What is UX/UI design and what does a UX/UI designer do?
Although we may not realize it, we live surrounded by user experiences, both in the analog and digital worlds. It is very rare that a product has not been designed based on a reflection on our behavior with a service, on the way in which we seek information and on our perception. That talking about experience design is talking about the future is a fact, with the UI UX design services profile being one of the most in-demand jobs today, with an annual growth of 18% according to studies such as CNNMoney .
What is a UX designer
If you are one of those who have come this far after searching on Google for something like UX designer, what is it , we can answer you in a simple way by defining the UX Designer as the professional who looks for an easy, intuitive and friendly way to solve a problem based on the tastes, needs and opinions of users of a product or service. We refer, therefore, to the person in charge of designing a customer's experience in an optimal way.
Before continuing, it is important to differentiate between User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) , two disciplines that are usually confused, probably because they work hand in hand and because of the similarity of their acronyms. The reality is that UI refers to the creation of the interface, which can be graphical or developed mainly with languages such as HTML, CSS or Javascript, while UX focuses on usability, focusing on analysis and social relationships.
The professional in charge of the UI will focus on the design of the product, impacting the user's first visual impression, something that determines whether our website or application is to their taste, while the person in charge of UX focuses on usability and ease. navigation, creating certain emotions and sensations when using the interface. Another way of saying it: the UI designer is mainly in charge of the visual aspect of the interface, while the UX focuses on ensuring that the navigation and actions carried out by the user are consistent. The UI is in charge of deciding the user's journey while the UX focuses on the processes and actions that trigger use.
Skills of a UX Designer
In the hands of the UX Designer fall such important tasks as creating experiences that meet the needs of customers, improving their perception of the brand and creating a solid bond with its products. Think for a moment about apps like Netflix or Spotify, tools like Google Sheets or Zapier, and digital products like Google Home or Philips Hue. We assure you that behind all of them there is intense user experience work with the aim of making the use you make of each of them easy, intuitive, efficient and beautiful.
Creativity, empathy and listening skills are some of the most important characteristics that a good UX Designer must have to understand the user's context, the processes they undertake on a daily basis and their needs. Being a good observer is also essential to notice those details that escape us at first glance when using an application, without leaving aside business and communication skills, the latter being essential. Working on a good relationship with the rest of the team is essential, as well as researching everything related to usability and learning about software every day .
The specialization of a UX Designer
Depending on the size of the human team, a UX professional may need to develop in a specific role. One of them is the UX Researcher, who is responsible for analyzing users and helping them understand them by asking who they are, analyzing their behaviors and focusing on their needs through conducting interviews, surveys and research. User experience maps, usability evaluations and analytics reports are usually his main projects.
The UX Writer , for his part, is responsible for knowing and defining communication with the user, studying their language to learn how the product should speak so that it connects with the customer. The tone and communication strategy are usually your tasks, defining the content creation strategy and its presentation to the user.
Another path of specialization is Service Design , which seeks to create or improve existing services with the aim of making them more usable, useful and appealing , as well as more effective. Those dedicated to this work pursue the goal that both the company and consumers perceive that the company's services are the best.
Whatever the final destination of a user experience designer, a key piece of information to trust in this profession is provided by the report 'State of the Labor Market in Spain' , carried out by InfoJobs and ESADE , which determines that the vacant positions in The sector has grown by up to 560% in recent years, a fact that makes these professionals essential with companies increasingly aware of the importance of designing the best digital experiences.
Resources to get started in UX
Committing to practical, quality training is essential to entering the field, although we want to leave you with some initial recommendations to get you started. Some time ago we published a list of eight essential UI UX design agency books , something that will excite reading lovers. Trying an introductory course on Domestika or Coursera, binge-watching videos on channels like UXTips, and getting to know these tools for prototyping are some accurate steps to get started in the profession.