Whether you’re a graphic designer who’s considering becoming a UX designer, or if you’re a UX designer who’s considering making a switch to graphic design, you should know that you can transition seamlessly. In fact, it can be even easier than you think. Here are some tips to help you start on your way.
Research is a key part of the UX design process
Whether you are building a new website, re-branding a product, or developing a new mobile app, UX research is a key part of the design process. It can help you create a user-centric product, boost user engagement, and eliminate design costs. Besides, great UX research gives you confidence in your UX decisions.
UX researchers conduct surveys, interviews, and other research methods. The insights from these studies are then evaluated and used to generate the most appropriate UX design solution. These methods may be quantitative or qualitative. For instance, qualitative research can help you understand the motivations and motivational factors behind a particular decision. In the case of a web app, for example, a qualitative research study may reveal which users are likely to visit a particular page.
A quantitative study of user behavior can help you to identify pain points and design opportunities. This may include conducting a customer survey. Identifying pain points is important because they allow product teams to identify potential solutions.
Wireframes
Creating a wireframe is an important part of the UX design process. These simple, black and white layouts help you visualize your design ideas and make it easier to make changes. They also make it easier to gather feedback from users. They are used in the early stages of a project to create a blueprint of how the site should look and function.
A wireframe is a visual representation of an interactive web application or mobile app. It contains the main structure of the app, as well as the navigation paths and functional elements. It allows you to create prototypes that can be shared with clients or developers. It is also a great way to demonstrate a design idea.
Wireframes are typically created with a pencil and paper, but you can also use software such as Figma. These tools allow you to create interactive wireframes that can be used to demonstrate how users interact with your website or application.
High-fidelity vs iterative problem-solving
Whether you’re a UX designer or a member of a cross-functional team, you might have heard the terms ‘high-fidelity’ and ‘low-fidelity’ used. These terms refer to the level of detail in a prototype.
High-fidelity prototypes are usually close to the final product, whereas low-fidelity prototypes are used for the first couple of iterations. Iterative prototyping allows teams to develop a more refined user experience with each iteration.
During the prototyping process, UX designers often create wireframes. Wireframes help designers map out products and their features. Typically, wireframes have simple lines or boxes.
High-fidelity prototypes look and feel like the real thing, and they can be interactive. They are used to test user interactions, user flows, and UI components.
Hi-fi prototypes can also be used to test overall solution functionality. They are useful assessment tools, and allow teams to make tweaks before final design approvals.
High-fidelity prototypes usually contain the same content as the live product, and they can be used for user testing. They are useful in minimizing human error.
Organization
Whether you’re new to UX design or just looking for a career change, finding an organization for UX designers is a great way to make connections. Many professional organizations for UX designers offer mentorship and networking opportunities to help you learn and develop your skills.
Some organizations for UX designers are online, while others are more local. Joining a local group or online community can help you build your network and learn about new trends.
Another way to stay up to date with the latest UX design trends is to read industry-related articles. These articles provide an insight into different challenges, as well as the process of UX design.
Attending relevant conferences can also help you get a better understanding of the field. You can also read books about UX design, or follow UX designers on social media sites. These sources can help you stay current and competitive in your career.
You can also develop a portfolio of work. This can be done through internships or personal projects.