5 steps to improve your UI design

Summary

This video emphasizes the crucial role of mentorship and consistent feedback in developing UI/UX design skills. Viewers are encouraged to join a UX club for personalized critiques to enhance their work. The speaker outlines two strategies for portfolio management: focusing on UX design for tech companies or including visual design experiments for agency roles. Practical tips for improvement include gathering quality design references and practicing replication to build skills. Ultimately, strong UI design proficiency is portrayed as essential for success in UX roles, ensuring users grasp the importance of a well-rounded design approach.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mentorship is crucial for personal development in design, providing consistent feedback and tailored guidance.
• 📚 Building a mental library of design references enhances creativity and design intuition.
• 🖌️ Strong UI design skills are foundational for a successful career in UX design.
• 📊 Creating comprehensive UX case studies involves conducting interviews, surveys, and usability tests.
• 🗂️ Maintain a focused portfolio by saving UI designs for design networks rather than cluttering it with visual experiments.
• 👥 Agency and tech company portfolios are assessed differently; showcasing a broad skill set is beneficial for agencies.
• 🔄 Intentional practice, such as copying existing designs, helps develop muscle memory and design skills.
• 📅 Regular design critiques can significantly improve your work and accelerate your growth as a designer.
• ⚙️ UI design is not optional; it's essential for delivering effective user experiences.
• 📈 Continuously seek feedback and refine your skills to meet industry standards and attract recruiters.

Q & A

Why is mentorship important in UI/UX design?

Mentorship is crucial because a consistent mentor can provide tailored feedback, helping mentees identify their development areas, recognize repeated mistakes, and track their progress over time.

What is the UX club mentioned in the video?

The UX club is a platform where members can participate in regular design critiques, allowing them to receive personalized feedback on their designs. However, membership is limited, and spots may only open when someone drops out.

What should designers focus on as they improve their UI skills?

As designers improve their UI skills, they should focus on creating UX case studies that involve interviews, surveys, and usability tests, allowing them to concentrate on the principles of UX design.

What are the two strategies for handling UI design experiments in a portfolio?

The two strategies are: 1) Exclude UI experiments from the main portfolio and showcase them on platforms like Dribbble or LinkedIn, focusing the portfolio on UX design. 2) Include visual design experiments in a separate section for agencies or consultancy roles to demonstrate a broader range of skills.

Why might startups have different hiring practices compared to tech companies?

Startups often have hiring managers who may not have a design background, such as CEOs or product managers. This means they might evaluate portfolios based on visual appeal rather than rigorous UX design criteria.

How can improving UI design skills impact a UX designer's job prospects?

Improving UI design skills is essential for landing a UX design job because user experience is delivered through the user interface. Strong UI skills make a candidate more competitive in the job market.

What is the significance of a 'mental library' in design?

A mental library refers to the collection of design references and inspirations that designers build over time. It aids in creating better designs by providing a foundation of ideas and styles to draw upon.

How can designers effectively train their hands and muscle memory?

Designers can train their hands and muscle memory by initially copying existing designs and then creating their own, incorporating animations and interactions, which helps translate their mental designs into tangible outputs.

What role do visual references play in the design process?

Visual references are crucial for sparking creativity and guiding design decisions. Designers are encouraged to create a board of visual references before starting any project to ensure they have a solid foundation for their work.

What advice is given for those who find UI design a challenging area?

For those struggling with UI design, it's recommended to continuously feed their brain with high-quality references and practice consistently to build their skills and confidence in this area.