UI + UX site design (more precisely, its interface) is designed to make it a really effective tool for the business owner: the simpler, more convenient, more understandable the site is built - the easier it is for the user to perform a targeted action on it
Printed 2021-09-20
UI + UX website design (more precisely, its interface) is designed to make it a really effective tool for the business owner: the simpler, more convenient , more understandable the site is built - the it's easier for the user to perform a target action on it (for example, buy something).
Let's give the floor to the professional. Johan Rons talks about being a professional UI / UX designer and gives tips on how to succeed in this area.
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Web and mobile applications 
Sites versus applications: who will take it?
When you create a design for a native application for a platform (for example, iOS or Android), you must adhere to certain rules. On the contrary, when you create a web project, you are not required to follow certain recommendations. Usually, your client has certain graphic recommendations for his brand, which determines how the project should look like in the end.
However, these recommendations are aimed at promoting websites, which does not always lead to decent solutions in the field of user interface. Fonts are selected for marketing reasons, and not for convenience. Colors can be bright and catchy, which works well in an advertising company, but is not suitable for using the application day after day. Therefore, these recommendations should be interpreted properly.
Example of working out ui -ux app interface design
There are several guidelines for web pages. You can claim that a web page is a melting pot of various styles. If you are doing something that looks more like an application than a website, you should learn about commonly used frameworks like Bootstrap and ZURB Foundation. The development environment will determine what your project should look like, because you should not reinvent the wheel. And this is probably good.
In our company, we prefer Bootstrap, which provides suitable sizes for such typical user interface elements as buttons, information tables, and modal windows.
In web design, you will often be constrained by the technical features of the network. Previously, it was quite difficult to apply visual decorations like rounded corners on a website. Today, everything has changed - you are free to create a user interface using many shadows, animations, transitions, and even 3D. The designer should control how the result looks in the browser. I have not seen UI designers who are involved in application programming, but a designer who creates HTML and CSS web applications is not such a rare beast. If you can code your design, you will have an advantage over those of your colleagues who cannot do this. In addition, in my opinion, this is the only way to understand how the network works.
Web standards and restrictions
Soon you will find that not all the “cool things” that you can do are supported in every browser. This is the reality of website design . It's useful to follow such basic principles as progressive optimization, when you download content in the highest quality, thinking about how it can get worse.
Recently, meeting expectations has become popular. It is necessary to distinguish between “bad” and “good” browsers, while providing “bad” limited functionality. This, however, applies only to content sites.
When it comes to applications, people choose a limited number of leading browsers, making their development easier. Unfortunately, this refers to the situation in 1996 when you needed a certain browser to see the content.
Expanding your skillset
So, how do you stay on the same wavelength as the fast-growing web industry and expand your skillset? Let's take a look at a few different ways ...
1. Knowledge of the platform
Modern interface design: web is a single network of devices and systems
Most of the designer's work is knowledge of the platform. You should be aware of the different operating systems and how people use them. We, as designers, often use Apple products, and in this case it is easy to forget that most people use Windows computers when they actually get in touch with the results of our work.
I am sure that we can really understand what only by using it yourself. I prefer to use my macbook to create a design, but I spend a lot of time on various other platforms. I even have several copies of Windows installed on my laptop. I also tested the new Windows 10 system using the Microsoft internal program to detect changes in the user interface.
Also, I regularly buy new components to check them in practice. I bought an Apple Watch just to test the platform. And then he sold this watch because he did not feel that they had brought much to my life.
In addition, the network itself can behave as an independent operating system. It develops without stopping: every week several innovations are introduced into each browser. It's incredibly important to know about the technical aspects of browsers, especially when it comes to CSS or graphic features. You need to know what SVG and WebGL are, and how you can use the Web Animations API.
2. Back to basics
What we are fighting today is not so radically different from what we were fighting 20 years ago. There are many worthwhile tips in books. Try reading Defensive Design for the Web by Jason Fried and Matthew Linderman and Don't Make Me Think by Steve Crag for Beginners.
If you don't know about concepts like modality and operational potential, you need to sit down for reading. You should be able to explain what Fitt's law is.
3. UI UX in games and movies
The UI for Oblivion (2006) contains much more decorative elements than the Skyrim (2011) interface
As a designer, I often look for new ideas for my work in various sources. And I find a lot of inspiration in games. Some of them are quite complex, and interface designers have to solve complex tasks while working on business projects.
Games can also symbolize trends. The minimalism present in Colin McRae Rally reminds me of the direction of development of iOS 7. The look that is now in fashion in the field of user interface design appeared in games many years ago. The jump from skeuomorphism to the unvarnished functional interface and the “empty design” was also present in the games. Compare Oblivion 2006 with Skyrim 2011. Both games are RPGs from the same series, but different in their impressions.
The futuristic interfaces in Marvel movies like Iron Man are also an inspiration to me. This is not an easy-to-apply example, but these films make me think about computing systems. Do we want the future of screens? Or do we want them to disappear? This is probably a good question to discuss in a bar full of designers.
Hone your workmanship
Your growth as a designer will go through hard work, perseverance, talking with colleagues and reading terrible reviews. About a year ago, in the New York Times, I read about people starting in the 80s who are still honing their skills. I feel like I'm just getting started. What about you?