What is UX/UI design and how the product is developed?
We tell you who a UX/UI designer is, what he does, and what knowledge he needs.
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UX/UI design is one of the most popular careers nowadays. This article defines a UX/UI designer and explains why the field encompasses more than simply graphics. Having understood this topic, perhaps you will become more interested in this profession and begin to provide user experience design services after training in this profession.
What is UX/UI?
A UI/UX designer is a creative individual who creates user interfaces. UI and UX are two distinct design profiles, however most works in both domains are closely connected, and therefore they are completed by a single universal specialist.
This profession has a lengthy history. Any change in a product’s look (packaging, ergonomics, outdoor advertising) is considered UI/UX design since it makes the end product more easy for the consumer. The main distinction is that current UI/UX designers employ modern technologies.
A UI designer often collaborates with a UX designer, however, current developments indicate that both workers’ roles are being carried out by a single individual – a UI/UX designer.
UI means “user interface,” and UX means “user experience.” A UI designer is in charge of visualizing the program while also making it usable and useful. A UI specialist is in charge of selecting shapes, colors, and other characteristics so that the product is visually appealing to the user. The UX designer is primarily responsible for the functioning of the design. Bottom line: the program is simple and convenient to use.
Product development plan based on UX/UI design principles
Work on a project always starts with UX. The first thing to consider is how the user will navigate the site, what problems he may face during interaction, and how to direct him to the intended action.
Simultaneously, when working on UX, the designer must consider the project’s UI – that is, envisage how and what the site will look like. Any inadequacies in UX or UI will degrade the user experience.
Work on a website or application might vary depending on the team. However, it is feasible to distinguish generic project phases.
1. Collection of information
At this stage, do a quick chat with the consumer to get as much information as possible.
The major questions should be about the purpose of the site or application, how it will vary from existing offerings, and who the main rivals are. It is also crucial to express requests for an estimated structure, such as how many pages should be included, what must be presented, and what styles or design samples the customer prefers.
2. Analytics
Next, research the customer’s rivals; the list of organizations supplied by the client can subsequently be enlarged by conducting your searches. Task:
- Highlight their strengths and weaknesses;
- choose how the product differs favorably;
- figure out how to emphasize this in design.
Also at this stage, the target audience is identified and analyzed, and its behavior and how it makes decisions are described. In large companies, such information can be provided by the marketing department.
However, if the project is small with a limited budget, this work falls on the shoulders of the customer and the designer. For UX/UI, it is important to how exactly the audience makes purchases – rationally or emotionally – and what triggers they pay attention to: whether it is price, uniqueness, or availability.
3. Site structure
At this step, the site’s objectives are defined, and a Customer Journey Map of user pathways is constructed, depicting all possible user interactions with the resource. A website often has a single principal goal, such as shopping. However, CJM must support interaction with different pages.
4. Website prototype
A working version is a “skeleton” of a web page that demonstrates its key components. The prototype displays the information and objects that will appear on each screen, in addition to the logic that governs how the components interact with each other. The website’s future functionality is currently being designed.
Next come three key actions, such as working with content, design – UI, and testing.
As a rule, the content is supplied by the customer, but the UX/UI designer can give recommendations on what colors and styles to use for photos and videos so that they fit well into the concept. After the site is built, it needs to be transferred to a test domain to check how easy the interface is to use and to collect feedback. Typically, a focus group consisting of representatives of the target audience is recruited for this purpose.
