Why I Chose UI/UX Design: My Journey So Far

My First Experience with UI/UX Design

My journey with UI/UX began with a mission. As a college student pursuing a nursing major while working in mental health related fields, I noticed a need for more in-depth, easy to use, financially accessible mental health and wellness support for everyone. I began my research on the best tools to design an application and landed with InVision, a competitor to Figma at the time.

Without ever hearing of UI/UX Design, I began designing my idea of the perfect mental health productivity app.

Research and Learning

I started designing with passion. I had always been fascinated by the way people interacted with technology, from the apps we use daily to the websites we browse. I started noticing patterns in what made some experiences enjoyable and others frustrating. So I took steps to better understand who I was designing for, rather than just designing for myself. I looked through competitor mental health applications on the market, and combing through reviews to identify user likes and dislikes. This gave me both a goal, and a sense of direction with my project.

It wasn't until 6 months into my project where I discovered the terms User Experience and User Interface. I learned that there was an entire discipline dedicated to this art, and so I took a step back from my project and dove into learning about the fascinating world of UI/UX Design. I learned that, like any art form, there is no one right answer. As a designer, it's more than just creating something that looks aesthetically pleasing, it's about creating a solution that is right for everyone. It is about Accessibility.

After my deep dive into researching the world of UI/UX, I looked back at my project with fresh eyes, accounting for accessibility. I made adjustments to my project using skills like color theory and typography, and I created and added icons that are commonly recognized to prevent confusion. While it may not seem like a lot, my initial designs were instantly better and I knew I had to learn more.