Graphic designers typically have relatively desirable jobs. However, many are increasingly making the switch to UI and UX designing. The decline of print is potentially to blame, according to various experts. There is also much to be gained in engaging in this more lucrative career. UI and UX design in Dubai deal with apps and interfaces. The latter are in constant demand in the world of tech. With clients increasingly willing to splurge their money on good web design, making the switch from Graphic Design to UI/UX design may be the change your finances have been seeking.
But what would such a career evolution require? The following guide will take you through everything you need to know to become a skilled UI/UX designer in the UAE, as well as how much you can expect to make in your new career.
UI & UX Designing vs Graphic Designing
Graphic design is usually print-based. Posters, brochures, invitations, etc. are generally printed by graphic designers with a keen knowledge of photoshop and printing. UI & UX design, on the other hand, deals with building visually pleasing, easy-to-use interfaces for websites and apps. UI refers to User Interface, while UX refers to User Experience. Typically, web designers will master both skills. Though the critical visual concepts are the same in graphic and web design, in UI/UX design, the basics require keen knowledge of the tech world to be tastefully applied.
What You Will Need
Naturally, to go from a graphic designer to a UI/UX designer, you will need to know the fundamental concepts of design. Coding skills will come in handy when you reach the prototyping stage for your designs; however, it is not essential. UX design, in particular, steers relatively far from coding so skills like branding and market research will come in more handy than technical abilities.
How To Become A UI/UX Designer
As a skill you can teach yourself, becoming a UI/UX designer is a skill accessible to all. To earn this expertise, you will need to follow the following steps:
1. Practice Your Visual And Web Design
The more you master your web design, the better equipped you will be to deal with button design, complex color co-ordinations, grids, and multi-leveled layouts. You will need to be comfortable applying essential visual principles such as color theory, balance, and composition, contrast, and grid systems.
A Piece Of Advice: if you need typography training, you may want to sign up for WebType’s web typography over-email course for web designers and developers. This course is free and has flexible hours, which allows currently employed graphic designers to sign up.
Resources to Consider:
- Color Theory Basics For Web Designers
- Using Layout Grids To Build More Efficient Layouts
- Compositional/Symmetrical/Asymmetrical Balance
- Contrast Made Simple
2. Study The UX Design Process
While UX design does not have any rigid rules, understanding the basic concepts is essential to good web design. One of the core concepts of UX Design is Design Thinking. Design Thinking is the process of designing a product based on a prediction of how it may be seen and used by others, as opposed to personal tastes. This is vital to UX design because it guarantees the utility of your product.
A piece of Advice: For effective Design Thinking, you will need to get to know your users and what they like or are accustomed to. Familiarise yourself with surveying to easily acquire reliable user information.
Resources To Consider
3. Practice, Practice, Practice
The visual (UI) aspect of UI/UX design is possibly the most important one. Therefore, you need to be versed in design patterns to create interfaces for mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers. UI/UX design patterns tackle the most common problems you may face while designing an interface. They provide clear standards and templates that facilitate the process of developing a website or app.
A piece of Advice: Visit popular design sites for inspiration and “learn the design” of various patterns.
Resources To Consider
- Free Mobile Design Patterns
4. Inspire Yourself From Others’ Work
There is nothing new under the sun. Therefore, while you may want to develop your own flair as a UI/UX designer in Dubai style=”font-size: 16px;”>, you will also want to pay attention to the layouts, navigation tools, typography, iconography, and background use of skilled designer. It will teach you what is trendy, what is popular, and what works. This seasoned “good taste” will provide you with an eye for the detailed design requires.
A piece of advice: imitation is the best form of practice. Adapt the design patterns of more successful designers to your own personal flairs, play with color and placement variations, and take note of gradient use.
Resources To Consider
- Pinterest/Tumblr and other visual platforms
5. Acquire UI/UX Adjacent Tools
Most skilled UI/UX designers will also know how to use tools like Adobe Photoshop, which aren’t entirely related to their field of work. However, photo editing sharpens the eye and promotes the use of quality images in your work. It will also come in handy when image adjustments need to be made to use a picture as a logo, background, or banner.
A piece of advice: Do not rely on one tool for your UI/UX design. Whether you use the Mac Sketch app or Adobe XD for Windows, you will want to have other editing software on hand.
Resources To Consider
Qualifications Check
Now that you know about how to make your transition to UI/UX design, you may be wondering whether you will need any accreditation or additional degree. However, most UI/UX designers are self-taught, and expertise comes with practice, rather than degrees. Nonetheless, if you’re looking to impress on your CV or learn in structured conditions, short courses in UI/UX design are available.
So How Much Will You Earn?
The salary of UI/UX designers varies depending on the country they operate in, their level of experience, client portfolio, and whether they work freelance. Typically, in countries like Canada, The US, and even Australia, UI/UX designers makeover twice the graphic designer’s salaries. The average salary of a graphic designer in the US is $34,000 a year, whereas that of a UI/UX goes beyond $88,000 a year. In Australia, the average UI/UX designer will make about $72,000 a year, which is 35% above the mid-tier of Australian salaries. In the UAE, the average salary of a UX designer is 216,000 AED, or $58,809.
Over to You
Now that you know everything you need to, it is up to you to make the switch to UI/UX Design. Make sure you remember that practice makes perfect and that mastering web design concepts will require you to work hard, frequently seek inspiration, and build your prototypes. For more information on UX designers in Dubai or graphic designers in the UAE, contact us today. Our fantastic team of freelance graphic designers in Dubai will be glad to assist you.