Questions to Kickstart a career in UX/UI
All great changes start with asking the right questions
What is UX/UI design?
Let's start with the most pressing question! And it's a tricky one. UX and UI, while mostly mentioned together, are two separate (but complementary!) fields for starters.
Can you tell the difference between the two?
User Experience is the complete experience users have on a web page or app.
User Interface is the actual design of a product, usually a website/page or app.
A UX designer's main focus is to make a product or app more effective and easy to use.
A UI designer's main focus is to make a product or app that basically looks and feels great.
But seriously,
What is UX/UI design?
Hear it directly from the source! We asked a few people working in UX and UI in Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq to fill us in.
What do people love about UX and UI?
Well, here you can meet some of the UX and UI movers and shakers in Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon! Check out what people love about this space and pick up a few pieces of advice to inspire your journey ahead.
What is UX? And what on earth is UI?
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the tech space or even dipped your toes into job boards these days, you’ll have seen the phrases “UX” and “UI” pop up. And if you’re still wondering what these two things mean (or are they the same thing?), well, you’re in the right spot.
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5 psychological tricks used in UX and UI
The main goal of a UX or UI designer is to help users navigate the product with ease. And while surveys, product data, and user interviews are undoubtedly powerful tools, they are time-consuming. Luckily for UX and UI designers, nature made a handy shortcut: human psychology.
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Can you guess these 5 careers that use UX/UI skills every day?
It might be hard to wrap your head around how pervasive (and valuable) UX and UI skills are if you're still new to UX and UI. Once you get familiar with some of the core skills, you might start seeing them in almost every job description and how they can be applied far beyond just typical design fields!
READ MOREWhat do UX and UI designers actually do?
The world of UX and UI is constantly evolving and there's a lot to learn! But if you're equipped with a few good questions, you'll be learning more about the day-to-day of a UX/UI designer in no time!
User Experience (UX) designers are busaly busy with ...
User research and interviews
Competitor research
Product strategy and structure
Content development and copy
Coordination with UI designers and developers
Testing, validation, and iteration
Wireframing
UX/UI designers are a combination of the two!
This means that they're usually busy with some combination of the bove. Depending on the company, a UX/UI designer might be more focused on the UX or the UI of the product- a fun balancing act!
User Interface (UI) designers are usually busy with..
Design research
Visual design: typography, colors, graphics,
Animation, and user interaction
Responsive design across devices
Wireframing and prototyping
Branding
Communication with developers
So, what do you think?
Do you have what it takes to become a UX/UI designer?
Find out in just 8 simple questions!
Start the quiz
What real-life problems can you solve with UX and UI skills?
UX and UI designers are constantly challenging themselves and putting their problem-solving skills to the test. Find out what these designers would love to fix with their UX/UI skills and what kinds of questions they might ask to find the right solutions.
If you look at the world around you, what would you fix?
Why these 2 Iraqi-made apps are smashing it
When you think of apps, most likely the names of Silicon Valley companies will come to mind. But more and more, apps from the Middle East are starting their rise to tech fame. And Iraqi-made apps have not missed out on this trend.
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The 2 Lebanese-made apps that are crushing the charts
When a product hits it big, it leaves everyone wondering: what’s their secret ingredient? We spoke to product and UX professionals at two of Lebanon’s most successful apps- Anghami and Toters- to find out what they’re doing differently to stand out.
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3 powerful questions for every UX/UI designer to ask
UX and UI designers are the detectives of the tech world. They leave no stone unturned when it comes to understanding problems and users. So what questions are they asking to solve their product mysteries?
READ MOREYalla! Let's do it!
How can I start my own UX/UI journey?
Many designers first get their start by searching the web for resources, videos, and how-tos to learn more about UX/UI.
Interested in this path? Designers usually get started on YouTube. A UX/UI favorite are videos from NNGroup.
Find out more here
Some are able to pursue online and in-person courses that are specifically dedicated to UX/UI.
Interested in this path? This free 6-day course from CareerFoundry can help get you started in UX!
Find out more here
Some people start as graphic designers and slowly take on more and more tasks in UX and UI at their company, learning on the job.
Interested in this path? Ask your employer about opportunities to explore more UX or UI tasks. This article can support you in asking for more/different responsibility!
Find out more here
If you're lucky, a local university might have a module or course covering some UX/UI basics.
Interested in this path? Ask your local universities/colleges, often you’ll find them in design or tech degrees. None available? You can consider this list of international universities that offer degrees.
Find out more here
Immersive bootcamps can be a great way to learn and get hands-on experience in UX/UI, all while building a network!
Interested in this path? Sign up to be the first to know about upcoming (free!) Re:Coded UX/UI bootcamps!
Find out more here
How have other’s kickstarted their careers in UX/UI?
Every career needs to start somewhere, but how some of the most succesful UX/UI Designers from Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq start their journey into the world of UX/UI design.
What journey do you think you’d take from here?
Hala Habr
Beirut, Lebanon
When Hala transitioned from architecture to UX design, she found one core similarity: experience design.
Marc Freiha
Beirut, Lebanon
When applying to his first UX/UI role, Marc found that his pointed questions and curiosity helped him land a high-paying role.
Ahmad Khalaf
Amman, Jordan
To enter the growing UX/UI community in Jordan, Ahmad put himself out there by building a solid UX/UI portfolio with freelance clients.
Payam Abubakr
Erbil, Iraq
After graduating from a UX/UI bootcamp, Payam looked for a chance to work with growing tech companies and landed her first job before graduation.
Ahmed Al-Kheerow
Erbil, Iraq
When building his own company, Ahmed found there was a core piece missing in the business: good design.
I’m ready to kickstart my UX/UI journey!
Get started with this quick and easy list of UX/UI resources and dive deeper into the creative tech space.
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6 (really great) reasons people go into UX and UI design
So you've probably been hearing enough about UX and UI design to know that there's a new generation of creative people going into this space. There's always some allure to a new field. But there are some solid reasons as to why!
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From traditional calligraphy to digital design: discovering UX/UI
Civil war, changing countries and starting a family had all put Sundus' promising career on hold before she finally rediscovered herself and her love for design in a UX/UI design bootcamp at Re:Coded.
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My top 4 reasons for joining the Re:Coded UX/UI design bootcamp
Zainab is a 23 year old graduate of Environmental Engineering in Iraq. She is also a recent graduate from our Re:Coded UX/UI Bootcamp in Iraq. We asked her why she thinks others should follow her footsteps.
READ MOREOur Partners
This program is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is implemented by Re:Coded in partnership with GIZ.
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