The best design teams arenโt hiring more people. Theyโre optimizing the overlaps between UX, UI, and Research. Where’s the line between UX, UI, and Researchers? In most cases, they crossover. UX design is often combined with UI design, creating the UX/UI designer role. All three may make up a Product Designer. However, they are distinct roles. For example, User Researchers are trained in completely different skills, but there is crossover with the other two roles.
Great products aren’t built in silos. They’re created when these roles work as one cohesive unit, each bringing their unique perspective to the table. Let’s break down the touchpoints and start first with the accountabilities.
๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐:
๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ
- Map user flows & information architecture
- Wireframe low/high-fidelity screens
- Build interactive prototypes
- Run/partner on usability testing
- Align design with product goals
- Collaborate with PM/engineering
๐จ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ
- Design layouts, typography, color, iconography
- Define component states & micro-interactions
- Maintain design systems
- Produce responsive specs/redlines
- Ensure visual accessibility
- Iterate on UI from feedback
๐จ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ
- Plan research & select methods
- Recruit/run interviews, tests, surveys
- Analyze and synthesize findings
- Share insights with the team
- Manage research operations
- Track impact over time
๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป๐: ๐ฅ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ฎ๐ฝ๐
๐จ๐ซ โ ๐จ๐
- Wireframes & prototypes
- Accessibility compliance
- Maintain design systems
- Collaborate with PM/dev
- Iterate from usability data
- Design reviews & presentations
๐จ๐ซ โ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต
- Define user needs & pain points
- Usability testing
- Turn findings into design changes
- Create personas & journey maps
- Validate concepts with users
- Promote user-centered decisions
๐จ๐ โ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ต
- Test visual clarity & comprehension
- Evaluate interaction patterns
- Validate accessibility visually
- Collect feedback on prototypes
- Measure brand alignment in UI
- Refine designs from insights
๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐: ๐๐น๐น ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐
- Advocate for the user
- Collaborate cross-functionally
- Align with business goals
- Iterate based on evidence
- Keep user focused from start to finish