Should UI Designers do UX?

With whom can we lean on the process?

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re probably a designer aiming to become a UX Designer. Maybe your job title on linkedin is UX/UI Designer already. Or even better, you are a “UX Unicorn” on twitter.

I’ve worked with UX professionals before and been very focused on designing user interfaces for almost 5 years now. Recently, I’ve come across multiple blog posts or job descriptions in many platforms that explain a set of “requirements” that a UX/UI Designer should do. I’ve found that companies opt to combine these roles and it might confuse people. You and I know that these are two different worlds.

Some people know how to drink and drive, but when they do both at once it can end very badly.

First of all,

The skills required for a UX Designer are different than a UI Designer, but very few people can do both well, which is why they are often referred to as ‘unicorns’.

The tools are very different as well. From axure to sketch, from A/B tests to invision prototypes, etc…

A UX designer seeks for answers. They ask the right questions to find the solution to a problem.

A UI designer seeks for inspiration all the time. They care if the look and feel of an interface makes the experience easier for the user to understand the product.

Even though these two profiles have a different process, they both aim for the same cause: a satisfied persona.

 

Finding a “unicorn” can be exhausting and very rare … But what if instead of waiting for this mythical designer to show up I told you you could build a badass team? (Because being badass is always better than being a myth).

How to build a badass UX team:

1. Get a badass Data Analyst.

They are the law, they can tell people if they are doing it right or wrong with data, and data doesn’t lie baby.

It is important as a designer to learn how to use data when making decisions on the design. It helps the product to move to where it needs to go, not to the direction that certain people wants. If you are new to data collection this article can help you.

2. Add a badass Developer.

Their opinion is important even from the beginning of the projects. They have a critical and logical thinking. The developer should work side by side with the designer, because when a designer starts to get crazy with impossible drop shadows or impractical layouts, a badass developer always can drag their feet down to earth.

At Bonzai we work with a couple of those…

3. Don’t forget about your badass Product Owner.

We always need someone to help us with deadlines and organization. If your team practices The Agile Methodology you will know what I’m talking about.

A Product Owner is your bond of communication between you and clients to get feedback, run tests and more needed research.

With the help of a product owner your tasks should feel smooth as silk!

4. And of course, a badass Designer.

The one that will help your product maximize usability and the user experience. They are passionate about the whole design process, from layouts to user psychology, UX best practices to beautiful UI. They are responsible for creating a consistent style guide across the product.

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Conclusion.

I’m not trying to do the new “Should designers code?” version. It’s not that designers shouldn’t do this or that… Being a UX and UI Designer could be a lot of work for one, and I’m pretty sure there are a couple of awesome people in your team waiting to be given the chance to do amazing things together. But if you can do both at it’s best, congrats! You are a badass.

“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.”