10 misconceptions about the UX/UI designer profession

« Since you’re a designer, you can draw, right?! »

The other day, one of my clients asked me to create illustrations for his mobile app because he wanted a single person handling the design, which I can understand. Unfortunately, I am not an illustrator. So, I had to decline his request and recommended a talented illustrator from his network. My response surprised him a lot.

In the creative field, there are many different jobs, each with its own specialty. It’s like in the construction industry: there are carpenters, tilers, and roofers. Each contributes to building your house based on their expertise.

« Your job is just coloring, right? »

Technically, you could almost say that, but it would be very reductive!

My job involves creating a graphic universe that aligns with your company’s values and brand guidelines (when they exist). Each color has a specific meaning.

For example, for a luxury website, we would prefer black, plum, or gold and avoid overly flashy colors.

Moreover, to propose a modern and coherent design, there are graphic trends to follow.

And for the record, the profession of colorist exists, notably for coloring comic books.

« So, can you make me a wedding invitation? »

« Great, but can you design logos? »

Creating a logo and, more broadly, a visual identity is a job in itself. For that, I would refer you to graphic designers I work with.

For me, creating just a logo doesn’t make much sense. When a company creates or redesigns its logo, it should be seen as a comprehensive project and talked about in terms of visual identity. This allows for the creation of a coherent visual universe that aligns with your company’s values, enabling your target customers to recognize themselves in this universe.

« Oh cool, so you know how to code? »

I learned to code during my studies, so I have some knowledge. Clearly, it’s not for me! I quickly realized that there is a certain logic to it. I have more of a « creative » logic.

However, I remain convinced that it is important for a designer to have some knowledge of development. This allows us to understand and anticipate the technical constraints that developers may encounter.

« Anyway, we never know when you’re working; you’re always drawing. »

Since I have a very creative job, I am always doing graphic research on Dribbble or Behance, looking for images, icons, or visuals to create graphic universes. I always have interfaces in progress on my screen. So yes, I am always more or less drawing, with the help of my mouse.

And since I live my passion, I don’t really feel like I’m working!

« Aren’t you a bit of a geek? »

But I also enjoy moments away from screens, in nature, to recharge and clear my mind. It helps me stay creative and draw inspiration from my environment.

« You work with Post-its. »

That’s somewhat true, haha.

When I give training sessions or facilitate design thinking workshops, I inevitably use Post-its. They are a staple of my tools for this type of activity.

Otherwise, for the rest of my work, I have digitized everything by switching to Notion. This tool allows me to centralize everything in one place, which is very convenient!

« For me, a UX/UI designer creates a website based on a brand image, thinking about navigation, accessibility, etc. »

That’s a pretty good summary of my work.

It involves creating the design for mobile and web applications, focusing on the user experience.

First, I think about the user journey, i.e., the sequence of screens or navigation in the context of a website. This work also helps me determine the functionalities to implement on each screen.

Then, I focus on constructing the structure of the screens. This means laying out the skeleton by distributing titles, text areas, images, and buttons.

Finally, once the structure is complete, I create the graphic universe and integrate it into the mockups before handing them over to the developers.

And you, what misconceptions have you encountered regarding your profession?