Become a rock star in the tech industry by learning two of the hottest trends
Web Developers are hot. And I'm not just talking about the temperature of their laptops and monitors. Web developers are in high demand, so it's only a matter of time before they're getting raises and promotions galore! But what if you want to be more than just a web developer? Maybe you want to be the unicorn that can design websites while also developing them. If this sounds like something you want to do, read on because we have some tips for becoming that unicorn.
A Web Developer Who Can Design is a Unicorn.
A web developer who can design is a unicorn.
A front-end developer is one of the most in-demand skill sets in tech right now. On the other hand, designers have been running amok for years now and are just continuing to be more and more popular as time goes on. So if you're looking to get hired or create a profitable side hustle as a freelancer, there's no better combination than being able to do both front-end development and design work.
It's More Fun To Design Than Code.
In my opinion, it's just more fun to design than code.
Designing is a creative process that allows you to engage more with the end product. It involves collaboration and helps you understand what your users want through user research. You can get feedback from clients and peers about your ideas or prototypes before coding them, so in general, the whole process feels less stressful than coding alone would be. You also have an opportunity to test out different scenarios if your designs are not working out as well as expected — which means that when things go wrong (and they will), it's easier for everyone involved in the project — including yourself — to fix them!
You're Great At Solving Problems, So Become a Designer!
As a web developer, you already know how to solve problems. You're great at it! You can take a problem on and come up with a solution. That doesn't mean that your answers are always perfect or even good, but as long as they work, you're great at solving problems.
So why not become a designer? Designers solve problems too! They just do so using different skills: visual communication, empathy with users and other stakeholders, understanding of business objectives… But the core concept is still “solve this user experience problem for me please” whether in terms of aesthetics or flow or UX/UI components like buttons and text fields. And when designers don't have all those answers yet either (usually because we haven't talked about them yet) but need something done urgently without taking time to fully consider the implications, guess who's got their back?
Learn Figma and Be Way More Productive and Proficient at Front-End Design.
Since you're a web developer, you already know that design is essential to your job. How do companies attract visitors? How do they keep visitors on their site? It all comes down to how good or bad the user experience (UX) and interface design (UI) are.
For this reason, it's important for web developers who want to take on UX/UI development roles to learn about the field of design in general and Figma in particular. In this section, we'll talk about what Figma is, why it matters for front-end developers and designers, and how you can use it as an effective tool in your arsenal as a designer or developer.
Figma is an online tool that allows front-end developers and designers alike to work collaboratively on projects while sharing files through GIT repositories hosted on GitHub or Bitbucket Cloud. Using cloud storage services like these can make working remotely easy without sacrificing efficiency; since all the files are stored in one place where everyone has access during the development process regardless of whether they're located at their home office or coffee shop downtown!
Figma allows you to create high-fidelity mockups, wireframes, and prototypes for your website or app. It comes with a set of pre-made components that you can use in your designs, and the ability to create custom components as well. The tool has built-in support for Sketch files as well as SVG vector graphics; so if you're used to working with those tools, it should be easy for you to transition over to Figma.
You Don't Need to Know About the Latest Frameworks or Libraries to Create Great Front-End Designs.
You don't need to know about the latest frameworks or libraries to create great front-end designs. You can use Figma for that, and it's not just for web developers who are already familiar with JavaScript and HTML. Figma is also a great tool for designers who want to create beautiful screens without having to write a single line of code!
Figma has several of the same features that other design tools do, like layers, symbols and styles — but it also includes many unique features like code blocks (which allow you to see your work as HTML), dynamic prototypes that update automatically when you change something in the code block or selectors field on your layer panel, and more! Plus it works seamlessly across devices so you can focus on creating amazing interfaces without worrying about how they'll look on different screens.
Front-End Design Isn't Going Away. Ever.
In the future, front-end developers will be more in demand than back-end developers. This is because front-end design and development is the most exciting part of web development. The two jobs are closely related, but one has a much higher level of creativity and innovation required. The best full-stack developers can work on both sides of the spectrum with ease, but this doesn't mean that you can't just be a front-end developer if you want to get ahead!
The “No Code/Low Code” Movement Won't Kill UI/UX Designers.
As these buzzwords continue to make their way into the technology world, it's important to understand what they mean. The “no code/low code” movement is not going to kill UI/UX designers. It will only make them more valuable because of their ability to help organizations adopt new technologies while also staying true to their original philosophy: User experience and user interface design should be at the center of any tech project.
UI/UX designers have been around since humans started using computers. They were there when we were writing programs on punch cards and paper tape; they were there when we pressed buttons on mainframes, and now they continue to provide valuable insights as we move forward into an increasingly digital world where our interactions with technology become ever-more ubiquitous and personalized.
Many Organizations are More Focused on UI/UX Design Than Browser Compatibility and Crossbrowser Testing.
User experience (UX) is an important part of web development. Many organizations are more focused on UI/UX design than browser compatibility and cross-browser testing. The reason for this is that people don't care about what browser they're using as long as the website works well and looks good in it.
Consider switching your focus from cross-browser testing to user experience design. UX is not just about how the site looks but also how users interact with it, as well as how they feel about using it — and those are all things you can learn how to do through practice and education!
Most Companies Want Their Teams To Be More Engaged with The Whole Product Process, Not Just The Coding Part.
You're not just a front-end developer and that can be a good thing. Most companies want their teams to be more engaged with the whole production process, not just the coding part. As a UX unicorn, you will have an opportunity to work closely with other departments like design and marketing to create an experience that users love.
You will be involved in everything from user research and conceptualization of ideas through testing your site on real customers and making sure it works properly across all devices (mobile, tablet, and desktop).
Becoming a Better Designer Will Make You Better At UX Research (User Research).
If you want to become a better UX designer, then the best thing you can do is learn more about UX research. The reason for this is that it will help you understand your users, their needs, and their problems. When you know what people are looking for in a product or service, then it's easier for you to create something that meets these needs and solves these problems.
This also applies when it comes to designing websites or apps. You don't have to be a designer if you want to learn more about user experience (UX) design; there are plenty of other ways in which this subject matter can help improve your skillset as a web developer or programmer:
– Understanding the user journey, their needs, and pain points
– Understanding what makes a successful website or app
– How to improve the user experience of your own projects
– How to identify what makes a website or app easy, intuitive, and fun to use
Learn UX/UI Design Along With Web Development and be a Unicorn
If you're a web developer, you should take UX/UI Design seriously. It's a great career option and it pays well. If you're not convinced, here are some facts about UX/UI Design:
- UX/UI Design is in high demand and there's an impending shortage of skilled designers.
- The average salary for a UX/UI Designer is $86,000, while the average salary of a Front End Developer is $68,000 (both numbers taken from PayScale).
- People who know how to do both web development and user experience design can be more productive at the front end because they understand both sides of the coin.
Conclusion
If you're a web developer, there are many skills that you can learn. But if you want to truly stand out from the crowd and become a unicorn, then UX/UI Design is the way forward. It may seem like a lot of work at first but once you get the hang of it and start seeing results, you'll be glad that you made this investment in yourself!
