Bummer! You have been redirected as the page you requested could not be found.
Heads up! To view this whole video, sign in with your Courses account or enroll in your free 7-day trial. Sign In Enroll
Well done!
You have completed Treehouse Festival December 2020!
You have completed Treehouse Festival December 2020!
Preview
How to Be a Better UI/UX Designer with Sharon Onyinye
23:39 with TreehouseSharon Onyinye discusses practical steps designers can take to level up.
This video doesn't have any notes.
Related Discussions
Have questions about this video? Start a discussion with the community and Treehouse staff.
Sign upRelated Discussions
Have questions about this video? Start a discussion with the community and Treehouse staff.
Sign up
[MUSIC]
0:00
Well, we have a wonderful Festival
day to get to and we're so excited.
0:03
We're going to kick things off right now
with our first speaker Sharon Onyinye.
0:08
She is a UX designer and
illustrator who is very passionate about
0:14
knowledge sharing,
data driven design and technology.
0:19
She is based in Berlin Germany, but
is originally from Lagos, Nigeria.
0:23
Please welcome Sharon.
0:28
>> So as Tony mentioned,
my name is Sharon Onyinye.
0:32
I am a UX designer and illustrator.
0:35
I have about five years of
experience not working in tech.
0:37
So when I say working in tech,
I mean basically from design to code.
0:41
I started out as a graphic designer and
0:46
now I'm working full time in a company
called HelloFresh as the UX designer.
0:49
I live in Germany, but
I'm originally from Nigeria.
0:54
So I was thinking we could
start from the basics.
0:59
What is UX Design?
1:02
Some of us already have a fair idea,
1:05
but I'm thinking it might be great
to just go back to the basics.
1:07
So essentially UX design focuses on
the interaction between real human
1:13
users obviously like yourself and me,
and everyday products and services.
1:17
This ranges from websites,
apps, coffee machines,
1:22
your remote control, your TV,
your radio, your phone, everything.
1:25
It's an extremely varied disciplined and
it combines various aspects of everything
1:31
from psychology, business, market research
design, and of course technology.
1:36
This definition I quite love because
it covers quite a lot of what
1:40
UX design is which is a really
amazing mix of different things.
1:45
Now for
us to know how to get better at something,
1:53
I think it's important that
we know what exactly we do.
1:55
So how do we get better at those things
that UI UX designers actually do?
1:59
So just like this cute little guy,
we wear many hats, we do a lot of things.
2:05
So the core of it really is
being an advocate for the users.
2:11
But as we know, beyond just user needs,
we also have business needs.
2:16
So as a UX designer, it is going to
be your duty to find the ability to
2:22
strike the balance between those two.
2:26
So meeting user needs ensuring
that your users are happy,
2:29
your users are able to achieve their goals
with a particular product or service.
2:32
And of course being able to
meet your business needs and
2:37
requirements for whatever products or
service that you are offering.
2:41
Now what are some tasks and
responsibilities?
2:48
Of course, you would do the common
things that I think everyone's more or
2:51
less aware of which would be designing
the wireframes and prototypes.
2:55
Setting up design systems and
style guides.
2:59
Design systems is like a foundation
building blocks that you can use to build
3:02
new things designwise, so components that
come together to form patterns and so on.
3:07
Then of course doing usability tests and
research.
3:12
In some cases some companies have like
designated people to do these but
3:15
in a lot of cases, it may not be.
3:19
And you might find yourself having to do
these and even if there are designated
3:21
people, it's an amazing thing
to know how these things work so
3:25
you would definitely be a part of it.
3:29
Organizing UX workshops and
design sprints, so
3:32
like facilitating workshops,
getting people to talk and share ideas,
3:35
going or working with stakeholders and
of course UX writing.
3:39
So these are some really
important tasks and
3:44
responsibilities that you would probably
be involved in on a day to day.
3:47
Now how can you become a UX Pro?
3:52
Going from zero to hero, from nothing
to something, how do we start?
3:54
So I have listed out a couple of really
practical steps that I personally
4:00
have taken that I would encourage you
to take the time out and get into.
4:07
So let's get started with that.
4:13
So the first thing is to copy others.
4:16
I know that this topic can be or this
concept rather can be a bit tricky for
4:18
people sometimes because it's like whoa,
copying.
4:23
Aren't you supposed to be original?
4:27
Aren't you supposed to always
come up with your own things?
4:28
Well the truth is when you're starting,
4:31
coming up with new themes
is going to be very hard.
4:33
And especially with visual design,
4:36
your eyes are not necessarily
going to be trained.
4:38
So if you don't have a visual design
background, it's gonna be hard for
4:40
you to kind of really know the elements
that make up a good design.
4:44
So I would always advise you to go online,
look for products that interests you,
4:48
look for designs that you think are cool.
4:52
You can check out anything from Dribble to
the your favorite app on your phone and
4:54
take a look at it.
5:00
So don't just like blindly try to
recreate it but pick it apart.
5:01
Look at the parts of it that you
think that make sense to you and
5:05
the parts of it that don't make
sense to you and ask questions.
5:08
When you're in the process of
intentionally and thoughtfully trying to
5:12
recreate this thing maybe in Figma or
Sketch, whatever design tool it is that
5:16
you're using, you're going to find
yourself asking a lot of questions.
5:20
Why did they use this font?
5:23
Why did they take this approach?
5:25
And just by that,
5:26
you are tuning your mind into the whole
process of thinking like a designer.
5:28
So the next thing is practice often.
5:34
Start with small milestones, studying for
5:37
as little as 15 minutes a day
will go a long, long way.
5:40
So as Dr. Tony even mentioned, 30
minutes a day can go such a long way and
5:44
you commit to it for a while, like three
months or you can start with a week.
5:49
Just promise yourself you're gonna do
15 minutes every day for about a week.
5:54
That will go a long way.
5:58
So it doesn't always have to be something
like maybe redesign or something complex.
6:00
Sometimes just picking up something and
looking at it and writing notes,
6:07
doing like an informal app critique.
6:10
So you can look at an app that
you use of maybe you use Uber,
6:11
maybe you use Instagram and just pick
it apart and think to yourself, what
6:15
are some patterns here that are important
for me to be aware of as a UX designer?
6:20
And constantly getting yourself into
that mindset of thinking as a designer.
6:26
The next thing, the next step,
rather that you would take is networking.
6:32
Expand your network to include
people with similar goals.
6:39
So these are not just gonna be designers,
so developers, young developers,
6:42
young product managers, people who
are doing startups, things like that.
6:46
Join these groups and communities like
this one, attend the meet-ups, hopefully
6:52
virtually for now and then when everything
is over, in person, go for these things.
6:57
Join groups like Facebook groups,
and put yourself out there and
7:04
surround yourself with this.
7:08
One thing I noticed especially when I was
starting out was following a bunch of
7:10
people on social media helped
because anytime I opened up my
7:14
social media accounts and
I would see them doing things.
7:17
It would be inspiring to me.
7:21
It would be so great to see people doing
things that I was interested in and
7:22
sometimes, it would
really pick my interest.
7:27
And it kept me very motivated and
I was able to keep going and
7:30
keep asking questions.
7:34
That mindset would always help me to
keep doing what I was doing at the time.
7:37
And next is to seek feedback.
7:44
Feedback is your best
friend as a designer.
7:46
And the best time to get comfortable
with seeking feedback is now.
7:49
So ask for actionable feedback.
7:54
So when you design something,
you want to ask, does this make sense?
7:59
Would you use something like this?
8:04
Do you understand what this means?
8:06
Does this look good to you?
8:08
So that the feedback that you
get would give you clear and
8:09
concise areas that you can improve on.
8:13
Even till now as
a designer a few years in,
8:15
there is a tendency to feel
a little bit almost like to be
8:19
very protective when
it comes to your work.
8:24
And you need to separate
yourself from your work.
8:28
Your work is one thing and
you are another thing.
8:31
And your own job is to
continue improving yourself.
8:34
So when you get that feedback constantly,
8:36
you are going to stop yourself from making
the same mistakes over and over and
8:39
over again, because you've learned
from it because someone has told you.
8:43
This is why it's also important to
join communities like I mentioned in
8:47
the previous slide.
8:51
Because when you ask for feedback,
8:53
you're surrounded by people who most
likely know a little bit more than you or
8:55
are around the same level and
have some very valuable insights for you.
8:59
So become comfortable with asking for
feedback.
9:03
Next up is partner up.
9:08
We know what's better than one designer?
9:10
Two or more, three, form a group.
9:12
Ask yourself what's the problem
you've always wanted to solve and
9:16
just start working on it.
9:21
Start doing some research,
partner up with others and
9:22
you guys can all just form like
a little group and give yourself tasks.
9:26
You can also of course pair up
with developers, product managers,
9:30
generally anyone who is in tech
that you think could add value.
9:34
And these are ultimately the kind of
projects that can enter your portfolio as
9:37
a junior designer, just things that you
don't necessarily have to be so grand.
9:42
They don't have to be so life-changing but
they're just important steps.
9:46
Now this also teaches you how to work
with other people and as a designer,
9:50
that is a huge part of your work,
stakeholder management.
9:55
So you will eventually
work with developers,
9:58
you will work with credit managers.
10:00
So if you can start to get that experience
now even before you have maybe even your
10:02
first job,
Then you would be helping yourself.
10:06
You will be putting yourself
basically miles ahead.
10:09
So learn to team up with others,
learn to set goals.
10:13
Set goals that you can actually achieve.
10:16
Now, another great advantage
of partnering up is the fact
10:19
that you can stay motivated easily.
10:24
So if one person is feeling down,
the other person can say no, no,
10:26
we committed to doing this for
two months and we're going to do it.
10:29
We committed to achieving this
milestone by this particular time and
10:32
we're going to do just that.
10:35
And so just by having that good energy,
that positive energy,
10:38
that drive in your circle,
it helps you to keep going.
10:42
And lastly, I think it's very important
that we remember that it's important to be
10:48
very kind to yourself while
you are on this journey.
10:53
Now, it is usually quite
daunting to learn a new skill.
10:57
It's daunting to start and
see other people doing what you would
11:02
think is better than your,
being able to achieve,
11:06
being able to get certain milestones
supposedly because of you, before you.
11:10
So it's really important that you take out
the time to mark your progress and say,
11:16
even if you're not seeing it, it's there.
11:21
One day you would look at your work
that you did weeks ago, months ago, and
11:24
then look at what you're doing now and
11:28
be fully appreciative of the amount
of progress that you have made.
11:30
Take breaks, courage yourself, relax,
and just enjoy the ride because at
11:35
the end of the day,
it's a journey and it doesn't stop.
11:40
So always remember to be kind to
yourself and to allow yourself,
11:44
allow your brain time to relax.
11:48
So yes, you are on your way
to becoming a superhero.
11:52
Just be patient with yourself and
keep going and
11:56
remember to make small
actionable commitments so,
12:00
So thank you all so much.
12:12
I would like to get into
some questions now.
12:16
So the first one is knowing there is
an overlap, what skills did you have to
12:19
acquire outside of your role as a graphic
designer to become a UX designer?
12:24
Well, actually, yes,
there is an overlap as you mentioned.
12:30
That is really true.
12:34
But you would soon find that
the concepts of design within graphic
12:36
design are actually quite different
from those within UX design.
12:41
So of course,
there's some core principles.
12:45
But when it comes to actually
being aware of mobile principles,
12:47
web principles, and stuff like that,
that was something that I had to work on,
12:51
so understanding how design
works within technology.
12:56
You know how you would learn as a graphic
designer, maybe how to work with
12:59
prints and how to set up your,
I don't know, CMYK versus RGB formats.
13:05
If you're a graphic designer,
you would know things like that.
13:10
So within UX design,
you have to learn mobile-first approaches.
13:13
You have to learn your constraints.
13:17
Then of course, you would also learn,
I also have to get into a lot of UX
13:19
research and
understanding how to ask questions,
13:24
how to solve problems, and
just really trying to understand or
13:28
get into understanding how to solve
problems for users and what users are.
13:32
Another thing I had to learn was general
best practices regarding mobile and web.
13:38
So when you get to
understand those things,
13:44
it really puts you into that mindset.
13:46
So those are some skills that
I had to to really learn.
13:48
Another question is, are developers and
designers open to collaborations or
13:53
are they reluctant to add
more to their plates?
13:58
It depends, you could, it depends on
the kind of people that you are going
14:02
to be working with them,
what their own situations are.
14:07
So if you're looking to
work with other junior or
14:14
people that are just starting out,
14:18
most likely they might not have too
much on their plates and stuff.
14:21
But that would make it easier or
14:26
that would make them rather more open to
collaborations and linking up with you.
14:29
So you may not want to reach out to
someone that already has a full-time job.
14:34
Maybe someone that's still testing
the waters and other people like that, so
14:38
people that are still figuring it out.
14:42
So it's hard to say,
not everybody would be reluctant and
14:45
not everybody will be open.
14:48
But it's helpful to look for people at
a more similar level as yourself, so
14:50
you know how you would manage time and
responsibilities.
14:54
Next question is, I was wondering
if there's a current trend or
14:59
concept in UX that you
are personally really enjoying.
15:03
And in the opposite vein, anything that
makes you wonder why it's a trend?
15:07
Well, one is this is not so
much in design.
15:14
But one thing I do currently enjoy
is that there's this new kind of
15:18
role called design ops.
15:23
And so how it works is basically
design operations where there
15:26
are designers that are specifically
hired to work on design systems and
15:31
to make design systems scalable and
to make them extremely
15:36
useful across all platforms
that they're being created for.
15:41
So personally, I quite really enjoy that.
15:47
We have a few in my company
which is on HelloFresh.
15:50
And working together with them makes
your life so much easier as a designer,
15:52
so definitely that.
15:57
Then something I don't
understand why it's a trend.
15:59
I don't yet understand, forgive me if
you're a fan of this, but I don't yet
16:02
understand your Neumorphism and
why it's a theme.
16:06
I'm not against that.
16:09
I don't hate it or anything, but I just
don't see it being very practical when it
16:10
comes to accessibility standards and
all of that.
16:15
So I think that it still has
a lot more work to improve and
16:18
to finally be a fan and would need
some maybe specific guidelines for
16:21
it to become very accessible and useful.
16:26
So yeah,
I hope that answers your question.
16:29
And from Jason,
do you think it's important for
16:33
new developers to learn
UX design principles?
16:35
For front-end developers,
I would say just having some concepts,
16:38
some understanding of concepts
like accessibility and
16:43
some very basic things
would be very useful.
16:47
And that is also because UX
designers constantly need
16:50
the feedback of developers.
16:53
So I wouldn't say it's a must but
it's a nice to have.
16:56
So if you can gain some knowledge on this,
then I would say, why not?
16:59
It's not top priority, but
definitely if you have the extra time,
17:05
you should go for it.
17:09
Laura says my background is in web design,
mostly information architecture, CSS,
17:11
rather than in graphic design.
17:16
What recommendations would you have for
17:18
me as someone wanting to
transition more into UX science?
17:20
I would say that your background,
first of all, does give you an edge.
17:23
And that's really cool that you have that.
17:27
Information architecture is still
a very core part of UX design till now.
17:30
So I would say, right now,
what would be very important is for
17:35
you to familiarize yourself
with UX-related concepts.
17:38
So just really get getting
into user research,
17:42
familiarizing yourself with products,
core products and
17:46
services that are solving relevant
problems and things like that.
17:50
And of course,
it does help to take UX courses.
17:56
So when you take UX-specific
courses that would take you from
17:59
the basics to explaining some
deeper core concepts, then yeah.
18:04
Another thing I would advise for
18:10
you is since you already do have some
knowledge of it, just start practicing.
18:12
Just start doing something
as soon as you can.
18:16
So don't necessarily wait until you
feel like you have all the answers.
18:19
And yeah, just start at it and
then just keep going.
18:27
How did you learn general best practices?
18:39
Is there a book or
do you follow through and [INAUDIBLE]?
18:42
Well, for one, yes, following Google and
is actually a very good place to start, so
18:45
understanding material design and
things like that.
18:49
But I would say general
best practices are,
18:52
it's just something that you would
do a lot of a bit of research on.
18:55
And it's also to an extent,
some trial and error.
19:00
So you would basically start
from doing some research
19:03
about mobile-first practices and
web-based practices.
19:09
And then, just start reading up on these
things and then also start working on it.
19:15
Then you would also do some research on,
19:20
You would also do some research on
how to basically solve problems and
19:25
what things that you're
supposed to look out for.
19:30
How were you able to get a job in
Germany considering the tech industry is
19:36
competitive there?
19:40
Honestly, I would say when you know
that you're in a competitive market,
19:42
you also have to take extra steps and
do your best, put your best foot forward.
19:47
So there are efforts that you can
make personally on your side.
19:54
And then also when you hear
that something is competitive,
19:57
it doesn't mean that there's no space for
you.
19:59
So it's competitive but
20:02
that doesn't mean that you are not
able to get an opportunity there.
20:03
So I would say, I just tried and
I learned from mistakes and I kept trying.
20:08
So when you're also in competitive fields,
or in competitive environments,
20:15
it's very important
that you try your best.
20:19
And that when you apply and
someone rejects you,
20:21
you find another place and you apply.
20:23
And you learn from your mistakes,
and you basically keep going.
20:25
So basically I didn't give up and I kept
applying even when I got rejections.
20:29
So I think that's a very important aspect.
20:33
What is your philosophy in
deployment of interfaces?
20:40
Is it more important to get something
out ASAP than improve the UX or
20:43
do you need to get everything right?
20:48
The truth is you can't get
everything right at the first time.
20:50
No matter how hard you try,
there's always going to be trade-offs.
20:53
There are always going to be things
that you will have to compromise on.
20:56
So I would say that it's important
that you get the core things right.
20:59
So get your core things right.
21:04
So some very basic, ensuring that your
whatever it is you're launching is usable.
21:05
So it doesn't have like very bad
usable practices, it's responsive, and
21:11
things like.
21:16
Then ensuring that it meets up
with accessibility guidelines and
21:16
things like that.
21:20
So you wanna ensure core
concepts are met and
21:21
core business goals as well are being met,
and core user needs are being met.
21:23
And then from there begins
the process of iteration.
21:27
Iteration is a never ending process.
21:30
For example, HelloFresh has
been around for eight years or
21:32
so, and we're still designing till now.
21:35
So we are making iterations, we're
constantly finding room for improvement.
21:38
But you do have to take the first step and
push the bird out of the nest and
21:41
actually start, and then constantly
iterate and improve from there.
21:46
Would you say voice UX is similar'?
21:53
Any insight on voice UX?
21:56
I mean, generally anything that has,
21:58
a lot of things are related when
it comes to UX design in general.
22:00
And this is one that is
becoming quite popular.
22:05
So yeah,
I would say it's It's a growing niche.
22:08
But I would say familiarize
yourself with core UX concepts,
22:13
get into that, and
then branch out into voice UX.
22:17
Yeah, but
it is definitely a growing trend, and
22:21
as well as AR and VR UX,
those are coming up in a couple of years.
22:25
So if you can familiarize yourself with
it now, then definitely go for it.
22:31
Do you have any recommendations or go to
books on writing for UX and web design?
22:39
There is actually a really nice course
22:44
on Gymnasium by Aquent
that you can search up
22:48
that talks about UX writing for
web design.
22:53
So you can just check that out.
22:58
I don't know if I can type it up.
23:01
It's Gymnasium Aquent.
23:03
You can just Google that.
23:04
And then there is, I think,
UX Writing Hub on Instagram.
23:06
And you can reach out to them.
23:11
They do some really awesome UX trainings.
23:12
So thank you all so, so much.
23:17
I believe that was the last
question that I have time for.
23:19
So yeah, you can search for me.
23:23
I'm on YouTube.
23:25
I have a YouTube channel.
23:26
So you can just search for Sharon Onyinye
and you can check out my videos.
23:27
You can also follow me on Instagram or
connect with me on LinkedIn.
23:31
Thank you all so, so much and
have a lovely, lovely rest of the day.
23:35
You need to sign up for Treehouse in order to download course files.
Sign upYou need to sign up for Treehouse in order to set up Workspace
Sign up