UI / UX Design

What is UI/UX?

UI (User Interface) focuses on visual design, aesthetics, and interaction elements. UX (User Experience) focuses on the overall experience, usability, and user satisfaction throughout their journey.

Foundational Resources

• Nielsen Norman Group - UX research and articles
• Interaction Design Foundation - Comprehensive courses
• Laws of UX - Key principles and psychology
• Refactoring UI - Practical UI design tips

Core UX Concepts

• User Research: Interviews, surveys, usability testing
• Personas: Representative user archetypes
• User Flows: Mapping user journeys
• Information Architecture: Organizing content logically
• Wireframing: Low-fidelity layout sketches
• Prototyping: Interactive mockups for testing

UI Design Principles

• Visual Hierarchy: Guiding attention through design
• Typography: Font pairing, scale, readability
• Color Theory: Palettes, contrast, psychology
• Spacing & Layout: White space, grids, alignment
• Consistency: Patterns and design systems
• Responsive Design: Adapting to all screen sizes

Design Process

• 1. Empathize: Understand user needs and pain points
• 2. Define: Clarify problems and opportunities
• 3. Ideate: Brainstorm solutions
• 4. Prototype: Build testable versions
• 5. Test: Validate with real users
• 6. Iterate: Refine based on feedback

Essential Tools

• Figma: Collaborative interface design
• Adobe XD: UI/UX design and prototyping
• Sketch: Vector-based design (macOS)
• Framer: Interactive prototyping
• Miro/FigJam: Whiteboarding and brainstorming
• Maze: User testing and research

Inspiration & Resources

• Dribbble - Design inspiration
• Behance - Portfolio showcase
• Mobbin - Mobile design patterns
• UI Jar - UI component examples

Learning Paths

• Google UX Design Certificate - Comprehensive program
• UXPin eBooks - Free design books
• Daily UI Challenge: 100 days of interface design practice