Ux Ui Design Basics: A Comprehensive Overview for Beginners

Table of Contents

  • What is a UX/UI designer and what do they do?

  • How to start working as a UX UI designer?

  • What are the different types of user interface design?

  • Why do I need an online UX/UI portfolio?

If your design portfolio doesn't make an impression, you run the risk of not getting hired, regardless of how qualified you are. If creating a UX portfolio seems overwhelming to you, don't worry! We'll guide you through everything you need to know to create a UX portfolio. Cartera de UI UX design services that makes you stand out, even if you don't have real experience as a designer.

Today we're going to explore everything you need to know to get your Ux Ui design career off to a good start. Here you will find everything, from what is the difference between Ux and Ui design, to all the tips and tricks you need to start building your portfolio.

Dive into this guide for tips that will help you get your Ux Ui design career off the ground in no time.

What is a UX/UI designer and what do they do?

In the design world, it is common to find job postings for front-end and front-end designers that are used interchangeably or that combine both positions (i.e., a posting for a front-end designer also requires the employee have knowledge of user interface).

To understand the meaning of UI and UI design, we'll take a closer look at what it takes to be successful in these two fields.

Content designers are problem solvers

As a UX designer, you have to be able to solve problems, but even more importantly, you have to be able to anticipate problems before they occur. In other words, you have to be able to think about your target user, anticipate their needs, and then solve any problems you think they might encounter when using the product.

Ux designers get organized

Ux designers are often asked to make wireframes. Wireframes are essentially the blueprint for how a product, website, or app will work. To do this, it is very important to be able to organize information in an intuitive, clear and logical way.

Ux Designers Are Visually Minded

User experience designers are typically very visual in the sense that they may have a vision of how a product will work and then bring that vision to life through a series of steps.

Without a solid vision, UX design would be impossible.

UI designers are detail-oriented

As a user interface designer, you have to be detail-oriented. From the buttons used on a website's home page to the different colors used in creating an app, no detail is overlooked by a user interface designer.

Being detailed ensures that the design is coherent, visually appealing and, most importantly, easy to use.

UI designers are design-oriented

This shouldn't be too surprising considering the word "design" is in the job title, but it's worth noting that UI designers are very design-oriented. They understand color palettes, how different shapes fit together on a screen, and which layouts are most visually appealing to users.

If you're still unsure about the differences between Ux and Ui designers, think about it this way:

User interface design usually comes first and forms the basis of the design process. Identify and resolve user problems.

UI design comes next and focuses more on filling in the details to create an aesthetically pleasing interactive experience.

How to start working as a UX UI designer?

While some creative careers may allow for self-study or pure skill, Ux Ui designers tend to have more technical knowledge that is often best taught in some type of formal classroom, whether a university program or an online course.

In any case, following these steps and really diving into the world of Ux and UI design is extremely helpful when building your career in this technical field.

If you want to become a Ux Ui designer, follow these steps:

Paso 1: Aprender las habilidades

As we've said, you're not just going to be born with Ux Ui design skills. If you want to be successful in this field, you need to understand user research, wireframing, prototyping, and responsive web design.

If you don't want to spend years in a formal Ux Ui design program, you'll be glad to know that boot camps and online learning platforms are increasingly popular for learning these skills.

With these learning styles, you can get a hands-on, immersive experience, which is extremely useful for Ux Ui in particular. The more you study how users interact with products and web design, the better you will design.

Paso 2: Dominar el software

During your schooling, regardless of whether you take a formal course or a boot camp, you will likely use the software necessary for Ux Ui designers. This may include Sketch, Illustrator, Adobe XD, Axure, and Figma.

It is worth including this as its own step because mastering this software will be key to success in this career.

Think about it this way: A chef can receive all the training in the world, but if he doesn't know how to use basic kitchen tools, he will likely have a difficult time succeeding as a chef. The same analogy can be applied to aspiring Ux Ui designers.

Paso 3: Aplica tus conocimientos

Si quieres convertirte en diseñador Ux Ui, necesitas trabajar en tus propios proyectos para desarrollar tus habilidades.

Your skills will develop as you gain experience and work on more projects, which is why it is so important that you don't wait for projects to come to you, but take action yourself by working on your own projects.

Plus, working on your own projects will help you when it comes time to build your portfolio with content, which we'll talk about in the next step.

Step 4: Create your portfolio

Having a complete portfolio is essential for UI UX design services . However, keep in mind that just because we've used the word comprehensive doesn't mean you should fill your portfolio with every design project you've ever worked on. Instead, you should only use your best and most impressive works.

In fact, you can go a step further and specifically research the companies or clients you want to work with and tailor your portfolio to attract them.

Si desea obtener más información sobre la construcción de su cartera específicamente para el diseño Ux Ui, este guía de portafolios para aspirantes a diseñadores Ux Ui ayudará.

Paso 5: Empezar a aplicar

If you create your portfolio, put up a website and then simply wait for them to start giving you work as a Ux Ui designer, you will most likely be very disappointed.

Whether you want to work full-time with a company as a Ux Ui designer or are more interested in freelancing, it's absolutely essential that you start reaching out to potential clients.

Make sure you apply for positions that fit your skills. For example, if you come across a UI Engineer position, but you have no programming experience, it is not a job for you right now. Instead, work your way up the ranks and never stop learning new skills in this field.

By no means do you have to have it all figured out to start applying for jobs, but you'll probably find that building your skills slowly and methodically will lead to the best chances of success.

If you are interested in learning more about Ux Ui design, we highly recommend this in-depth guide to building your Ux Ui design career .

What are the different types of user interface design?

We've already gone over the differences between Ux and Ui design, but it's important to reiterate that these two design styles are distinct categories of design in and of themselves, so let's break down these two types of design even further.

Cuáles son las responsabilidades de un diseñador de Ux:

Análisis de la competencia

Análisis del cliente (es decir, ¿cómo interactúa el cliente con el producto?)

Estrategia de producto

Desarrollo de contenidos

Wireframing (i.e. clear product organization/vision)

Test the product/make appropriate changes

Product analysis/user experience tracking

What are the responsibilities of a user interface designer?

Understanding Ux design to develop a user-friendly interface

Análisis de clientes

Investigación sobre el diseño

Branding and storytelling

Animación

Responsive design (i.e. a website that works on desktop, tablet and mobile)

Work with developers if you don't have programming knowledge

To keep it simple, remember: Ux design focuses on the feelings associated with the design, while Ui design focuses more on the aesthetics and usability of the product.

Jobs closely related to Ux Ui Design

Although there are not necessarily different types of Ux and Ui design, there are many different job titles that are closely associated with both design styles. To break this down even further, let's go over some of the other common job titles you'll come across when searching for Ux and Ui design jobs:

Investigador de Ux

Although not as design-oriented, UX researchers offer key insights into the design process. They use surveys, interviews, and data analysis to uncover key findings related to how users interact with a product.

Estratega de Ux

If you have a background in design and experience in business strategy, this role may be right for you.

A Ux Strategist meets with clients to help them define business objectives, while proposing innovative solutions and business strategies to drive the product forward.

Desarrollador de Ux

This title is similar to Ux designer, but Ux developers typically deal with more technical aspects of the job. Specifically, Ux developers have visual skills as well as experience with computer programming (i.e., coding). In other words, Ux developers have to take into account how users think when using their website or app, but they also require web development knowledge.

Ux Arquitectos

If you have a wide range of skills that go beyond design, pursuing a career as a UX architect may be right for you. Ux architects also work in areas such as content development, social media, branding, and even business strategy. Basically, UX architects are team leaders who have their hands in everything to offer the client the best possible user experience.

User Interface Engineer

Again, user interface engineers must have both visual and computer programming skills. Basically, your goal is to create a well-designed and easy-to-use website. How is this different from UI design? Front-end engineers have the knowledge to not only design the website, but also to program it from scratch.

Competencies associated with Ux and Ui design

None of the following skills are necessary for Ux Ui design, but most aspiring designers who get involved in this field, also have some of these skills under their belt:

Professionals

Diseño visual o artes visuales

Programación informática

Brand

In other words, UX and UX designers have a background in visual arts or a more technical background in computer programming/software engineering. Again, neither is necessary, but they can help you if you are interested in this field.

Why do I need an online UX/UI portfolio?

While many jobs require a written application or resume, UI UX design services portfolios are the industry standard when it comes to applying for a product design job. An online portfolio acts as a place where a hiring manager can browse your past projects and get a sense of what it's like to work with you.

Your digital portfolio can even offer you the opportunity to be discovered by a recruiter through online marketing channels (such as LinkedIn, Behance, and Instagram) and your website's search engine optimization practices.