What do UX / UI designers do? And what even is a user experience?

Here are topics and common questions about UX / UI design that this article will cover...UX stands for “user experience,” and UI stands for “user interface.” You’ll often see them lumped together as they are two closely related professions that often work hand-in-hand.So, let’s take it slow and cover everything you need to know about UX / UI design. Let’s get started.

What is UX design?

Simply put, user experience design is the process of planning the experience a person has when they interact with a product.UX design focuses on the interaction that a human user has with everyday products and services. The goal of UX design is to mak...

About the U in UX: determine what is important to the user

So, let’s start at the beginning: the “U” in UX. Why?As Apple founder Steve Jobs aptly put it, “You’ve got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology - not the other way around.”The user is the person who is going to live, e...

What is UI design?

UI (User Interface) design is the user-centered approach to designing the aesthetics of a digital product. In essence, they create the look and feel of a website or application’s user interface. An interface is the graphical layout of the application. These interfaces should not only be functional, but they should be easy to use and visually appealing.UI designers are focused on visual touchpoints that let users interact with a product. This can include typography, color palettes, buttons, animation, and other imagery. Think about all the things you might do on an app - slide to delete, pull down to refresh, enter text, etc. All of these visual elements or animations that allow you to interact with the app must be designed. There’s a lot of similarities between UI and graphic design, but they are not the same thing.This is where the “nitty-gritty” of Matt’s experience with Carvana happens. Can he easily scan the filter options on the site, do they function accurately, etc. Does he have to log in to their system or can he log in with an existing account like Google or Facebook?

User interface can also refer to other interfaces:

To sum up, UI designers are graphic designers whose aim is to create product interfaces that delight users aesthetically while allowing them to easily complete a task.

What is a UX designer, and what do UX designers do?

If you have a background (or interest) in design, brand strategy, or technology, then becoming a UX (User Experience) designer may be the job for you. But first, what does a UX designer actually do?UX designers act as advocates for the user.Sometimes, you (...

What skills do UX designers need?

Being that the work is quite specific, UX designers need a technical skill set, like design and prototyping with tools like Sketch, Figma and Adobe XD. They also need to understand the design thinking process in order to participate in all aspects of the design process.In addition to hard skills, successful UX designers also have the following soft skills, or abilities that enable them to function well in the workplace.

What is a UI designer and what do UI designers do?

UI designers often have a background in graphic design, interior design, or visual arts. They are responsible for making user interfaces that are easy to use and satisfying for the user. These are graphical in nature, and include websites, apps, and video games, to name a few.It’s the UI designer’s job to bring the UX designer’s ideas to life. Once the UX team has finished their process and hands over a wireframe, UI Designers are in charge of designing how the product is laid out visually. On websites, they are in charge of the elements on each screen or page in which a user interacts.Of course, they must design from the user’s point of view. So, although they might be great artists, the design is about the user, not them. What do users desire? They want to navigate a site with ease, intuitively clicking through the pages and finding the information they need without a thought. Therefore, it’s your job as a UI designer to provide just that: an easily navigable product that’s so intuitive it’s almost invisible!This includes incorporating basic design principles (like balance and contrast) and studying interaction design. It also means carefully choosing the typography, menu styling, buttons, icons, etc. to both represent the brand and satiate the user.

Tasks of a UI designer might include:

The different types of UI

There are several types of user interfaces to get to know when considering a career in the field.

Command-line interface

The command-line interface (CLI) is a program that accepts text input to execute functions in your machine’s Operating System. It’s nothing new. In fact, it’s the way early computers were used. Rather than clicking with a mouse, users had to know the machine’s language to interact with the computer. It was also linear, meaning the user would type a command, and the machine would respond in either printed output or by displaying a message on the monitor.The CLI is a powerful tool that allows developers to install software, run programs, and navigate folders with just a few words. Learning to navigate the CLI allows for greater flexibility, especially when dealing with large amounts of data or files.

Graphical User Interface

A GUI, graphical user interface, allows users to interact with digital products through visual elements with very little text input. This is the primary interface used by most people today. GUI’s are intuitive and visually appealing, thus making them easier to learn and use. For example, windows, scroll bars, folders, are all part of the graphic interface. Because some resources are diverted to displaying graphics, GUI can be slower than machines running CLI.

Voice-based interfaces

Voice-based interfaces (also known as VUIs, voice user interfaces) permit users to interact with a system through voice or speech commands. Recent advances in natural language processing made it possible to create products like Amazon Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and the Google Assistant. Voice-based interfaces are becoming more popular and have a low learning curve because they require less time spent learning how to use them.

What skills do UI designers need?

Some hard skills are required to become a UI designer. To expand, UI designers must be up-to-date with the latest trends, techniques, and technologies. As far as graphic design, they must have an understanding of visual design, interface design, brand design, layouts, etc. They must also have proficiency in visual design and wireframing tools (Adobe XD, Figma, Sketch, Mockplus). Experience working in Agile/Scrum development processes and learning HTML, CSS, and Javascript for rapid prototyping are also helpful.In today’s workplace, both hard and soft skills are equally important. If you are a career changer, you will find the following soft skills you have honed to your benefit.

What’s the difference between UX and UI?

UX and UI design are often used interchangeably (which is wrong), but they are two different career paths. While both UX and UI design focus on the end-user, there are some basic differences between the two. It may be best summed up by Web Developer Da...

What is a UX / UI designer?

If they are two separate roles, why are there job postings for UX / UI designers? Sometimes these are considered two separate fields — UX focusing on research and ideation and UI focusing on aesthetics and branding — but, they are both essential in product design.UX and UI designers work in tandem, and some companies may hire one person to complete both roles. This is dependent on the industry and company structure, but there may be a good reason for it, as explained below. Additionally, it’s imperative that UX designers understand UI and vice versa.To this end, UX designers with an understanding of interface design and UI designers with knowledge of user-friendly design can integrate their knowledge into their work. This leads to better ideas, more efficient use of company time, and ultimately, a more marketable hire.Many companies are now hiring for positions that are UX / UI designer, as a combined role, because it’s important for one person to understand both sides of the equation in order to create the best digital product. Further, a company may want one person — a UX / UI designer — to shepherd the digital product through the entire creation process and this individual can act as a true advocate for the user since they have been involved with the product from the ideation phase.

What are the key skills of a UX / UI designer?

Overall, UX / UI designers are concerned with looking for ways to continually improve products and services. They may start from scratch, or they may make existing products easier to use, faster, or sleeker. To illustrate, how often does your favorite ap...

Is UX / UI a good career?

In short, yes.UX / UI is a good career field to get into if you are both a technical and creative thinker. You also get to help people as you improve the products they use on a daily basis!But those aren’t the only reasons to get into UX / UI design. Here are some of the top reasons why UX / UI is a good career.Learn more: 7 Tip for your First UX / UI Design Job

What is the salary of a UX / UI designer?

* salary data is included in the following paragraph.The salary of a UX / UI designer varies depending on experience and location. Entry-level UX designers in the United States can expect $77,108 (includes salary, bonuses, and overtime pay) according to Zip Recruiter.On average, UX designers earn a salary of $113,109 per year, according to Glassdoor. UI designers earn slightly less at $96,278, while junior positions pay $61,458.

How do I become a UX / UI designer?

There is no one way to become a UX / UI designer. If you have a passion for user-centric design, you could self-teach, attend a bootcamp, or even go back to school. In any case, you’ll need to learn a set of technological skills and build a design portfolio.Learn more about becoming a UX / UI designer.

Self-teaching

If you’d like to learn UX / UI design on your own, you’ll need some self-discipline and plenty of time. With those two things in place, you’ll find plenty of free tutorials online and books on the subject. You could even meet other designers locally for advice.

The pros of self-teaching UX / UI design

The cons of self-teaching UX / UI design

Bootcamps

Digital bootcamps are popping up online, offering courses that run from as little as a few weeks to over six months. Bootcamps like Flatiron School’s Product Design program are the most practical way to gain the skills and experience you need quickly. They vary in time commitment and expectations and are much like an intense semester in college.

The pros of UX / UI design bootcamps

The cons of UX / UI design bootcamps

College

If you’re starting college or would like to obtain a Master’s degree, there are a number of available programs to kickstart your career. Schools offer degrees in Human-Computer Interaction, Human-Centered Computing, Interaction Design, and Information Architecture, to name a few.

The pros of going to college for UX / UI design

The cons of going to college for UX / UI design

If you’re interested in becoming a UX / UI or product designer, Flatiron School’s product design course teaches you everything you need to know to launch a career as a full-stack designer.

Frequently asked questions about UX / UI design

What is a UX / UI designer?

A user experience (UX) designer works on a team to create products that provide meaningful and enjoyable experiences for users. They are concerned with the entire process of product design, from branding to design to useability.UI (user interface) designers build interfaces in software or other computerized devices. They focus primarily on the overall look, style, and visuals users interact with to complete a task.When you combine both of these into one position — a Product Designer — you get what we call a full-stack designer.

What does a UX / UI designer do?

UX / UI designers work across all industries to create and improve both digital and physical products. They participate in research and design in order to create user-friendly products and services. UX Designers are focused on the overall user experience, whereas UI Designers are responsible for the visual aspects that users interact with.

Is UX / UI in demand?

UX / UI design skills are highly sought after. In fact, they are some of the top skills in 2021 as cited by LinkedIn. As more people spend more time online, businesses are shifting to be able to serve these users. This means companies are increasingly looking for UX, UI, and product designers.

Does UX design require coding?

UX design does not require coding. However, it’s always helpful to have a basic understanding of code, including HTML and CSS. Knowing a little code helps you communicate with developers and develop realistic expectations. There are also instances in which learning to code may benefit your career, such as at a startup, where you may be required to perform multiple roles.

How can I get into UX / UI design?

You can get into UX / UI design by reading articles, watching videos, and reading popular books. Although you can continue to self-teach, a bootcamp is a great option. At a bootcamp, you will quickly learn the skills you need in a simulated work environment, build a design portfolio, and receive career coaching.

Is UX / UI design a good career?

Yes, both UX and UI design are good career paths. They are both in-demand careers that pay well with a good job outlook. They are also great for the altruistic because you can do what you love while helping people with everyday challenges! Schedule a 10-minute chat with admissions to learn more about the product design program at Flatiron School.