Stages of UX/UI designer’s work

Applications and websites solve different user tasks, so the process of creating the interface cannot be strictly regulated. However, the work of the UX/UI specialist can be divided into several stages.

Stage 1. CA analysis.
The average age and gender of users, their interests and goals in visiting the website or the application, as well as their geography – all this information helps create a portrait of the target audience. It makes it easier for the designer to predict people’s behavior and create the most convenient product for them.

Stage 2. Competitor analysis
The study of the strengths and weaknesses of competitors helps the UX designer to improve the product without repeating the mistakes of his colleagues. At this stage, it is possible to analyze the websites and applications of not only competing companies, but also those who are involved in a related business. For example, if you are working with a chain of fitness centers, it is worth paying attention to the interfaces of sports nutrition or clothing stores.

Stage 3. Defining the structure
At this stage, the main sections of the product are created, their interaction and location are determined. The information architecture helps to correctly design the structure of the site or application. It determines what data should be placed on each page and how to link them to each other so that the product content is convenient and logically connected for users.

Step 4. Prototyping
Prototyping is a very important stage of product development. This is where the work on the UI design begins. The prototype is tested by the project’s target audience, it is shown to the client or shareholders and helps attract investors.

To begin, the designer creates a wireframe, a map showing the overall concept of the product and its main sections. The wireframe is monochrome and has a low level of visualization. You can say that it’s a simplified sketch of the site or application that contains all the elements of the product. The Wireframe shows how the interface works and how the user interacts with it.

Step 5. Testing
The prototype contains all the visual and functional elements of the website or application, so before releasing it, it is tested to detect errors and improve the final result.

There are two types of testing: quantitative and qualitative. In the first case, the research is conducted on a large sample of users, while in the second, a focus group of the CA is involved.