How do you work with developers and designers on UI projects?

By encouraging clear communication, sharing design mockups, and talking about technological constraints. Update and iterate on designs on a regular basis based on their comments, ensuring a balance of aesthetics and functionality while adhering to established pattern..

We will have detailed discussion about wireframe and what else changes come in near future. This helps to decide initial design both for developers and designers. Later, will start explaining design patterns and also side effects of too much engineering.

We recently completed a UI Project with the help of Salesforce Marketing Cloud, Here are my learnings - - Wireframes Design and Sign off from Stakeholders - Effective use of tools like Figma to design / share and collaborate on the wireframes - Feasibility check of the wireframes with the technology you are choosing for development. - Consistency between the different pages of the site - Most important is in the modern world of smart gadgets, Usability of your UI with different devices like Mobile Screens, Laptops, Desktops, I-Pads etc. - UI is a very subjective topic hence it is important to ensure that we develop the UI in iterative manner of (Create-> Review -> Rework -> Deploy). - NFRs to be considered like responsiveness.

Collaboration in UI projects involves these steps: Scope Understanding: Grasping project requirements, audience, problem-solving aspects, and user experience. Wireframes & Mockups: Creating visual guides. Design-Development Handoff: Handing over finalized designs to developers. Development: Transforming static images into a functional UI. Review & Iteration: Reviewing post-development UI to make adjustments. Testing: Testing the UI on different devices and screen sizes. Feedback & Iteration: Incorporating post-testing feedback. Communication: Ensuring alignment through regular meetings and open communication.

Working with developers and designers on UI projects involves effective communication, collaboration, and understanding of each other's roles and responsibilities. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to work with them: Initial Planning and Discovery: Kick-off Meeting: Hold a meeting with both developers and designers to discuss project goals, objectives, and requirements. Define Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of each team member. Developers will focus on coding, while designers will create the visual elements. Wireframing and Design: Wireframes: Designers create wireframes to outline the basic structure and layout of the UI. These serve as a blueprint for the final design.

Design patterns are the cornerstone of building robust and maintainable user interfaces. They're not one-size-fits-all, though. Context matters! Here's how you can make the most of them: ?? Choose Wisely: Design patterns come with their own set of pros and cons. Select the ones that align with your UI project's unique requirements. For instance, opt for Model-View-Controller (MVC) to keep data, logic, & presentation neatly separated or employ the Observer pattern to update UI components on data changes. ?? Effective Communication: Clear communication is key. Make sure your developers & designers understand why you've chosen a specific design pattern. ?? Drive Efficiency: Design patterns are tools to drive efficiency and maintainability.

Finding the best design pattern for a specific problem requires a structured approach. Here are steps you can follow to determine the most suitable pattern: 1.Understand the Problem: Clearly define and categorize your challenge. 2.Research Patterns: Study common design patterns for distinct problems (Creational, Behavioural, Structural). 3.Analyze and Match: Relate your problem's characteristics to suitable patterns. 4.Peer Review: Discuss your choice with teammates or experts for insights. 5.Evaluate Complexity: Ensure the pattern's benefits justify any added complexity. 6.Document: Record your decision and ensure the team understands the chosen pattern. 7.Implement and Test: Integrate the pattern, and rigorously test its implementation.

Choosing appropriate design patterns is crucial for UI projects. Some commonly used patterns are MVC, Observer, Singleton, Factory, Strategy, and Decorator. MVC separates the app into model, view, and controller. Observer establishes one-to-many relationships between objects. Singleton ensures only one instance of a class is created. Factory provides an interface for creating objects. Strategy defines interchangeable algorithms or behaviors. Decorator adds functionality to an object. Choose patterns based on the project's requirements and complexity.

Choosing appropriate design patterns involves a combination of understanding the problem at hand, considering the system's requirements, and drawing from your experience. Start by thoroughly analyzing the specific software design challenge. Identify the pain points, recurring issues, or areas where flexibility and maintainability are crucial. Once you have a clear problem statement, explore design patterns that address these concerns. Consider factors such as the system's architecture, its scalability requirements, and the team's familiarity with certain patterns. Keep in mind that design patterns are not one-size-fits-all solutions; they are tools to be applied judiciously in context.

Domain centric approach is my favorite way to design an architecture. Hexagonal Architecture have an excellent fit to keep this mindset.

The proper naming conventions set by designers help the code generator plugins to create better readable code that developers will maintain.

Naming is very important, with clear naming of components and functions you can significantly reduce the need for comments in your code. Also, it helps to read code faster and avoid unclarities.

Maintaining clarity and consistency in naming conventions is essential for effective collaboration between developers and designers in UI projects. For instance, using a BEM (Block Element Modifier) naming convention for CSS classes ensures that both teams understand the structure and purpose of each element. In JavaScript, camelCase or PascalCase for variable and function names provides clear communication. This consistency streamlines communication, making it easier to identify and modify UI components. By adhering to these conventions, developers and designers can work harmoniously, enhancing the project's readability and maintainability.

I completely agree, and I would like to emphasize the importance of adopting a ubiquitous language where the names of functions or components align as closely as possible with the business vocabulary. This practice greatly enhances maintainability.

Consistency is the key for me although some over standardization rules are unnecessary. Always using the same case and lettering may not be required everywhere because Some new ideas and old criticisms have finally made it to the common lexicon of UI naming schemes. For example, why use a complicated letter and underscore naming scheme that is hard to understand for most (Hungarian notation last I saw) and easily understandable to a specific subset of people. There was this whole argument about trying to require smartness to kick out people who couldn't do specific things like remember to use an m/n followed by a number and underscore in the right place and then an acronym, a secret acronym and then something else, leaving out the type.

Thoroughly documenting code is crucial for UI projects to ensure seamless collaboration between developers and designers. For instance, JSDoc comments in JavaScript provide clear explanations for functions and their parameters, making it easier for both teams to understand the code's purpose. In CSS, comments can describe the styling rationale behind specific classes, aiding designers in maintaining the desired visual consistency. Additionally, using tools like Markdown or README files to document project-specific guidelines and design decisions fosters a shared understanding. These practices enhance communication and help teams work together efficiently, ultimately resulting in a well-documented and cohesive UI project.

In the dynamic world of UI development, clarity is key. That's where documentation comes into play. Here's why it matters: ?? Code Clarity: Documenting your code helps you explain its purpose, logic, and structure. It's the roadmap that guides your team through the intricacies of your project. ?? Bug Busting: When issues arise, a well-documented codebase makes bug tracking a breeze. ?? Refactoring Magic: As projects evolve, you'll need to refactor and optimize. Documentation ensures that you don't lose sight of the big picture while fine-tuning your code. ?? Tools of the Trade: Explore the plethora of tools available for documentation in your chosen platform or technology. Find what suits your project best.

Indeed, some individuals believe that the code alone suffices as documentation. While this approach may be acceptable in certain cases, the evolution of programming languages and the adoption of paradigms like functional programming have made it increasingly challenging to rely solely on code as the primary source of documentation. Therefore, it becomes necessary to provide clear descriptions, especially when dealing with complex or unconventional syntax, to explain the underlying logic.

The best way to document your code is to follow a clear and consistent approach. Start by writing comprehensive comments that explain the purpose, functionality, and usage of classes, functions, and variables. Inline comments should focus on the "why" rather than the "how" to provide context to future readers. However, it's essential to keep documentation up-to-date as your code evolves, as outdated or inaccurate documentation can be more harmful than none at all. Also, remember that well-structured and self-explanatory code is the best form of documentation, so aim for code that is as clear and understandable as possible.

One key considerations when developing the UI of an app based on an UI design: Communication and sync between the product owner, designers, QA and engineers is one of the most important practices you and your team needs to do. You should do refinement sessions regularly, since there is the best place to get a common understanding of what the team need to do in order to create value. Each member of the team can share their perspective from their expertise area. When starting the development, the changes are the common. As designer, it’s important to communicate every change in the design, and as engineer, communicate if you are having issues developing. This is crucial if you have a system design and a UI library.

Find the earliest stage possible to review the product with your focus group and with your early adopter customers. Onboard cohorts gradually and keep iterating till the product becomes intuitive for the majority of its users.

The best way to test and review a UI project is to implement a structured and comprehensive process. Start by defining clear requirements and specifications for the UI, ensuring alignment with user needs and business goals. Develop test cases and test plans that cover various aspects such as usability, functionality, performance, and compatibility across different devices and browsers. Automated testing tools can help streamline the testing process. Collaborate closely with designers, developers, and end-users during the review phase, seeking feedback and incorporating necessary changes. It's crucial to conduct both functional testing to verify that the UI works as expected and usability testing to gauge the user experience.

I don't think I have ever not extensively tested a single UI or application I have ever developed to the point of exhaustion. This is why my UI always works and I know when there are unauthorized changes to my applications.

Communication is the key. Breaking down ux and design into code isn't always easy, and a component library can only solve the problem partially. It's continuously developing, and getting a design QA done alongside functional QA holds the key. Sometimes, the dev or dev team managers don't understand the importance of design, so they feel a little deviation here and there is ok, in order to meet the project deadlines. And the design team does not understand the tech challenges. It's clear communication and acknowledgement/appreciation of each other's challenges that can help bridge the gap.

Regular communication for UI feedback involves setting up a structured feedback mechanism. Start by establishing a feedback channel, which can be a dedicated Slack channel, email, or a project management tool. Encourage team members, designers, and end-users to provide timely feedback on UI elements, features, and user experiences. Create a feedback schedule, such as weekly or bi-weekly meetings, to discuss the feedback and track progress. However, the caveat is to ensure that feedback collection and discussions do not overwhelm the team, leading to constant disruptions. Strike a balance between regular communication and providing adequate time for focused work to avoid productivity issues.

In the realm of UI design, communication & collaboration aren't just buzzwords—they're secret sauce that elevates projects to greatness. Here's why they matter: ?? Regular Dialogue: Communication isn't a one-time event; it's an ongoing dialogue. Regularly touch base with your development & design teams. ?? Respect & Appreciation: Every team member brings unique skills & perspectives to table. Respect these differences & appreciate value they add. ?? Bridge the Gap: UI designers and developers often speak different languages. Effective communication acts as a bridge, ensuring that design intent translates into perfect execution. ???? Toolbox for Collaboration: Explore collaboration tools like Figma, Sketch & Git for streamlined teamwork.

Designing and developing an UI is an iterative process. There would always be new improvements to the design. Hence, communication is the key. Using the right tools with in-time notifications helps to automate this process.

Communication & collaboration is key and that includes bringing all relevant stakeholders into the conversation early on. Too often different functions work in silos that look almost like assembly line; Designers do their own iteration of the design, then hand it off to the developers to implement, followed by handing it off to QA for testing. Instead, developers should be involved in the design process early-on to make sure trade offs around design aesthetics v engineering efforts are considered, likewise, inputs from QA could be valuable as they often has knowledge on the nuances of how the application work as a whole.

With UI becoming more accessibility friendly , consider running ADA checks , to see your apps meet most of the criteria of American Disability Act. They should be keyboard friendly, screen reader readable with proper contrast ratio. Less is more: Simplicity is the key. Rather than having complex features, make them simple to user. Consider google search. One bar in entire page. Anyone will intuitively know , they need to search n type in the bar .. simple yet powerful.

In my experience so far, I have found the best approach is to always start with the UI Designs being signed off with the stakeholders by sharing mockups of user experience with the suggested designs. This eliminates the need of rework incase something needs to be changed at a later state. Once the above is ready, an accessibility testers perspective has to be collected in the requirements before coding. Final stage is where the engineering team steps in to begin the development. This is the area where design patterns need to be considered to make sure code reusablity and readability are achieved. The advantage of modern frameworks/libraries like React is component reusablity and its best to develop each UI element as decoupled as possible

Make sure that the user stories contain the exact version for the wireframes/mockup in case you use links to them or simply put the images (so that you UX people can continue adding new version while the developers/testers work on the previous versions).

Accessibility consideration is important and it's exponentially easier when making accessible UI starts with the design process and followed through with every step of implementation (including accessibility audit / testing along the way). The complexity of trying to retrofit accessibility into an existing UI will increase exponentially as the application grows.

Make sure the design team has a document with common reusable components, styles, etc. It is really easy to reflect those in code.