What Does a UI Designer Do?
While UI and UX Designers fit under the same category of User Interface Design, they each make up a different leg of the journey.
Firstly, the UI (User Interface) Designer creates the baseline of how a user interacts with a product. For example, a smartphone’s touch screen would be considered the User Interface. This is the way the audience interacts with a digital product. Therefore, the UI Designer helps to create and establish efficient use of interfacing technology.
Furthermore, in regard to the website and application design, the UI Designer works to make sure the digital interface is intuitive and proficient. This may involve creating buttons, spacing, images, and icons.
If you are looking for a designer to help implement user-friendly ideas for your app or website, you are looking for UI/UX Designer staffing.
What Does a UX Designer Do?
UX (User Experience) Designers start from the beginning. Firstly, they help envision and create how the overall product will work. They understand how the product is supposed to work and how it will reach the audience. Next, they come up with the most proficient way to instill this product.
For example, while the UI Designer may take the time to work out the coding and creation of buttons, the UX Designer was the one to come up with the idea.
Simply put, the UX Designer creates and designs the insides of the product, while the UI Designer works to create the appearance based on the UX ideas.
Average Salary
According to GlassDoor, the average salary for a UX Designer is $94,988 a year.
Example Responsibilities for UI/UX Designer Staffing
While the UI/UX Designer works on different steps of the User Interface Design process, their job descriptions are often similar. It’s a tricky subject, and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between the roles. Overall, the UI/UX Designer works to…
- Works with a team to support roadmaps and manage project overflow.
- Works alongside other UX/UI designers on a team.
- Reviews with the copywriter to approve design proposals.
- Partners with business analysts that fall under App Product Team or Development team.
- Walks through solutions with lead engineers. Reviews with stakeholders.
- Firstly, designs elegant, smart, and usable designs for web and mobile applications.
- Takes direction from product and design teams to ensure that we are leveraging our UX expertise properly.
- Maintains a human-centered design approach through rapid testing and iteration of concepts.
- Supports consistency across application experiences through the application of design systems and UX patterns.
- Supports development to ensure that design intent is communicated and understood and QA deliverables to identify and prioritize gaps.
Common Certifications and Skills for a UI/UX Designer
NN/g UX Certification
Provided by the Nielsen Norman Group, the UX certification shows that the candidate has expert knowledge of overall user experience creation. With this, the candidate shows the employer that they have experience and creativity surrounding how to create and run the user experience on a website. Overall, how a website connects and deals with users is the most important part of web design. This certification shows they have that knowledge.
Knowledge of Programming Languages
Due to being a creator of a site or application UX, UI/UX Design professionals will spend a lot of their time working with and using programming languages. Therefore, the candidate should have a strong basis in Java, JavaScript, Python, SQL, PHP, PowerShell, and C. If your company prefers a specific language, then you may look for that specific language in the candidate’s resume. There are plenty of certifications regarding each one.
Troubleshooting
Due to creating and looking over the company’s new site or app and back-end coding for issues, the candidate should be an expert at troubleshooting. Once the Designer goes about creating the site, the rest of their responsibilities will surround upkeep. Therefore, the professional should have expert troubleshooting skills, giving them the ability to quickly pinpoint and fix issues, keeping the website running smoothly.
Other Parallel Career Paths and Jobs
The Project Manager plans and executes multiple initiatives for a company. For example, when a company needs to implement a new solution, the Product Manager identifies, plans, and executes all aspects of the solution. Consequently, they oversee the complete lifecycle of the new initiative.
Software Developers are computer programmers who are well-versed in the latest computer languages. The developer designs and builds custom software systems for an organization. Moreover, the software can be developed to automate processes and make the company more efficient.
A Web Designer may also work on intricate parts of the company website. For example, a team of designers may develop the shopping experience while another team may work on the services of the company. It takes a group of talented Web Designers to put together the complete website of a company.