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Sachin Maurya
Sachin Maurya

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From Code to User Experience: What I Learned Taking Meta's UX/UI Design Course as a React Developer

#ux #design #frontend #ui

Two years ago, I thought I had it all figured out as a frontend dev:

  • 🚀 Fast React apps
  • ✅ 95+ Lighthouse scores
  • 🎨 Pixel-perfect responsive layouts
  • 🧑‍💻 Clean TypeScript

That was my definition of “great frontend.”

But here’s the truth I learned the hard way:
Code that runs perfectly can still feel broken to users.

🧠 The Mindset Shift

While working on enterprise projects, I noticed something strange.
We hit all our technical targets—fast APIs, optimized bundles, high scores.

Yet users still got stuck. Some didn’t know if their action succeeded. Others rage-clicked buttons because they saw no feedback.

That’s when it clicked:
Being a great frontend dev isn’t just about writing code—it’s about designing experiences.

This realization hit even harder when I started Meta’s Principles of UX/UI Design course.

🔍 UX Principles That Changed How I Code

1. POUR Framework (WCAG 2.1)

I used to see accessibility as a checklist. Now I see it as the foundation of good UX.

  • Perceivable → Alt text, contrast, captions
  • Operable → Full keyboard support, no traps
  • Understandable → Clear labels, error messages
  • Robust → Semantic HTML that works with screen readers

💡 Example: I once built a drag-and-drop board that only worked with a mouse. After revisiting POUR, I added keyboard navigation. Not only did it become accessible—it became faster for power users.

2. Jakob Nielsen’s Heuristics

These 10 principles are now my React component checklist:

  • Visibility of status → Always show progress or loading
  • Error prevention → Confirm before destructive actions
  • Consistency → Keep patterns the same across the app
  • User control → Undo and cancel matter more than we think

📌 Example: Instead of “Error occurred”, I now give actionable feedback:

// Before ❌
<p>Error occurred</p>

// After ✅
<div className="error">
  <p>Unable to save changes</p>
  <button onClick={retry}>Try Again</button>
  <button onClick={saveDraft}>Save as Draft</button>
</div>
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3. Fitts’s Law

Big targets = faster interactions. Simple, but game-changing.

On mobile especially, buttons need to be at least 44px by 44px.

<button className="min-h-[44px] min-w-[44px] px-4 py-2 rounded">
  Submit
</button>
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Result: In internal testing, people finished tasks 40% faster just because the buttons were easier to tap.

4. Miller’s Rule

Humans can only hold around 7 items in short-term memory.

Applied to React apps:

  • Break long forms into steps
  • Keep dropdown options under 7–9
  • Use progressive disclosure for advanced settings

In practice, this meant users stopped abandoning our “all-in-one” forms once we broke them into clear steps.

🚀 How UX Made My Code Better

Before UX knowledge:
I focused on getting features to work.

After UX knowledge:
I focus on making them feel right.

That means:

  • Semantic HTML → better for screen readers and SEO
  • Clear error states → fewer support tickets
  • Loading indicators → less rage-clicking
  • Larger targets → faster interactions

It’s not just design fluff—it’s engineering empathy.

📈 Real Impact

When I combined technical optimization with UX:

  • ⚡ 80% faster load times
  • 📊 45% more conversions
  • ♿ WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
  • 🚀 Apps that users actually enjoy using

Those aren’t just metrics—they’re proof that UX principles make React code stronger, not heavier.

🛣️ My Learning Journey

I’m currently finishing Meta’s Front-End Developer Certificate. The UX/UI Design module has been a turning point.

Next on my roadmap:

  1. Java + DSA (for backend & system design)
  2. IBM Full-Stack JavaScript Developer
  3. AWS Cloud Practitioner
  4. Google UX Design Certificate

Because being a “frontend dev” today isn’t enough—we need to be full-stack and user-focused.

💡 Quick UX Wins for Devs

  1. Add visible loading states to every async action
  2. Make error messages actionable (“Try again”, “Save draft”)
  3. Use semantic HTML first, ARIA second

Small changes. Big difference.

🎯 Final Thought

Before UX: I built features that worked.
After UX: I build experiences people love to use.

And honestly—that’s the real definition of a frontend developer.

💬 Over to you: What’s one UX principle you wish you had learned earlier in your dev journey?

#frontend #react #nextjs #uxdesign #webdevelopment #accessibility #learninginpublic

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