6 Benefits of Learning to Code as a UI/UX Designer

Education & Career Trends: July 15

Curated by the Knowledge Team of  ICS Career GPS

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• Excerpts are taken from an article published on makeuseof.com.

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In the tech world, it’s commonly believed that coding and UI/UX design are opposite ends of the spectrum. Several designers don’t interact with code, and some see no reason why they should. From most viewpoints, UI/UX design is for creatives, while coding suits analytical minds, and these two have no middle ground.

However, a basic understanding of coding is essential for any designer.

Here are six benefits of learning to code as a UI/UX designer and the necessary coding skills you’ll need on your journey.

1. Enhanced Communication With the Developer

• In most cases, there seems to be a gap between the designer’s wants and the developer’s final work on several projects and teams.
• Thus, learning to speak a developer’s language helps you explain certain design techniques and requirements.
• This way, you can better convey your message, correct irregularities, and understand the developer’s thought process, eventually resulting in seamless project execution.

2. More Realistic and Implementable Designs

• Creativity is paramount for a UI/UX designer; your work should always be distinct and eye-catching.
• Learning to code as a designer gives you a reality check whenever your designs are on the verge of being impractical.
• With this knowledge, you can design with programming principles in mind to have a mental picture of the end product even before the developer comes in.

3. Increased Productivity and Speed

• When you understand coding, you can communicate your exact instructions and, thus, spend less time making corrections.
• This way, you’ll finish jobs faster and move on to the next, generating more profit and solidifying your reputation with clients.
• Getting it right the first time makes for a general increase in productivity.

4. Improved Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Abilities

• A complete understanding of user experience is a UI/UX designer’s key responsibility.
• You must be able to research a user’s problem and think up logical design solutions to that issue.
• The analytical and problem-solving nature of coding provides deeper insights into addressing user challenges and enhancing reasoning skills.

5. Easier to Transition to Other Career Paths

• A new career path presents a new challenge and more excitement in your tech journey.
• Because design and development are closely related, coding may pique your interest over time.
• Now, having coding skills equips you with any possible future changes to the development field.
• If you decide to become a full-time developer, you’ll find it easier to pick up programming languages and more complex principles with these basics mastered.

6. Broader Career Prospects and Higher Employability

• Many top companies list fundamental coding skills in their requirements for a UI/UX designer.
• Although this isn’t the norm, having these skills puts you in the ring for such roles and gives you an edge when competing for regular design jobs.
• Additionally, coding helps you become more analytical and a better problem-solver, so you’ll inevitably see improvement in your design process.

Basic Coding Skills UI/UX Designers Should Have

What level of coding knowledge is required?

1. HTML

• HTML (or Hypertext Markup Language) is the basic building block of the web.
• In other words, it’s used to write what the browser shows or displays and forms the main content you see online.
• An introduction to HTML will teach you to understand better how your elements are placed and the final product on your user’s screen.
• This inevitably helps you make more realistic designs and also enables you to code your work personally if you decide to.

2. CSS

• While HTML determines what goes on your web page, CSS (or Cascading Style Sheets) enhances its aesthetic appearance.
• As the name implies, CSS styles and breathes life into a typically bland webpage.
• HTML and CSS are the most important coding skills to understand, as they majorly implement your UI designs.
• Visual elements like colour and shape and the more practical parts of your design are handled using them.
• A good grasp of both will help you visualise the exact outcome of your work.

3. Fundamental JavaScript

• Its use and applications are countless in programming, scripting, and creating animations and interactive UX prototypes.
• JavaScript adds functionality to a webpage and can change your style, positioning, and more.
• You’ll also need it to impressively model your design for developers and clients, especially for your more complex work.

Widen Your Design Prospects With Coding Skills

Learning is essential for growth, so acquiring only primary design skills isn’t enough and will do nothing for you. The more in-depth knowledge you possess about your design field, the faster you progress and thrive. By mastering coding and other technical skills for UI/UX design, your career will surely be on the upswing.

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Have you checked out yesterday’s blog yet?

Unlock Your Hidden Creative Genius With These Tips

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(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article mentioned above are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of ICS Career GPS or its staff.)

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