Starting a journey in UI/UX for any newbie could be a bit challenging due to the fact that it is a novel skill. Do not worry. Here are some useful notes that will help you and, of course, prepare you well for this journey.
I would not have prepared you well for this journey if I do not bring to bare what UI/UX connotes. UI/UX means User Interface/User experience. It is a skill that involves putting components, elements, texts and other features together for the purpose of defining, ideating and creating a typical web or mobile design structure. One can think about user interface to be the beauty of the design while user experience can be thought of as the functionality and usability of the design.
Any application design you see has gone through quite a lot of design thinking processes that include:
Empathy
Ideation
Prototype
Test
Empathy: This is the ability of the designer to be emotional about what the user needs. The designer should be able to feel and know the needs of users.
Ideation: The UI/UX designer thinks about how the design should flow and what problem to solve.
Prototype: This is the sample of the whole application design usually drafted to see and test how it would work in real life use. It could also be sent to the user for a review. The review of the user is very critical as UI/UX is not merely about colors and components, but is greatly dependent on putting the user first and thinking about what the user needs. The satisfaction derived by the user is also determined by where and how each icons and features are placed.
User Experience should have some basic principles, which are:
• Usable
• Equitable
• Enjoyable
• Useful
Usable: As a UX designer, you must build a design that is usable by the users. It should have all the necessary features such that it is able to fulfil the users need
Equitable: the designer makes sure the whole app is easier to use both on the mobile app and desktop app.
Enjoyable: The design should be one which can be enjoyed by the user during use. It shouldn’t be a complicating and difficult to use app by the user.
Useful: Designs created by the UX designer should not be a dormant one that users can’t use.
Test: This is the stage in which the design is being checked and modeled for its efficiency. It is tested using design tools like Figma or Adobe XD. At this testing stage, the design goes through three stages: internal test within your company; reviews with stakeholders; and external test with potential users. (Note: a stakeholder is a person you need to work with to complete the project or anyone who has some interest in the project.)
New technologies are coming up virtually every day likewise mockup tool kits for Figma, therefore it is imperative to be informed and be updated about these new technologies.
Image credit: uxdesign.cc
Top comments (1)
This is insightful Abibat, keep it up.
baarokaLlaahu feekum.