UI Design

UI Design Process – Explained

Many designers feel confused about the correct UI design process, and we get it! Often, designers jump straight to solutions without properly understanding the problem.

The UI design process involves exploring goals, user needs, and the problem space before gradually narrowing down and committing to the most effective solution for the project’s context.

Let’s break it down.

3D illustration of hands holding a clipboard with a checklist. A purple pencil marks off items, with green checkboxes indicating completed tasks, on a purple background.

Understanding

The first step in the UI design process is understanding the project. Familiarize yourself with project goals, user needs, and constraints.

Here’s an example:

  • Project goals: Minimize shopping cart abandonment
  • User needs: Quicker and easier checkout
  • Constraints: Must use a selected payment gateway provider

Clear goals, needs, and constraints are essential for guiding the process.

A 3D hand holds a magnifying glass over two documents. The top document outlines project goals and user friction points, while the bottom focuses on user needs in bullet points.

Exploration

The UI design process includes thorough exploration. Here’s how:

  • Explore competitors: Review brands with the lowest cart abandonment rates.
  • Explore visual inspiration: Browse platforms like the App Store and Mobbin.
  • Explore design trends: Stay up-to-date with current UI trends.
Competitive analysis spreadsheet comparing Amazon, eBay, and Walmart, above a Mobbin interface displaying various app UI screenshots for iOS.

Visual Design

The next phase of the process is visual design. Start with wireframes, move on to high-fidelity designs, and finish with mockups. This gradual approach allows you to refine your solution before finalizing it.

Wireframe and high-fidelity mockup of a shopping cart screen. The wireframe on the left shows placeholder elements, while the detailed cart view on the right displays product images and prices.

Documentation

Documenting your work is crucial. Ensure your documentation includes:

  • Styles and UI components
  • A design system (for complex projects)
  • A style guide (for simpler projects)
UI components collection, including navigation bars, buttons, icons, a toast notification, and stepper controls, displayed with labels like "Home Indicator," "Stepper," and "Buttons."

UI DESIGN FOUNDATIONS

Kickstart your career in UI design by building solid UI foundations

Are you a beginner looking to start your journey into UI design? Or perhaps you’ve been self-learning for a while but aren’t quite confident you’ve grasped the basics?

Prototyping

Create a functional prototype as part of the UI design process. Your prototype should include:

  • Flows and journeys
  • Interactivity
  • Animations and transitions
E-commerce app flow showing three mobile screens: a product page for a mattress, a cart view with four items, and a payment details form with a "Continue" button.

Reviewing and Testing

Testing is a vital part of the process. Conduct usability tests, gather feedback from users, and analyze insights. This step ensures that the design meets user needs and functions as intended.

Spreadsheet titled "Analyze insights" showing checkout metrics next to a mobile UI card details form. Two comment bubbles highlight user frustrations about manual data entry and switching keyboards.

Iterating and Delivery

Based on user feedback, iterate on your design. Refine and enhance the product before preparing it for delivery. Completing these revisions ensures your final design is user-centric and high-quality.

UI design showing a payment methods screen and developer mode in Figma. It highlights an approved design on the left and development specs on the right, labeled "Dev mode."

Conclusion

There you have it—the UI design process explained. Avoid jumping straight to solutions. Start by understanding the project, exploring competitors and trends, committing gradually to your design, and thoroughly reviewing and testing. Be a designer that improves their work through a step-by-step process⁠.

For other valuable educational resources, explore our Learn section. Here, we offer heaps of courses, workbooks, and other resources that will help you improve your skills in UX/UI.
Happy designing! 🤗

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