process of purchasing, owning and also troubleshooting a product must be considered with the aim of creating an enjoyable and effective customer journey that enables the users to achieve their desired outcomes.
UX designers often have to study how people use products, conduct usability tests and modify their designs to meet specific customers’ needs.
Difference Between UX & UI Design
User interface design refers to everything a customer needs to interact seamlessly with a digital product or service, while user experience design refers to how a customer feels after interacting with a digital product or service.
Steps to Becoming a Proficient UI/UX Designer
Learn the basic concepts of UI/UX design- before starting out, understanding the basics of design is very crucial. As the goal of UI/UX design is to make the users experience worthwhile, it is important to understand their desires and psychological makeup. Understanding why users take some actions like leaving or staying on a site aids in creating a digital product that would be beneficial to both the demands of the user and the goals of the business. In this regard, it is very important to learn from the best. This is the reason Perxels Design School was created: to bridge that learning gap, teaching you the best in accordance with high quality industry standards.
Develop a keen sense of aesthetics- when next you visit a website, take out time and think about the features that stand out in that website. It could be the typography, colour scheme or design interactivity. Take note of the visual hierarchy, the spacing between elements and the individual pictures and icons used. Evaluating all of these on notable websites creates an awareness of what works and what should be discarded.
Invest in relevant design software- even when you undergo training with a reputable UI/UX training academy like Perxels Design School, you still need to put in the extra work to get proficient as a designer. Explore industry leading software such as Figma, Sketch and Adobe XD to see which you are more proficient in and work better with.
Create a work portfolio- to be relevant in this industry, you must create valuable digital goods and use them to build a substantial portfolio. Here at Perxels Design School, we guide our students on creating the right portfolio, as this helps designers stand out in the job market.
Request feedback from clients- when starting out, taking this route is one of the best ways to improve as negative feedback may prove to be more beneficial than positive feedback, as they will form the building blocks of an improved work. Apart from clients, join a community of UI/UX designers and get feedback on some of your works that would be shared there.
Acquire hands-on experience- sometimes, searching for may seem like a daunting experience, but getting a job and working on real life projects helps build your portfolio and takes you a step higher in the corporate ladder. Search for and apply to entry level positions, not forgetting internship placements. Here, one of our alumni talks about getting a job after the training. Going through her testimonial, you will see that internships may just be the sating point to kick off your career.
Conclusion
Now that you have all the knowledge you need to become an outstanding UI/UX designer, take those bold steps today and put all of these into practice. I do hope this article proves effective to you and calms whatever fears you may have had about venturing into UI/UX designing.
