Why UI/UX Designers Should Learn Frontend
When making digital products, there are two main types of people, those who focus on making things look good and easy to use are UI/UX designers, and those who turn these designs into real websites or apps are front-end developers. Within this blog we will dive into four key reasons why, as a UI/UX Designer, we should learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Reason 1: Context
A UI/ UX Designer can be identified as a person who fully understands how a product works from start to finish. As a UI/ UX Designer, you are having at least a basic level of idea on how your design integrates with the necessary HTML markup, CSS, and any JavaScript for interactions. This understanding allows you to take a design and make it work in the browser. Perhaps if you understood code, you wouldn't make bad decisions that make the front-end developer's life a nightmare. So, having an understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript will definitely make you a better designer and influence your decisions when working in apps like Figma. This knowledge ensures that your designs are more feasible and efficient to implement, leading to a smoother development process and better collaboration with developers.
Reason 2: Earning Potential
The more skills you have, you will become more attractive as a potential employer or a freelancer, and that leading to higher earning potential. Of course, you can't simply say you know HTML, CSS, and JavaScript because you watched a few tutorials. You need to put in months of work on different projects to truly understand the process and may use those projects in your portfolio to prove your skills and impress your client base or the employer. But once you're proficient in both UI/ UX design and HTML/CSS, it can only broaden your income-earning potential and also, sets a clear distinction in your skills across different designations. This dual expertise enhances your value, opening doors to higher-paying roles and more lucrative freelance opportunities.
Reason 3: Fulfillment
For some, the prospect of a new project handling both UI/ UX design and front-end development is exciting. It's thrilling to take something you create from scratch in Figma and make it a working reality in the browser, especially with interactivity and animations. Having the confidence and knowing you can take care of the whole process makes being a UI/UX designer more enjoyable and increases the satisfaction. If you love to tinker and learn new things, definitely take on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript as well. This holistic approach not only enhances your skill set but also brings a deeper sense of fulfillment as you see your designs come to life.
Reason 4: Save Time
At a point you might be working with a front-end developer on a live project with a client. The client needs an update that requires code. What if the developer is unavailable or slow to respond? You're stuck because you don't understand HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. If you had that understanding, you wouldn't have to rely on someone else, especially in a team environment with demanding clients. This independence allows you to provide quicker solutions and maintain project momentum, enhancing your value and reliability as a UI/UX designer and definitely will be time saving.
How to Integrate Front-End Development Skills into Your UI/UX Design Journey
If your goal is primarily to become a UI/UX designer, focus on mastering the fundamentals of UI/UX design and how to work in design and prototyping tools. Once you're solid in your UI/UX journey, start dabbling in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Begin with HTML to understand various elements, tags, and attributes, then move on to CSS to style your HTML markup and translate your Figma designs into responsive realities in the browser. After mastering HTML and CSS, work on adding interactions and animations using CSS transitions and JavaScript. JavaScript will help you create interactivity in the front-end, such as making elements respond to mouse clicks and hovers. While you can make a living as a UI/UX designer, understanding basic HTML, CSS, and JavaScript will broaden your horizons and make you the best UI/UX designer you can be.
By incorporating UI/ UX design skills with Front-End development skills will enable you to have numerous positive impact on yourself as an individual and on your career. You will be capable of providing more realistic solutions and will enhance the overall productivity and become more efficient in handling projects and delivering project deliverables. This expanded skill set not only makes you a more versatile designer but also bridges the gap between design and development, leading to more cohesive and effective digital solutions. Embracing this holistic approach will not only elevate your design capabilities but also position you as a standout professional in the ever-evolving world of digital design. So, take the plunge into front-end development and watch as your design prowess reaches new heights.
Embrace new skills and watch your design abilities rise to new heights, turning your ideas into amazing digital experiences.
