GUI design and development are two essential aspects of creating user-friendly and functional software applications. However, they often require different skills, tools, and workflows. How do GUI designers and developers work together to achieve the best results? In this article, you will learn about the roles, responsibilities, and collaboration methods of GUI designers and developers.
GUI designers are responsible for creating the visual and interactive elements of a software interface. They use principles of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design to make the interface intuitive, attractive, and consistent. GUI designers often use software tools such as Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD to create wireframes, mockups, and prototypes of the interface. They also define the style guides, color schemes, fonts, icons, and animations of the interface.
A designer should have a basic understanding of what's possible with frontend technologies that the developers use to build the GUI. I've seen cases where the designers have NO clue about what's possible and not which causes friction in the relationship.
Continuous communication between designers and developers is crucial throughout the development process. Designers may provide feedback on the implementation, and developers may seek clarification on design elements. Both sides should have a common understanding of the project business and all needs during the design and implementation process.
Creating GUI also called as HMI (Human Machine Interface) is a complex process where factors like usability, aesthetics and performance have to be paid attention to. This requires a close collaboration between the UX/UI designers and the GUI Software developers from very early stages of prototyping. Modern GUI design tools (like Figma for example) and HMI development toolchains like Qt offer the possibility to import design and assets quite easily so that designers & devs can get an early preview of how the GUI would appear on the target system. Furthermore designers and developers must consider the hardware capabilities (like layering, HW acceleration) of the system and build GUIs that bring the right amount of aesthetics and performance.
All UI design and UX mapping should start with the "U," the "User." Each must spend no less than one hour watching how the user does their job, asking questions, understanding problem and solution flow, and crafting a storyboard of interactions. The User should have the most consideration for both UI and UX.
- Think like a customer - Design Thinking is very important. - Understand the requirement/problem before jumping into development. - Learn Figma/sketch tools and give some options to the product owners to have a clear understanding and make everyone stay on the same page.
GUI developers are responsible for implementing the interface design into code. They use programming languages and frameworks such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, or Swift to build the interface components and functionality. GUI developers often use software tools such as Visual Studio Code, Xcode, or Android Studio to write, test, and debug the code. They also ensure that the interface is responsive, accessible, and compatible with different devices and browsers.
A GUI developer should be good at analytical problem solving much more than a designer. They're going to not only build the design done by the designer but also find optimal ways to do it. A poor performing UI can be a major turn off to the end user.
A UI developer shall utilize tools and technology that facilitate basic UI features like responsiveness. Time saving from these out of the box features (that some frameworks and libraries offer) can be used to make UI better based on the design.
A good GUI developer should have attention to detail, should be a stickler for standardisation and should be very quality conscious. Since UI is the face of the application it needs to be high quality and needs to look good. The GUI developers carry this responsibility.
Comunication skill should not be left out. Developers can blindly follow designs, sure, but a truly good developer will not make this a one way street. Comunicating with the design team and suggesting better or more efficient solutions is what differentiates a great product from an OK product
I think as a developer it’s important to have good technical communication. It comes in handy when having to communicate complex technical problems to an audience that may not have as much experience with programming. I personally find it helpful to pair program often in a live video call with other people. This forces you to constantly be communicating your train of thought while trying to solve the problem at hand.
The GUI design process is a series of steps that guide the creation of the interface design from the initial idea to the final product. This process typically begins with research, where the GUI designer conducts user research, market analysis, and competitor review to understand the target audience and business goals of the software application. Afterward, they generate ideas and concepts for the interface design based on the research findings. This is done through techniques such as brainstorming, sketching, or mind mapping. The GUI designer then creates low-fidelity or high-fidelity prototypes of the interface design to test and validate their ideas. To do this, they use tools such as Balsamiq, InVision, or Framer. Finally, they evaluate the prototypes with users, stakeholders, and developers to collect feedback and identify issues and improvements. This is done through usability testing, surveys, or interviews to measure usability, functionality, and satisfaction of the interface design.
A designer who designs for himself is going to create a very intuitive UI than one who only does market research. The best way is to put yourself in the shoes of an ideal user, try to FEEL the problem and look for existing solutions on the web. Can't find anything that you're satisfied with? Now take a mental note of the unsolved problems and drawbacks of the existing solutions and design from scratch in this order: - rough pen and paper thought dump - low-fidelity design on paper - low-fidelity design on a tool like Balsamiq (optional) - high-fidelity design on Figma Brainstorming ideas throughout the process (potentially with an ideal prospect) is a big plus.
Th design process also includes consideration of the target devices to ensure the correct aspect ratio, screen size, display density, etc. is used. Some devices also support both landscape and portrait mode. Not to forget the dark and light mode.
Selecting the appropriate method like User Interviews or diary study or live in the user situstion based on the problem we are solving really matters. Balancing the priorities between stakeholder and ends user is very crucial for successful design implementation.
As a GUI designer, it's crucial to collaborate with the development team, discuss your concepts and ideas to evaluate their feasibility. This ensures the prevention of designing interfaces that could present challenges during development.
In our organization we begin by researching user needs, market trends, and competitor strategies to inform our direction. This data fuels the creation of skeletal wireframes, mapping out interface elements and functionalities. Our focus then shifts to the visual realm, where we meticulously design graphical elements, ensuring they resonate with both user preferences and brand identity. Building interactive prototypes allows us to rigorously test design usability and functionality, addressing issues before the development phase.Through user testing and iterative refinement, we continually enhance the design's usability.
The GUI development process is a set of steps that guide the implementation of the interface design into code. This process typically begins with the analysis of the interface design and requirements. The GUI developer must understand the scope, features, and specifications of the software application. Tools such as GitHub, Jira, or Trello are used to manage tasks, dependencies, and deliverables. Once the analysis is complete, the GUI developer can begin coding using programming languages and frameworks of choice. Tools such as Visual Studio Code, Xcode, or Android Studio are used to edit, run, and debug the code. Subsequently, testing is conducted for errors, bugs, and performance issues using tools such as Jest, Mocha, or Espresso. Additionally, responsiveness, accessibility, and compatibility are tested using tools such as Chrome DevTools, Lighthouse, or BrowserStack. Finally, deployment is done to the production environment with tools such as Netlify, Heroku, or Firebase. The code is then monitored and maintained for updates, fixes and enhancements using tools such as Google Analytics, Sentry or Crashlytics.
The majority efforts in GUI development process go in the development phase. A GUI developer needs to figure out the requirements and find relevant libraries that support the requirement. Some libraries come in-build in Angular or React whereas some need to be explicitly imported and used.
I consider the process of coding the project to be important part of the project for me. The UI is ready, the Figma is there, the plan is ready, now only the code writing process. My advice is to focus on the project and work. write tests for your project before your project tests you.
The GUI development process culminates in the deployment of the interface to the production environment. Post-deployment, ongoing maintenance is essential to address any issues that may arise, implement updates, and ensure the continued smooth functioning of the interface. In conclusion, the GUI development process is a holistic journey that combines creativity, technical expertise, and user-centric principles. By embracing key features such as prototyping, rigorous testing, and continuous iteration, developers can ensure that the end result not only meets but exceeds user expectations.
I think this deserves its own article. If I had to point out one thing it would be following: Split the UI into small straightforward components whose states are clearly defined and implement those first. We usually put them to a secret playground screen where they can be found by other developers and tested by designers. This forces developers to write the components correctly and the work can be parallelized. The components are then assembled into bigger more complex components or screens.
Quality assurance is a key feature at every stage of GUI development. Rigorous testing is conducted to identify and address any bugs, usability issues, or performance concerns. This includes functional testing, usability testing, and, where applicable, compatibility testing across different devices and browsers.
GUI collaboration methods are the ways that GUI designers and developers communicate and coordinate their work to ensure the quality and consistency of the software interface. Typically, this includes a handoff process to transfer the interface design from the designer to the developer, with tools such as Zeplin, Figma, or Adobe XD. Additionally, there is a review process to check the interface implementation against the design expectations, which can be done using InVision, Framer, or Storybook. Finally, an iteration process is used to refine and improve the interface design and implementation based on feedback and results. This typically involves tools such as GitHub, Jira, or Trello to track, manage, and collaborate on project tasks and deliverables.
GUI Collaboration methods one of the important point to Review phase between GUI designer and developer's (UI/Backend) Developers will review at the design from a technical point of view and determining whether the design is feasible to implement with AS-IS technology stack. If a particular design element is not achievable due to technical constraints then discuss the alternate ways
The handoff process is crucial and where so many projects go wrong. The designer should not presume that the developer knows the logic and philosophy behind the designer's choices. This might seem like common sense, but, yeah, it definitely isn't. It's much better to assist a drawn-out handoff sync that'll leave you feeling like it could have been an email than to let months go by and find out from the PM that you've been doing the front-end wrong.
The most important aspects of collaboration are respect and communication. It's important for both teams to realize that there are principles and limitations in each domain that designers and developers have to account for, and that each team may not be fully aware of the needs of the other. When these needs conflict, as is inevitable in any engineering problem, it is important to communicate the fundamental principles getting in the way of satisfying the other teams needs, as the other team may not be cognizant or have a full understanding of the problem. Likewise, when the other team can not have their perceived needs satisfied, they need to be willing to respectfully collaborate on finding a workable compromise.
In my experience, there are two ways how GUI design and development can be organized: - By designers providing completed prototypes as direct to-follow requirements. - By designers providing reference designs based on which user stories are implemented in UI. Both are perfectly valid, with their own pros and cons. And type of solution being built dictates the selection. First approach is more fit for solutions with limited features, where user experience is one of the key factors of final success of the product. For example, unique mobile apps, etc. Second one is fit when building multiple UI flows of the same type. Designers provide "lego pieces" of wizards, searches, lists, forms, etc. and developers use those to build actual UI's.
Effective collaboration between GUI designers and developers involves regular communication, design handoff tools, and shared documentation. Prototyping, collaboration platforms, and joint workshops further enhance understanding and streamline the process, ensuring a seamless translation of design vision into a functional interface.
Leading a diverse team of UI/UX designers and developers working across various technologies, I've discovered the value of bridging the gap between these two critical domains. With a deep understanding of both spheres, I strive to articulate the unique challenges faced by our developers to the UI/UX team. By shedding light on the developer's workflow, the intricacies of different libraries, and their approach to problem-solving, I aim to foster a mutual understanding. This not only enhances collaboration but also significantly accelerates our project timelines. It's about creating a shared language and perspective that empowers both teams to work more cohesively and efficiently. I am super proud of my teams at MRS Technologies.
Tool of choice also matters, new frameworks like ionic, react native, flutter, etc. help you create UI for multiple OS and devices with a single codebase. These help in developer productivity and hence the requirements should be clear well in advance for the GUI developer to find the correct framework/tool needed.
Prima facie we think UX is the first step in the ideation phase of a problem we are going to solve for the end user and the technology follows the path defined by the UX design. Interestingly it doesn't work that way and results in a great design on paper but reality looks way different in the final product and many times holds back the thought of investing in UX. IMO UX & UI should go hand in hand. The ideation process should be an iterative process which should include a validation step from both ends to evolve the design for ultimate user experience which is technically feasible to implement. They should work together as a single team in an agile mode to embrace design and innovation towards the goal of building innovative product
If you are a beginner and willing to learn a frontend framework or a tool, Study well before you're choosing a framework or a tool, whether that framework or tool meets customer's requirements. A GUI developer who is in the beginner stage should always focus on expertise in the selected area before starting to learn another tool or a framework, Which means you should focus on one thing at a time. Focusing on one thing at a time means you'll be able to learn more. Because context switching slows the learning process. So, focusing on one tool or a framework as a beginner get you into a state of deep focus on areas should be understood. Always should stay updated about the latest design trends. Continuous Learning process must be maintained.
Collaboration is the key in order to make everyone happy. Nobody should decide alone how it will look at the end. As it should not only look good but also function well.