A good UI designer is not only creative – there is one trait that is even more important

Published:

July 13, 2022

However, there are so many more skills and traits that a good designer needs to have in order to craft an unforgettable visual experience. One of their top priorities should be the ability to understand the logic behind every application. That’s especially true for UI designers, because if their interfaces are not simple and intuitive enough, the users going through the design would get discouraged pretty quickly and leave the space as fast as they came.

To fully understand what I mean, let’s talk about UI design in the wider context for a while. Crafting these visual experiences should come hand in hand with the data provided by a UX designer. Of course, there are a lot of differences between UI and UX design, but we should never think of them as stand-alone units. They must work in perfect marriage, because if one of them lags behind, the other can’t compensate for that.

If you have an amazing UI design, but poor UX design, the interface might look great, but the user would get quickly discouraged as it would be difficult to use. The same goes for the opposite. Imagine having great functionality, but a terrible look – the user would react absolutely the same.

Therefore, understanding the logic behind every application is key. So, what data should a good UI designer have in order to create a well-built interface?

Who is the interface intended for?

You should always obtain as much information about the target user as possible. These data should be provided by a UX designer, so don’t hesitate to ask them away. And if you’re also a UX designer yourself, don’t underestimate the power of knowing your audience. In the marketing field, it’s common knowledge that the more you know your target group, the more you can personalize the final product. In the world of graphics, the same rules apply.

You should have a clear picture of the behavioral patterns and goals of your users, as well as of how and when they will use the product or interface.

Don’t hesitate to perform user interviews and surveys to clearly understand how they would like to interact with the interface. And before immersing yourself in designing the UI, use this information as the basis of your work.

What technologies is the application going to use?

Whether you’re building a user interface from scratch or just adding additional elements to an already existing one, you should always know about the technologies the application is built on. Nowadays, there are tons of them and it’s your responsibility to keep track of them so you know about their individual options, limits and rules.

A good UI designer works hand in hand with a developer, UX designer and really the whole team building the project. That way, everybody is on the same track, not only in terms of the used technologies, but the whole concept of the project as well.

And if you’ve been part of the team since the conceptualization phase, you can recommend the technologies and other aspects that will be included in order to reach a smooth execution of the creation process.

Is the majority of users viewing the project primarily on mobile or desktop?

Mobiles rule the digital world. And projects that are not prepared for the users who prefer browsing the internet using their mobile are losing their customers at the speed of light. It’s no wonder that mobile searches consist of about 60 % of all search volume, because nowadays you can take care of almost anything using a smartphone.

If you’re designing a mobile application, the device that it’s going to be viewed on is pretty obvious. But not everyone is thinking about mobile users when designing a web interface. Responsiveness is an absolute must and if, based on the data, you know that the design is going to be viewed primarily on smartphones, you need to reflect that.

One final tip

When designing your masterpiece, there are several things you should keep in mind. The points we have addressed will help you understand the logic behind every application. However, know that every project is different and the key to a successful execution lies in understanding its individuality.

But there is another thing that is universally true for every successful UI design. Intuitiveness.

If you want your interface to be intuitive, you have to look at it from the user’s point of view. What are the obstacles that could prevent them from finding something they need? What are the visual elements that could discourage the user from going through the interface in the first place?

An interface is intuitive when a user doesn’t need any training on how to use it. You have to include design patterns that are generally understood and colors, typography and iconography that are consistent. The interface should be primarily focused on the problem the user is trying to solve or question they’re trying to get an answer for. Building a intuitive design is a long process and you will need a lot of feedback to bring your project to perfection.

I hope we’ve clarified that without creativity, a UI designer would build lackluster interfaces that don’t speak to the user. But know that there is so much more than meets the eye. Building a successful design is not all about nice visual elements, but rather a deep understanding of the project from your part.

Wish you an amazing and super-creative day,
P.

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