UI Designer: Daily Tasks and Skills Needed
In a world where social distancing and remote work are the new normal, you’re now so convinced that you want job security by becoming a UI Designer. Well, that’s a nice choice as we’re relying on digital products and services more so than ever. The demand for UI designers is evidently clear just simply by checking on the myriad interfaces we engage within our everyday life.
To get to know more about it, you’re in the right place! Afdolash Nur Kaffah, one of the UI Designers at IDN Media, invited us to talk more about the role: what skills one should have to be a UI Designer. For those interested in exploring the role any further, keep scrolling through the article below!
1. What a UI Designer does
The purpose of any interface is to help users have their goals achieved. As a UI designer, it isn’t just about creating something beautiful to look at, but it’s about understanding the user’s mindset, predicting what they will want, and making the design as user-friendly as possible. It’s done by transforming the possible concepts initiated by the Product team into interface prototypes. “The prototypes will be either low-fidelity — a quick and easy way to translate high-level design concepts into testable products, or high-fidelity — a prototype handed to the Engineering team. This will be turned into codes and is pretty close to the ready-to-release version of a product,” mentioned Afdolash.
2. Basic skills needed
What about the basic skills needed by a UI designer? Well, first of all, they should really have their eyes “open” at all times, are very good at problem-solving, and do check on every little detail. A UI Designer should for great solutions — not just visually, but also in terms of what works well technically. It’s evoking positive feelings for the users, in the end. “A UI Designer has got to understand the target audience and the needs, the moods of the brand/company he/she is working for.”
In addition, communication skills should also be taken into account. A UI Designer has to deal a lot with other departments: UX, Product, Engineering, and so on. “He/she should have the ability to explain their designs to all the stakeholders involved. As we all know, when receiving critics and suggestions, communication skills are highly and fundamentally important as well.”
3. Closely related to the Product and Engineering teams
Developing a product, the UI Designer will work with the Product team and the Engineering team. He explained, “Initially, we will receive several requirements from the Product team. Right after that, the UI Designer will create a relevant interface design, which later will be handed to the Engineer team. A problem may just be found during the handover process, it’s why the UI Designer must also be able to provide a solution.”
Afdolash added, “Technically, a UI Designer will take care of user flow, too. It’s a visual flowchart observing the motions and interactions created. It begins with the consumers’ entry point on the product, like when the consumers firstly arrive at the homepage, and ends with the final action or outcome, like signing up for a new account. The flowchart enables designers to evaluate and optimize the user experience. It’s why UI teams are always interconnected with the UX ones. They get their heads together to increase the consumer conversion rates.”
