Design is a broad and vague term. Design is broad because it covers a broad category. The number of responsibilities under the term designer is too great. Whether you are a web developer, a graphic designer, or an online store owner with a vision you will find your answers in this post.
Today, we will give you tips and resources to help you get started in user experience and user interface design, for completely free.
In the web industry, a bad design and cluttered website will easily distract potential customers from your online properties. Therefore, when planning a website design; Understanding the difference between user experience and the user interface is crucial for your success.
As an online store owner, if you want to hire someone to design your website and if your hires don't understand the difference between UI and UX, this could become a dead investment. No offence, just saying!
In today's web environment, you have often heard the terms user interface (UI) and user experience design (UX). Just because these two terms have a similar terminology does not mean that both terms have the same meaning. The most common misconception is that many people think that the user experience and user interface are the same, they can replace each other. In fact, the user experience is not dependent on the user interface, although it is affected. Today, the concepts of UX and UI are often used together. However, a professional designer should be able to master the answers to the question of what are the differences between UX and UI design.
Let's briefly list the differences between UX and UI design:
UI design, the issue of how a design interface will look and function for the user.
UX design, on the other hand, comes into play in the editing process of the interaction that this view will create with the user. It is the functioning and the logical design of the whole picture.
User Experience (UX) is Not a User Interface (UI)
Although both areas are about designing user interaction, user experience designers are the architects of great interactions; you can think of user interface designers as people who create more detailed, small interactions.
For example, when creating a user experience design, you must complete the steps to sign up for a news post. The person who successfully guides us through the whole process and makes the colour and design changes in the user interface designer.
UX and UI are two essential elements of a successful design. While neither alone is sufficient for success, they work wonders when used together. UX and UI design principles should be used together from the first time a design begins to emerge until it reaches the user.
Let's consider a desk.
What does this desk look like?
Where are the racks?
How many drawers does it have?
What colours are used inside and outside?
The creator of these design features is the UI designer.
But, are the shelves of this table designed in line with user habits?
Are the designed drawers useful, do they satisfy the user?
Or does it meet all needs?
How appropriate are the colours used for this product?
The person who will answer these questions by applying the necessary measurements is the UX designer.
The concepts of UX and UI, which should be considered together to ensure user interaction, are in an indispensable position for all designs to be implemented. Considering that the users express all their satisfaction in line with their design features and their experiences, the importance of these two concepts is clearly understood.
Now I can hear you ask questions like "where should I start or how should I proceed?".
Before explaining the 7 steps, I would like to share with you the tools necessary to help you become a UI / UX designer:
Image Editing
- GIMP
Vector Graphics
- Vectr
UI / UX Design and Prototyping
- Figma
- Adobe XD
- Sketch
My personal opinion would be to get Adobe Creative Cloud: All applications. Monthly subscription is affordable, you will have an interface that you're familiar with in all apps, no confusions or complications. Besides, you'll have everything that you need or you might need in the future, its all in one.
Now that you've learned these tools, here are 7 perfectly efficient steps to help you get started to become a UI / UX designer:
1. Learn the Basics
Get the theory (books), view the platform-specific design language documentation. Surveys; make sure that the target audience is selected correctly, and opinions should be taken from the determined audience as a result of surveys, forums and interviews. Users' problems, needs, habits should be well listened and analyzed.
Usage scenarios should be poured into flow charts and an optimum scenario should be revealed. The optimal idea should be put into digital media or on paper in sketches.
If you ask me, it all starts with a sketch. So, here you go:
Improvements and arrangements can be made at this stage. Get the opportunity to see the skeleton live by wireframing the application, perform your tests. At this stage, the design to be improved on functionality is still in the background.
2. Learn Your Tools
Design tools
User testing tools
Prototype tools
Animation tools
Collaboration vehicles (zeppelin etc.)
Visuality: Competitors serving a similar purpose are analyzed and compiled. Compare your ideas and continue with the design with the best Experience / Visuality ratio. Select or create items that will be the identity of the application: colour palette, typography, icons and illustrations, name, logo etc.
3. Join Communities
Check out popular works, upload your own. Apart from the community sites specified in the toolset, you can participate in various design events through applications such as meetup, expand your network and exchange ideas. Hierarchy; the user should not get lost in the application, and should not think too much about where to look for a feature.
Criticize your favourite and least-liked apps. Try to find their mistakes.
Keeping a sceptical approach will always help you grow.
4. Stay Up To Date
Follow companies' design blogs (Google, Uber, Microsoft…), independent community and authors on some blog spots. A good design doesn't necessarily mean to be extraordinary and so meaningful. Keep it simple unless asked contrary. Simplicity always wins.
5. Consistency
You should create designs that comply with the basic design rules of the target platform and user habits.
Avoid style changes during the creation process. That's why it is important to sketch your idea down and draw strict style guidelines before starting the digital process.
6. User Control
Give the feeling that the control is with the user. The possibility of undoing the error (undo), advanced filtering options for the search feature, keyboard shortcuts, touch gestures etc. Confirm; "Are you sure?" To the user before major or irreversible transactions.
7. Understand Processes and Rules
Review and record projects, processes, career tracks, checklists, methodologies, design practices, design principles, design systems. Design with your users who may have use barriers in mind.
There you have it. Now you can identify the differences between UI and UX design, know that UX and UI are integral and have 7 steps ahead to follow your dreams on becoming a UI & UX designer.
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