The user interface designer’s work is creative, versatile and requires close cooperation with various stakeholders. The main task of the designer is to ensure that the user interface of the software or website is clear, intuitive and user-friendly. A user interface designer’s normal working day can include many different tasks, from user studies to finalizing visual design and teamwork.
Morning start and planning
A user interface designer’s day often starts with checking the calendar and to-do lists. Many designers use project management tools such as Trello, Asana or Jira, which help them stay on top of ongoing projects and schedules. During the morning, the planner might review the previous day’s progress with the team and define the day’s most important goals. This is the moment to prioritize tasks and agree on what needs to be completed.
The first tasks in the morning may also include going through emails and messages so that possible problems or urgent requests can be responded to immediately.
Researching user experience and needs
A user interface designer often spends part of the day doing user research. This can mean, for example, updating user personas, analyzing user interviews or planning user testing. Based on user research, the designer better understands the needs of the target group and how the product can be made even more intuitive.
If there is a user test on the day’s agenda, the designer may organize the test either online or on-site. Analyzing the results can take time, but this is a crucial step in the design process, as it provides valuable information about real-world user experiences and guides the next steps in the design process.
Creating wireframes and prototypes
A significant part of a user interface designer’s day is spent developing visual solutions. This may mean making wire models or prototypes. User interface designers often use tools such as Figma, Sketch or Adobe XD to create different parts and elements of the user interface.
Wireframes are simple, visual sketches of what the user interface could look like and how the user would navigate through it. Prototypes are often interactive versions of a design that can be tested and presented to the team or customers. The user interface designer iterates and improves these designs based on user feedback and stakeholder requirements.
Teamwork and cooperation
A user interface designer does not work alone, but must be in constant interaction with other team members. During the day, the designer can participate in various team meetings, such as sprint planning, reviews or project status reviews. In this phase, the progress of the design is often discussed, new concepts are introduced and feedback is collected from different parties.
The designer often works closely with UX designers, developers, product owners and graphic designers. When working with developers, it is important to ensure that the technical implementation of the user interface matches the designer’s vision and that all elements work seamlessly in the user environment. Such collaborative moments are an integral part of the design process, as they help ensure that the design is feasible and technically realistic.
Visual design and detail finishing
As the day progresses, the designer often focuses on finishing the visual elements of the user interface. This step requires precision, as even small details such as the choice of colors, typography and button layout can have a decisive impact on the user experience.
The designer may also work on design systems, where the rules and styles of the company’s user interface components are defined. This helps to ensure uniformity in all products and speeds up the implementation of future projects, as finished components can be reused.
Gathering feedback and iteration
When the design solutions created during the day are ready for presentation, the designer collects feedback from stakeholders and teammates. Feedback rounds can be both informal discussions and official viewings where plans are presented to a wider audience.
Based on the feedback, the designer iterates his design, makes necessary changes and prepares for the next development stages. This continuous iteration process is a critical part of user interface design, as it allows for step-by-step improvements to designs and ensures that the end result meets user and business needs.
End of the day and evaluation of future work
At the end of the working day, the user interface designer reviews the day’s achievements and prepares for the next steps. Often the challenges and ideas that came up during the day are written down for the next day, and ongoing projects are prioritized according to what needs to be done next.
Before ending the workday, the designer may also ensure that all necessary files and documents have been distributed to the team so that the developers can continue their work, and that all design-related issues have been properly addressed.
A user interface designer’s working day is full of varied and versatile tasks, ranging from user research to visual design and teamwork. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities, and the designer must remain flexible and open to change. Collaboration, iterative process and user-centeredness are at the center of the designer’s work, and creating a successful user interface requires both technical know-how and creative problem-solving ability.
