UX Design Notes

UI vs UX Design

• UI (User Interface) Design: Focuses on the visual elements of a software's front-facing screen (buttons, icons, color palettes).
• UX (User Experience) Design: Encompasses UI design but includes user research, feature selection, and overall user experience.

Importance of Psychology and User Research

• Understanding user psychology and conducting user research are vital in UX design.
• User research helps designers create software usable for various demographics.
• User research gives design purpose by identifying who will use the product and in what context.

Laws of UX and Material Design

• Familiarize yourself with the Laws of UX (e.g., aesthetic usability effect, Hick's Law) and material design content for design principles.

Portfolio Building

• Start with existing apps: Redesign them based on user reviews to improve functionality and address pain points.
• Redesigning existing app helps learn about information architecture, wireframing, and prototyping.
• Look for inspiration in everyday frustrations to create unique app concepts for your portfolio.
• Utilize available online resources (Figma Community, Flat icon, Pexels) effectively for icons, shapes, and stock photos.

Networking and Seeking Help

• Ask for help and advice from experienced designers on LinkedIn.
• Build relationships with designers in desired industries or companies.
• When applying for jobs, reach out to designers within the company for insights into the team and hiring process.

Design Platforms

• Figma is becoming the industry standard; proficiency is often required in job listings.
• Practice by replicating existing app designs in Figma, Sketch, or WXD to learn platform basics.