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How I Became a User Experience Designer Personal Experiences
This is the story of Richard who studied graphic design with us at Blue Sky Graphics and then progressed to the more advanced UX design course. He is now a successful UX UI designer, thanks to the tutors at BSG, he exclaims what is means to be a good UX UI designer.
The aim of good user experience is to assist users in doing what they want to do while dealing with your business.
It might be tempting to focus solely on specifics that help convey what you want people to know (such as product information) and what you want them to do (such as pressing the “buy now” button). However, the purpose of good UX is to assist users in doing what they want to do while dealing with the business.
You should build a good UX that arranges all of your material and experiences in a manner that is appealing to people while having your audience’s feelings in mind. People are more likely to hang around and become consumers if the UX of your platform or service makes them feel good.
Grab some sticky notes and follow these four measures to build a crowd-pleasing UX:
Step 1: Get started
Consider yourself a future buyer. What acts do they like to take on your website or app? They may want to find content, watch videos, leave feedback, study goods or services, and maybe make a purchase, for example.
Make a list of any of these acts on different sticky notes. Then, organise such acts into a user flow, or the order in which future users will perform them. Because certain activities on your web or in your app can occur several times, you may need to create duplicate sticky notes.
Make sure that each operation can be done in no more than five steps. To “make a purchase,” for example, people will need to:
It should be noted that a move does not always imply a single key. In this case, for example, phase 3 necessitates several clicks, such as choosing a product’s colour and applying it to a basket.
Step 2: Get emotional
Then, using various coloured sticky notes, plot out the thoughts or sensations you want people to experience as they complete an event. For example, as visitors arrive at your homepage, you may want them to feel encouraged, enthusiastic, and inquisitive. You would even expect them to be pleased and comfortable when they make a buy.
Your UX can elicit these various emotions by combining shapes, colours, navigation, text, or sounds. The best combination of elements is determined by your brand’s identity, sound, and style, as well as your target audience.
Assume you own a spa with a luxury brand identity, and you want visitors to your website to feel relaxed and peaceful. Instead of heavy music and neon lights, you will definitely use soothing sounds (or none at all) and a sleek style.
Step 3: Begin sketching
You are now ready to design each page or frame of your website or app. This can be done on a whiteboard or a notepad. This will give you a clearer idea of which actions ought to take place on which websites, and which items will assist people in completing those actions.
For example, if a spa wishes clients to be able to quickly choose their favourite treatment type from the webpage, the sketch on that website should have buttons for all four categories: massages, manicures, body treatments, and facials.
You can use the UX flow you built on sticky notes and drawings as an outline to construct your web or app, whether you do it yourself or hire a designer and developer.
Step 4: Do an early test
How do you know if you have built a positive user experience? By checking often and early, and making corrections as required.
You should do pre-launch customer interface testing if you have the funds. This method of study provides input on usability from users who are inclusive of the target audience. A/B checking (comparing two separate UX versions at the same time) with your platform or app will also help you decide which UX best helps you and your consumers achieve your goals.
If you do not have extra funds, you can still conduct informal A/B testing during the sticky note process. Create various action and flow options and test them with friends and co-workers. Inquire about which actions and flows perform well for them. Request that they demonstrate how they will carry out each operation. Be sure to ask open-ended questions that evoke more than yes or no replies, and keep consistency and reliability in mind.
Designing a good user interface does not have to be difficult and you do not have to be a tech whiz to plan out user-friendly experiences. What you need are some sticky notes to record future customers’ behaviours and reactions, a whiteboard or notepad to map out how the web or software could function, and an ability to test often and early.
Get guidance from others and do not be afraid to show your vulnerability
A good UX designer approaches problems collaboratively rather than strategically, and they confess whether they do not know the solution or are mistaken. In other words, they demonstrate weakness and are forthright about it. They ask questions and understand more, and they respect other people’s ideas and views before proceeding. They need inspiration and suggestions from engineers, project managers, and others.
Get a Job
You have done your research, sought a coach, enrolled in a class (or two), and completed at least a few real-world assignments to develop your portfolio. This means you are able to go out there and look for work. Interact with as many employees as possible and as many different industries as possible. Attend engineering conferences and make sure to leave a business card or contact information for attendees. It is absolutely fine to check in with your mentor at this stage to see if he or she knows about any opportunities.
You may also inquire inside your own specialist network. Assuming your portfolio is solid, you should be able to secure at least a handful of interviews and possibly more than one bid with a little luck and legwork. You have made it – congratulations on becoming a UX designer.
Never Stop Learning
You should never miss studying in the field of UX architecture, and you should never feel like you have “arrived.” To continue to thrive, you must continue to challenge yourself by learning new resources and keeping up to date with ever-changing user needs and demands. Often, do not hesitate to repay the favour by mentoring someone else. You never know, the person you are mentoring could be the one that gets you the next UX design job.
