The key task of a UX designer is to understand how the product interacts with the user. Its important role is to allow the user to move from one step to another logically and intuitively. For example, when using the interface of a banking application, if you do not immediately know the exact payment method, the user experience will be poor, and the designers did not try to make the product user-friendly. Designers consider different approaches to solving a specific user problem and choose the most appropriate solution in terms of speed, convenience, and logic using the UX skills matrix. The designer must understand exactly what steps the user performs, what tasks he has to perform, and how easy is the path from submitting a request to receiving a result. Much of a UX designer's job is focused on figuring out the problems that users face and exploring ways that users can solve those problems. Designers research to better understand their target audience and what they want from a space. After collecting all the received data, Cieden specialists create and evaluate prototypes of user interface design projects.
Key Responsibilities of UX Designers
UX designers' solutions include researching competitors, customers, and their requests. Prototyping, testing, and collaboration with UI designers are extremely important processes. UX designers must carefully track goals, analyze and hone in on key opportunities to improve customer experience. The key tasks of UX designers are:
- Careful analysis of competition, customers, and research of customer expectations;
- Creation and testing of prototypes;
- Active cooperation with UI designers and user interface developers;
- Painstaking tracking of the processes of achieving the set goals regarding the development of the UX design of the software product;
- Analysis and search for effective ways to improve user interaction.
What key skills do UX designers need?
This is a profession in which the following qualities are very important:
- Communication skills;
- Analytical thinking;
- Understanding of all the tools for creating a creative, unique design solution.
This work can be done by people who are interested in sociology and psychology, as well as modern technologies and their development.
Requirements for high-quality UX/UI design
The interface should be clear, and the text and structure should help you achieve your goals. The interface should not be cluttered with tooltips, pop-ups, and animations. Ask yourself: "What do I need here? This helps the user to focus on a specific element. Design elements are easy to recognize, even when a user sees your site for the first time. Make the user interface intuitive. A well-thought-out and modern interface instantly responds to user actions. Whether the payment was made, whether the request reached the administrator, and whether the message was sent or not. Maintain consistency between all parts of your website and applications. Interface elements (menus and sliders) should behave the same on all pages. Create a visually appealing interface that your users will enjoy working with. Nothing should distract the user and prevent him from solving an important task for him. In addition to the external appeal, a well-thought-out interface saves users time and gets them where they want to go with minimal effort. Even with the most complex user interface, no user is immune to errors. Pay attention to the message that appears in the event of a malfunction. This saves money, and time and builds customer loyalty in the event of an error.
Important skills that an experienced, qualified UX designer should master perfectly
To do their job effectively, UX designers need to understand what a specific audience wants from a specific product and how they see the final design. The key ability to perform user testing and analyze research is particularly useful. Information architecture is about organizing information in a way that makes it easier for users to understand. It's about how knowledge is created, presented, and personalized. Information architecture is actively used for the development of websites, programs, and software.
Wireframes are screen diagrams of each interface. Their key purpose is to show how something works, not how it looks. Wireframes define all the key elements that should be present on each page. Wireframes contain all the necessary interface components for possible interaction and are usually designed in gray with rectangles and lines. Detail the information, content, and controls displayed on each page of the system interface. Wireframe also already highlights various UI elements such as buttons, images, headings, and text. Prototypes allow designers to test functionality. They are effective in helping to see compatibility between the system and its users before developers and designers start creating the final product.
Prototypes allow designers to test both site functionality and overall navigation. After identifying a problem, UX designers study and thoroughly analyze that problem to create a design that meets business and user goals. UX designers must be able to prototype quickly and efficiently. Design is very graphic, so UX/UI designers must master the language of visual communication. Visual communication skills include an understanding of a variety of concepts that a designer must thoroughly understand. User interface design is a form of graphic design, and it works on the principles of graphic design. User interface design is not only about the appearance of a product but also about its character and usability.
UX or User Experience is the sum of all the reactions and emotions experienced by the users of your product. UX is user interaction design. This term is most commonly used for digital products such as websites, and mobile or desktop applications, but it is a very broad term that can be applied to physical products and services. UX designers are responsible for designing the customer experience. Their main goal is to effectively and quickly improve the functionality and usability of the product, to offer an easy-to-use product, and to increase user satisfaction with the use of the product by ensuring the right interaction between the user and the product. Before designing a solution, conduct a needs analysis to find out what your future users want. UX designers often work with digital products such as websites and web applications. After using a certain product, it is the UX designer who is responsible for making the customer think:
"I needed it! It allows me to do my job better, faster, and more conveniently" (The product meets the needs and expectations of the client).
"It was simple and easy to use" (Product in stock).
"Would use again and recommend."
UX designers are often confused with UI designers. There is a common myth that UX plays a role in the visual appeal of a product. But that's a UI designer's job. A front-end designer is responsible for creating the visible structure of a website, such as menus, content layout, graphic design, and photo galleries. A very important aspect of user interface performance is properly optimizing the tools that users use when using your website or app.
Tasks of a UX designer
The tasks of a UX designer are very diverse and largely depend on the company or project on which the designers work. However, typical tasks include: creating interaction design and all necessary layouts – which involves planning how the application will work when certain actions are performed. UX professionals also research and test various solutions with users. Test ideas and develop solutions. UX Designer works closely with graphic designers and programmers who implement their ideas. In some cases, it can also affect the development strategy of the software product.