UI (User Interface) and UX (User experience) are two words that are commonly used in most industries. But what do they actually mean? Well, to put it simply, UI and UX both have a great impact on your user’s experience with the product or service you offer.
The primary objective of UX design is to make an interface or user experience easier or better for the user. Designers have access to a much greater amount of information about the users, their needs, and preferences and can use this information to make the experience more enjoyable. According to CNN Money, UX jobs are one of the most demanding and sort-after careers, with an annual growth rate of 18%.
What is a User Interface?
An interface is a digital representation for an object. It plays an important role in communication between the software (computer) and a person(User). A GUI allows the users to communicate with the computer or other hardware devices by means of visual icons (GUI), instead of special characters.
What is User Experience?
The method the design teams employ to produce products that offer the customers meaningful and pertinent experiences is known as user experience (UX) design. UX design includes components of design, branding, usability, and function in the design of the full process of obtaining and integrating the product.
The abilities you need to become a UI/UX designer are the following:
Visual Communication Design
The ability to create attractive and aesthetically pleasing designs. This includes the ability to create design solutions that are not only functional, but also appealing and easy on the eye.
User Experience
The ability to analyze and evaluate user needs before designing anything. You must know what a user is looking for and what they need in order to accomplish their goals with your design solutions. You must be able to see why or how something will help the user with their goals, and then present them with options about how they can achieve these goals without being too complicated or frustrating for the user.
Analytical Thinking
The ability to examine problems and analyze solutions objectively. This includes fast thinking and a wide knowledge of different areas of design. You must be able to see design problems from a strategic perspective, and how you can solve them with the tools you have available for looking at them.
Thoroughness
The ability to do your research thoroughly. You must know everything about the area you are designing for, not just what is necessary for the design solutions you are creating, but also any other aspects that may effect the relationship with your users or their goals.
Creativity
The ability to come up with new and exciting solutions for solving problems. You must be able to do this creatively and cohesively enough draw people’s attention to your solutions without the fear of the solutions being rejected because they are too crazy or complicated for the user.
Communication
The ability to communicate your design ideas effectively and clearly with your users and other stakeholders. You must be able to explain not only what you want to do, but why you are doing it, who is doing it, and how you are doing it as well as why someone else should care about what you are doing or how they should help you do it.
Creative Problem Solving
The ability to solve problems without being stumped or confused. You must be able to create solutions for problems that are simple and logical, and you must know how to make your solutions easy for others to understand and follow.
There are many other general abilities that you need in order to become a good UI/UX designer, including the ability to collaborate with other designers and developers, the ability to work well with clients, the ability to remain calm under pressure, have an eye for detail as well.
Technical Skills Required for UI/UX Designing are as Follows:
- Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator expertise are crucial to possess.
- Both qualitative and quantitative user research abilities are unavoidably required.
- User story, paper prototype, user journey, persona, logo, and IXD map sketching abilities are excellent and absolutely necessary. There are several UI UX designing courses available that can help you succeed as a professional in this sector.
- Technical know-how is essential for designing metrics for usability tests.
- However, it is not necessary to have knowledge of web programming utilizing HTML, CSS, and occasionally JavaScript and PHP. But it might provide you an advantage over other competitors.
- Excellent data analysis skills are required.
- It’s beneficial to have a solid understanding of the layout, architecture, interactivity, and navigation of various development frameworks and user interfaces
Conclusion
UI/UX designing is one of the sought-after careers these days. Young creative minds are getting into this sector as there are growing opportunities. Starting your design career off right is to studying UX design at a trust-able institute should be your first step towards getting into the sector.