What Is an Ui Developer ?
User Interface (UI) developers design web pages and create applications that make pages easy to use. This position is a combination of web designer and web developer, a role that is not only concerned with the aesthetics but also with the functionality and security of the page. As a UI developer, you create intuitive ways for users to interact with software applications and optimize usability based on testing and market research. Your job duties include writing code to implement design-based prototypes, debugging and testing solutions for functionality and usability, and creating documentation of front end code for future reference.
How to Become a UI Developer
There are different ways to become a UI developer. You can take the traditional route and complete a bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering. Alternatively, you can attend a code school or boot camp program for a more fast-tracked path into a UI developer career. Whichever route you choose, you must be proficient in front end programming languages such as HTML, CSS, AJAX, jQuery, and JavaScript. An understanding of the products you work with and how consumers use it will help you build UI elements with the end user’s experience in mind.
We will now break down the six essential skills UI developers should master.
- Fluency in multiple programming languages
Years of experience with HTML, CSS and Javascript build a UI developer’s set of skills to prepare advanced design effects for front-end web developers. Transitions, animations, and visual effects applied to interactive elements all fall within the UI web developer’s expertise and expected output. This skill is vital when creating the mockups for the FrontEnd developers, but plays an essential role at the moment of testing and validating website features.
- Wireframing and Prototyping skills
Wireframes are the layouts of digital products (websites, apps and platforms) that show what interface elements will later on be displayed on every page. They are mostly used to create a navigation that complies with a coherent structure while meeting user expectations. UI developers are the ones responsible for creating this cohesive structure. They are key team players when it comes to determining which elements will be displayed, which will be omitted and the way they all will be positioned in the different pages. An UI developer participates in the process of creating wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes & designs, but from the perspective of denoting which of the UI elements (from CTA buttons, images and menus) are actually viable in terms of code, as well as positioning all elements in a diagrammatic form. But except for animations, UI developers don’t add to the visual design or add new functionality, since they are not UI designers. A UI developer’s primary function is to transform finalized designs delivered by UI and UX designers and UX developers into working code.
- Visually communicative
Visual design goes beyond the look and feel of a product, since it also has to guide users through the website’s flow, without resorting to written instructions. By implementing certain design principles and cues in the website’s code, UI developers must work with the UI design team to keep users hooked throughout the product, while displaying the necessary information and functionality tools they require to take the necessary actions.
UI developers are also responsible for building a visual presentation that is optimized for view on a variety of platforms. The product’s end-users may be loading the web application on a desktop or laptop. Some users may be interacting with the software through an Android or iOS mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. Individual web browsers also have unique ways of interpreting code. UI developers must prepare the user interface code to respond appropriately in various devices and web browsers.
- Interaction Design Skills
In conjunction with being visually communicative, UI developers must also have great interaction design skills. Interaction design is defined as the practice of designing interactive digital products, systems, services and environments that go beyond their digital aspect, since they entail exploring the way users interact with them. UI developers’ task involves creating intuitive and interactive interfaces so that users can complete their desired tasks with minimal effort and by taking advantage of the product’s usability.
- Analytical skills
Taking into account that every app, website and platform requires usability testing, UI developers should be able to proactively track different aspects and variables so as to always identify ways to improve the product.
- Curious and Communicative
UI developers must be intrinsically motivated and curious about the user’s behaviour. They should be constantly asking questions and being curious about their user’s preferences, motivations, needs and any relevant pain points, to then take all this data into consideration to gather a greater understanding about the product. With this valuable knowledge and insights, the UI developer can improve the product.
Alongside being curious, the UI developer should also have great communication skills, mainly because they interact with different teams and individuals. To ensure overall understanding and outstanding product performance, it is more than important to create a collaborative and communicative environment between all teams. From the marketing, production, development and design team, to customers, clients and other stakeholders, UI developers should be as strong as their creativity and ideas.
