Will AI replace UX designers

Will Artificial Intelligence Replace UX Designers?

by with No Comment BlogUI/UX Design

With all the buzz around artificial intelligence, you are definitely thinking smart by asking whether AI will replace UX designers. Although the buzz around AI has been growing steadily over the last decade since the launch of OpenAI’s chatbot, ChatGPT, the buzz and speculations around its impact on human jobs have exploded.

If you are reading this, you’ve probably understood that AI is starting to reach every corner of the tech space. And, you are probably wondering whether UX design jobs are under threat.

Truthfully, like most aspects of human life, AI will have an increased relevance in product design in the coming years. AI systems are great at processing vast amounts of data and generating output based on this data. Using generative AI systems (a type of AI that is capable of generating text or other content in response to user prompts) for academic research papers, technical documents, children’s books, and even legal documents has become commonplace. Already, tools like Galileo AI and Uizard are being used to develop impressive UI designs.

However, will artificial intelligence really replace UX designers? Our answer is a hard no. And here’s why:

AI cannot replicate all elements of the UX design experience.

The UX design process essentially consists of 5 steps: user research, analysis, design, user testing and implementation. Although the process typically takes place in this order, it is an iterative process and may often require revisiting a step in the course of product development.

User Research:

The rudimentary value of the UX designer is the ability to realise business outcomes while creating an impact on users. To achieve this, good UX designers engage in deep research to understand the needs of users, their wants, goals, and behaviors. This a complex human function which AI cannot fully replicate.

For starters, AI is limited in its ability to generate innovative research questions or hypotheses in the same way human researchers can. Also, AI still struggles to fully understand the context of user behavior, emotions, or cultural nuances that are typical of user research. There are AI insight generators and collaborators that have been developed to process and derive insights from user research sessions. These are however limited in the kind of information they are able to process. AI systems often misinterpret or fail to capture the subtleties of user interactions, which human researchers can often pick up. This limits AI systems to text-based information, which may be insufficient for effective user research.

Data Analysis:

At this stage, the UX designer processes the information collected and distils it into elements that will be affected in the product design. These include developing user personas, and user stories. Notwithstanding the limitations we’ve taken note of in the data that can be collected during research, AI still suffers some limitations in analysing text-based data. AI may have difficulty analyzing unstructured qualitative data such as open-ended responses, user comments, and even some interview transcripts. Human researchers are better equipped to understand and interpret such information and provide a more nuanced interpretation.

Design:

At the design stage, the UX designer brings the ideas and research insight to life. This involves sketching, wireframing and prototyping. When a functional design is achieved, the UX designer communicates the design specifications and develops a design system. The prospects of an AI disruption in this aspect of UX design are unavoidable as we have already seen with tools such as Galileo AI and Uizard.

With natural language prompts, a designer can develop wireframes and mock-ups that represent his idea. However, the output is only as good as the prompts. This is because AI is limited by the instructions provided. And although they may include more details than are mentioned in the prompts, they are limited in the level of creativity they can bring to the design process. AI are trained and rely on data that can access and they are limited to that data. If a particular product feature is conventionally designed in a certain way, an AI UI design tool will produce output that follows that convention. They simply cannot reach the infinite nature of human creativity.

The Future

With the rate at which AI is developing, some of the issues we identified above may not be as problematic in the years to come. Will AI take over some aspects of UX design? Yes. It’s already doing that and more far-reaching disruptions can be expected. However, will artificial intelligence completely take over the role of UX designers? That is very unlikely.

AI will always be limited by its ability to completely replicate certain higher-level human capabilities such as empathy, creativity and critical thinking. These skills are core to the UX design process. If your value as a product designer is simply creating layouts and designs without providing user-centred solutions that make an impact on users, then your job may be in danger. UX designers have to understand the capabilities and limitations of AI and maximise their human capabilities to ensure their continued relevance.

So, if you are still contemplating starting a career in UI/UX design, go for it. The advancements in UI/UX design are only there to aid you. At MevNet Studios, our stellar UI/UX design course awaits you. Start your journey into the exciting world of UI/UX design today with MevNet Studios.

Learning UI/UX Design

How Difficult Is It to Learn UI/UX Design? A Guide to Getting Started

by with 2 Comments BlogUI/UX Design

The world of UI/UX is an exciting and deeply rewarding one. One of the most exciting parts is that anyone can become a UI/UX design expert with the right level of interest and determination. And there are several reasons why UI/UX design is a great career choice today. 

But learning UI/UX design, like anything that is worth doing, takes some effort. The good news is that you don’t need a degree or some special qualification to break into this field. Yes, having a prior background in, for instance, graphic design or web development does help. But with little to no experience in tech, anyone can become a UX/UI designer. All you need is an appreciation for design, user experience and a hunger for continuous learning. Yep, continuous learning.

Becoming an expert in UX/UI design isn’t something that happens overnight. Understanding the fundamental principles and learning how to use the tools are things that can be learned within a relatively short time. However, developing a mastery of how they are applied to create amazing user experiences can take some time. 

So, how difficult is it to learn UI/UX design? What do UI/UX designers actually do? What are the skills you need to get started and what you can do to ensure your learning experience is as productive as possible? If you want the answers to these questions, stick around and we’ll walk you through them.

What Is UI/UX Design?

Before delivering into what UI/UX designers actually do, let’s do a quick recap of what these specialisations are about. 

User interface (UI) refers to the visual touchpoints an individual encounters while using a digital product. It includes those visual aspects of a website or an application. Essentially, how it looks to the user. A UI designer considers things like icons and buttons, typography and colour schemes, spacing, imagery, responsive design and how they contribute to the user’s experience. 

User experience (UX) covers all interactions between a user and a product or service from the point of first contact. While the term is not exclusive to digital product design, within this context, it refers to the usability of digital products, taking into consideration how a user feels while using the product. 

What do UI Designers Do?

UI designers are like the visual architects of the digital world. They carefully craft the aesthetics of digital products, creating visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces. Their primary goal is to make sure users have a seamless and delightful visual journey through websites and apps. Their key considerations include:

  • Visual Design: Using tools like Adobe XD, Sketch, or Figma, they choose colour palettes, typography, and icons to create a cohesive and engaging visual design. It’s like painting a canvas with pixels.
  • Wireframing and Prototyping: Before the final design, they build wireframes and interactive prototypes. These are like blueprints, outlining where buttons, navigation, and content will go. They use prototyping tools like InVision and Balsamiq to bring ideas to life for testing and feedback.
  • Consistency: A UI designer’s job isn’t done once the design is finalized. They maintain design systems and style guides to ensure every button, image, or text box looks and behaves consistently throughout the product. This consistency is key to a great user experience.

In a nutshell, UI designers bring the “visual charm” to the party, making sure that the digital product not only works well but also looks fantastic. It’s all about blending creativity with user-centric design to create a visually compelling and intuitive interface.

What do UX Designers actually do?

User Research: UX designers start by getting to know the users. They conduct surveys, interviews, and usability tests to gather insights into user behaviour and preferences. Understanding the audience is the foundation of a great user experience. Their key considerations include: 

  • Information Architecture: When they determine who the users are, they work on organizing the product’s content and structure to make it intuitive. They create sitemaps and user flows, making sure users can easily find what they’re looking for.
  • Prototyping and Testing: Similar to UI designers, they also create prototypes, but the focus is on functionality. Tools like Axure RP or Marvel help bring these prototypes to life. When these prototypes are developed, they are tested with real users to identify and fix any usability issues.
  • Iteration: UX designers work closely with the development team, continuously refining the product as it evolves. It involves gathering feedback, analyzing user interactions, and making necessary adjustments to ensure the best possible user experience.

Summarily, UX designers are the user’s best friend. They’re all about creating a product that’s not only visually appealing but also highly usable, efficient, and enjoyable. It’s a combination of art and science, through which designers strive to make digital products not just beautiful but incredibly user-friendly.

How difficult is it to learn?

So far, we hope our explanations have gotten you more interested and excited about UI/UX design. However, the above paragraphs only provide a bare-bones explanation of what UI and UX design entails. The level of difficulty one would experience learning either UI or UX design depends on the field the learner is transitioning from. Definitely, a background in tech would provide a softer landing. However, even some tech professionals struggle to transition to UI/UX design.

For instance, for graphics designers, adding research, testing, and even coding to their skill set may require them to stretch themselves in new directions. For someone transitioning from web design, user research, content strategy, usability and accessibility, information architecture, and overall business goals, project management and communication may be skills that they would need to develop afresh.

For those transitioning from non-tech backgrounds, these soft skills and transferable skills may be a given. What may prove difficult may be the hard skills associated with using design software. Software design software like the ones mentioned above are not your everyday apps or websites and would require consistent practice to master and continuous learning to keep up with the updates. Some aspects of UI/UX design will come easier to you than others. Even established professionals in the field admit to having greater mastery of some aspects of their role than others.

What are the skills needed?

The infographic below provides a comparison between some of the key soft, hard and transferrable skills needed in UI/UX design. Consider which you would be better suited to.

How to get started in UI/UX Design

It all starts with education. Like any profession, you have to learn the ropes. Depending on where you are in life, getting a college degree in UI/UX design may not really be convenient. In truth, many successful UI/UX designers today do not have college degrees at all or have degrees in completely unrelated fields. Because there is no ‘XYZ curriculum’ that covers all you need to know about UI/UX design, non-formal training pathways seem to be the norm.

For a non-formal learning journey, there is an abundance of learning resources easily available to any willing individual. If you are transitioning from a completely unrelated field, it is advised to start with free foundational learning content. Learn the basics of UI/UX design from the infinite content freely available online. There are loads to choose from between books, blogs, tutorials on YouTube or free short courses on Coursera or Udemy. These resources will enable you to understand the design process and the main principles of product design.

“Watching tutorials is a smart addition to your learning process. Just remember it’s not all about learning color theories, or UI patterns—tutorials on how to train your mind to think like a UX designer and understanding user’s needs are also key.” — Bojan Novakovic, Self-taught UI/UX designer

When you have sufficient knowledge of the basics, you can then move on to certification programs. For those with experience in related fields, you can start from this point. There are a host of certification programs, some of which are accessible online and some in person. Before deciding on the certification program, there are a number of factors you ought to consider which we have outlined in a previous blog post. It also features some of the best UI/UX design courses in the US. Certification programs like MevNet Studios’ UI/UX Training Course, provide a hands-on learning experience with real-life projects and are taught by experts who are current in the field.

How to Become a Better UI/UX Designer

Learning does not stop when you complete a course and gain a certificate. Because of how dynamic actual practice can be and the competition in the industry, you have to be at the top of your game. If you went through a good certification program like MevNet’s, upon completing the course, you should already have a standard portfolio that you can showcase. Even before getting any work experience, will have to build on this portfolio by designing more mock products to enable your skills to improve.

Get feedback on your designs from colleagues and seniors in the field and learn from it. Having a mentor who can constantly provide feedback would be immensely helpful. Not only will they be able to provide objective criticisms based on their advanced knowledge and experience, but they can share insight on some mistakes they made while coming up.

Being the best in the field also requires you to be up-to-date with the latest trends. With new tools released frequently, you will have a develop the habit of continuous learning.

Become a UI/UX designer with MevNet Studios

Learning UI/UX design can be challenging, but it’s not impossible. With dedication and practice, you can become a successful UI/UX designer. With MevNet, you can be assured of a seamless and stress-free learning experience that will provide you with the skills and insight you need to launch a successful career in UI/UX design.

Contact us today and let’s get you started!

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Reasons Why UI/UX Design Is a Good Career in 2023

by with 9 Comments BlogUI/UX Design

Have you been wondering whether having a career pivot to UI/UX design is a good idea in 2023? Let’s give an answer straight away and say that it is a great idea. Increased focus on user-centred designs has made UI/UX design one of LinkedIn’s top 5 most in-demand tech jobs in 2023. This is understandable considering the massive digital transformation we have been experiencing over the last decade. Companies are investing more and more resources to ensure that their users have the best possible experience while using their products. Being that product options are becoming more easily available to users, having a product that is user-friendly has gone from being a ‘nice one to have’ to being a ‘must-have’. 

So, what is UI/UX design actually about?

Although user interface (UI) design and user experience (UX) design are interchangeably used, they are different but related specialisations. They however have the common objective of creating a product that provides an optimal user experience. UI designers focus on the visual elements of the product. They seek to create product interfaces that are engaging, interactive and aesthetically pleasing. UX designers focus on the user’s interaction with the product including how the user feels about that interaction. They try to understand the needs of users and implement strategies to ensure that the user has a seamless journey while using the product. Combining these two skills is essential for having a quality product. Imagine using a food delivery app that has beautiful graphics and an intuitive design but loads slowly and requires you to navigate through many screens before placing an order. You’re probably not going to want to use it, right?

So, why is building a career in UI/UX design a great idea?

Here are 5 reasons why UI/UX design could be a good career pivot:

  1. High Demand:

Every business, profession and industry is being digitalised. Developing software solutions for their services is becoming a top priority for not only businesses but also organisations in education, finance, non-profit organisations, healthcare, government, media etc. And who are they going to need to develop solutions that would guarantee a user-friendly experience? Yes, UI/UX designers. The job prospects are so good that the US Bureau of Statistics, predicts that the employment rate in this field is set to increase by 16% over the next 8 years. 

  1. Competitive Salaries:

Only a few entry-level roles pay as well as UI/UX design roles. According to Glassdoor, the salary for a UX designer in the US with 0 -1 year experience ranges between $64,000 and $102,000. The exact salary, like any role, would depend on years of experience, the kind of company you work for, where you live and a number of other considerations. This far exceeds the national average entry-level salary of $40,153 (the average for UX design is $71,773). There is currently a global skills shortage and increasing competition for skilled UI/UX designers. So, if you’ve been thinking of getting into this field, there is no better time than the present. 

  1. Flexible Working Conditions:

Remote work is not only allowed for UI/UX designers, it has now become the norm in the industry. Being able to work remotely allows you to conveniently balance work with your personal life, especially if you have kids. The remote nature of work means that you can broaden your professional network and opportunities by allowing you to collaborate with teams and clients from all over the world. 

  1. Making an Impact:

Beyond designing interfaces for the websites and apps that make our daily lives better, being a UI/UX designer not only provides job satisfaction, it also allows you to make a meaningful impact on society. From designing intuitive interfaces for medical devices and telehealth platforms, thereby enhancing accessibility and saving lives; to crafting immersive e-learning environments or to designing intuitive interfaces for energy monitoring, smart grid management, and home energy systems and so on, being a UI/UX designer allows you to make a difference. Truly, not all heroes wear capes.

  1. Low Barrier to Entry:

With all these advantages, you would think that building a UI/UX design career would be difficult. UI/UX design remains one of the easiest tech specialisations to break into. With the array of UI/UX training courses available online, like Mevnet Studio’s fully remote UI/UX training program, anyone can become a UI/UX designer without a degree, pre-qualification or any previous background in tech. In fact, the industry welcomes people from diverse disciplines as a non-tech background often enables designers to empathise with users from a unique perspective. 

Am I a good fit for UI/UX design?

Being a good UI/UX designer requires more than just technical skills which anyone can acquire. Knowing whether UI/UX design is the right career path has a lot to do with what you are passionate about. Consider the following questions:

  • Are you passionate about improving people’s day-to-day experiences?
  • Do you have a keen eye for design, and often find yourself thinking about what you would change about your favourite websites and apps? 
  • Are you curious about how the world works? 
  • Do you like variety in your daily tasks? 
  • Do you enjoy collaborating with other people?
  • Do you love learning and discovering new things?

If the answer to most of these questions is yes, then UI/UX design could be the right career path for you. Although there are technical skills required to be a good UI/UX designer, they are nothing that cannot be learned with dedication and commitment. 

With fully remote one-on-one training programmes like that offered by Mevnet Studios, you too can become a UI/UX designer within a short amount of time. At Mevnet, we not only offer personal instructors but also an immersive teaching experience with case studies and real-life projects. We also provide you with a portfolio website, custom domain name and certificate all for a very competitive price. 

Ready to begin your journey into the exciting and fulfilling world of UI/UX design? Contact us today and let’s get you started!