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We live in a complicated world with too many distractions, where information overload is commonplace. “Less is more” is all about keeping things simple and achieving a design with the least number of elements required to deliver a message effectively.
Many people confuse graphic design with UI/UX design, thinking they serve the same purpose. In fact, these are entirely different areas of expertise, each requiring specialized skills. Confusing the disciplines can lead to design inefficiencies or poor user experiences, as each field brings distinct value to a project.
Have you ever found yourself on a project and wondered if you require a UX designer? Especially one who can create interactive prototypes with tools like Figma?
If you are asking yourself that question, you probably need a UX designer. Here are 7 situations where you could benefit from a UX designer.
Remember, the specific need for a UX designer may vary depending on the nature of your project, but their primary goal is to create meaningful and enjoyable experiences for the user.
Waiting for a designer to approve every UI change can block progress. But letting devs make visual tweaks unchecked often leads to messy, inconsistent designs.
Create a “Design Masters” list – a small group of trusted designers and design-literate developers who can approve UI/UX changes when needed.
The Double Diamond design process is a structured framework developed by the British Design Council, aimed at fostering creativity, collaboration, and clarity in problem-solving. It is divided into two main phases, each consisting of two key stages.
There are a few options when it comes to the best software for UI/UX design (the creation of mockups and prototypes in particular). The most popular are:
Relying on the same user research method like only running 1-on-1 interviews leads to blind spots. Interviews are great for depth, but they don’t reveal group dynamics, cross-team dependencies, or patterns that emerge at scale.
To design experiences that scale, you need insights that are qualitative and quantitative, attitudinal and behavioural, and drawn from both individuals and teams.
Leveraging AI tools across different stages of the UX process can speed up decision-making and free up time for critical thinking and creative problem solving.
When every button looks a little different, spacing feels off, and handoffs between designer and dev are painful, you know something's wrong.
A design system can fix all of that, aligning everyone around a shared language and providing the tools to build faster and better. It avoids inconsistent UI, longer review cycles, and time spent debating minor visual tweaks.
It’s tempting to fix small UI issues on the fly - change a button size, adjust some spacing, or tweak a color. But those “quick wins” often turn into long-term losses, leading to a messy, inconsistent UI that confuses users and slows development.
A User Journey Map (aka Customer Journey) is a visual aid that allows the clear communication of user needs.
These artifacts should be used at the beginning of a project during the early stages of research and design. This allows user requirements to properly inform design decisions made during development, and can help teams build a strong common understanding of a project.
Capturing feedback in a Journey Map during or even after development, can provide high value as well. Pain points discovered in this way can reveal opportunities or areas for immediate improvement.
Figma is a cloud-based design and prototyping tool that enables designers, developers, and teams to collaborate in real-time on the same design files.
Canva is an intuitive online tool for creating images and crafty digital designs and is particularly effective for designing engaging social media memes.
While Canva is a valuable design tool, it may not be suitable for every design requirement. It is essential to complement Canva with advanced design tools and occasionally integrate AI image generators for a comprehensive design approach.
Adobe Photoshop’s AI-powered and prompt-based generative tool can turn a simple picture into anything you imagine.
Note: Some people might use the term storyboarding when they are actually talking about mockups or prototypes. For information on storyboarding, check The Storyboarding Rule
Mockups and prototypes are both design artifacts used in the software development process, but they serve different purposes and have different levels of fidelity. Many user requirements can be best encapsulated in visual mockups/prototypes.
A design mockup is typically created early in the design process to provide a rough visual overview of the user interface. They are static and do not include interactive elements or functionalities.
Mockups can become interactive and functional representation, also know as design prototype over time. They are more advanced and closer to the final product, allowing for user testing, feedback, and iteration.
One of the many reasons Figma is the most recommended software for user experience design is that it makes the design process (handover and feedback) more open and inclusive. By enabling more people to contribute and share feedback, teams can create more creative and comprehensive solutions that reflect a wider range of perspectives.
Design files should never be stored in Azure DevOps (was VSTS/TFS) or any other development file system.
It is very important to have your Word, PowerPoint, PDFs, and design documents up-to-date. You should also make it easy for anyone to identify which version they are looking at. The most effective way to achieve this is by placing the version number on the right-hand side of the footer.
Designers often struggle to explain small UI tweaks to developers using only words or screenshots. Requests like “make the button pop” or “this feels off” are subjective and can be interpreted in multiple ways. Without clear direction, developers are forced to guess, leading to delays, frustration, and wasted effort on both sides.
Sharing short recordings of live browser edits using DevTools significantly reduces design–development iteration time by making changes explicit and easy to understand.