Many designers who transition to UX find that their graphic design skills help them communicate with stakeholders. A well-presented beautiful poster can be as effective as scribbles on the back of a napkin.
So, the first question you might ask is, what degree do I need to become a UX designer? A bachelor’s degree program can offer career preparation through internships and projects. Many offer different course locations worldwide, and students can start working on their diplomas after just three months full-time.
Visual Communication
Graphic communication is the process of transforming an idea into a visual representation. The goal is to create a design that will convey a specific message and influence an audience’s emotional response. This can be accomplished using various content formats such as shapes, icons, images, and text.
One of the main reasons for implementing visuals is that they are easier to retain than written words. This makes them a crucial part of any business. Additionally, people tend to be more engaged by visuals than written content. They’re also more likely to share information that they see online.
The skills needed for effective visual communication are also instrumental in UX design. For example, when presenting technical or complicated information to an audience, you can make it more accessible by creating infographics. This can be done using a simple icon style, a modern design treatment, and playful fonts to draw attention and keep users engaged. You can also use colors to evoke certain emotions or communicate specific messages. For example, red might encourage a sense of urgency, while blue can promote calmness.
Research
Graphic designers must have a strong sense of empathy, communication, and cooperation when working with clients. They also use research to create visual designs that resonate with their audience. During this process, they look at competitors, user feedback, and domain research to determine how users perceive their plans.
These skills will be critical for graphic designers who want to switch careers to UX design. This is because UX design relies on a comprehensive problem-solving process that begins with understanding your users’ needs and goals.
When designing a product, the user must always come first. The goal is to develop valuable and enjoyable products for the end user. This is why it is essential to take the time to conduct thorough research and find out what people need and want from a product.
While many people may believe that research stifles creativity, it is the opposite. It enables designers to develop innovative solutions that address the most pressing problems. For this reason, designers need to be comfortable conducting research and incorporating it into their design process.
Problem-Solving
Problem-solving involves identifying, analyzing, and creating solutions for various challenges. It is widely studied in engineering, psychology, business, and computer science. Standard techniques for problem-solving include fact-finding, brainstorming, and assessing the cost of alternatives. Identifying and eliminating barriers to finding solutions is also essential. Commonly cited barriers include confirmation bias, mental set, and functional fixedness.
UX designers must also consider the broader impact of their designs. For example, if a plan is challenging to read, it may not be as valuable as one that is easier to use. As a result, UX designers often work with iterative design processes that involve testing low-fidelity wireframe models and prototypes with users.
In addition, the knowledge of design trends and conventions that graphic designers gain from their education can help them quickly identify and solve problems with user experience. For instance, understanding color theory can help designers create visually compelling experiences and understand how colors might be perceived in different contexts. Similarly, understanding layout conventions can improve the effectiveness and efficiency with which they produce their work.
Collaboration
If you’re a graphic designer, chances are you’re already familiar with a broad range of industry-standard tools and processes that would be useful to a UX Designer. This includes design software and soft skills like communication and collaboration.
Both UX designers and graphic designers rely on teamwork to produce their work. They often work with clients, engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders to gather the needed information. UX Designers also frequently conduct interviews, user studies, and other research methods to identify potential problems and develop solutions.
As the old saying goes, the devil is in the details. And it certainly is in the case of designing interfaces that evoke emotion and connect with users. This requires a thoughtful approach to every design element, including text kerning and alignment. In addition, many of the same techniques used in graphic design, such as pixel perfection, can be found in UX design. However, the emphasis here is on solving real problems for users. This may mean completely redesigning the current product or creating wireframes and prototypes that allow for testing.
Communication
Graphic designers use various communication tools to convey a message from a client to a specific audience. They understand how different images and typography can shape a viewer’s emotions; serif fonts and dark colors often elicit seriousness, while san-serif fonts and bright colors might evoke joy or excitement.
They also understand how to effectively collaborate with clients and other stakeholders to produce a successful design. They can explain their ideas and narrate their process to help others know what they’re doing and why it’s essential.
Similarly, they can look fresh at old designs and find new ways to improve them for today’s audiences. They’re often skilled in creating mockups and wireframes, which serve as digital blueprints of a product before it’s finished. Those same blueprints can be used to quickly identify and correct any issues with a product before it’s too late to fix them.