From Graphic Designer to UI Designer: A Journey of Constant Learning and Improvement through User Journey Breakdown.

Have you ever wanted to completely revolutionise the way you approach design? As a graphic designer, I thought I had the design process down pat. But when I transitioned to UI designer, I quickly realised that I needed a new approach to truly excel in my new role. So, the desire for a fresh tactic provided me the chance to adopt a completely different technique!

Being a graphic designer, my focus was primarily on creating visually appealing designs that communicate a brands message and values effectively. As I transitioned into UI design, I quickly realised that effective design is not just about aesthetics - it's about creating products that are easy to use and deliver a positive user experience.

To create effective user experience, I have adapted an approach that involves breaking down user journeys into atomic levels. By analyzing each micro-interaction, I can identify pain points and opportunities for improvement in the user experience and develop targeted solutions to enhance the overall design.

Here are the steps I follow when breaking down user journeys into atomic levels:

1. Define the user journey: I start by mapping out the user journey for the product or service I am designing. This includes all the steps user takes from initial discovery to task completion.
2. Break the journey into stages: Next I divide the user journey into logical stages based on the user's goals and actions. For example, the stages of an used car buying journey can be break down into research, browse, short listing, test-drive, finance, and finally purchase.

By further segmenting the browsing process into smaller segments, I can improve the user experience and make it simpler for users to filter search results or add/remove car information from listings to assist users in making better judgements.

3. Identify the touch points: I identify all the touch points of interaction between the user and the product/service at each stage of journey. These touchpoint might include landing pages, search bars, product pages, forms etc.

4. Identify the micro interactions: Once I have identified the touch points, I break down each touch point into individual micro-interactions such as selecting a field, entering a data, writing a review.

5. Analyse each micro-interaction: Finally I analyse each micro-interaction to identify pain points and opportunities for improvements. For example, I might find that users are having difficulty selecting a field in a form, which could indicate a need for a clearer visual hierarchy or more prominent labelling.

By breaking down the user journey into atomic levels, I can identify specific area for improvement and develop targeted solutions to enhance the user experience. This approach has helped me create design that are not only visually appealing but also easy to use and effective.

In conclusion, my journey from graphic designer to UI designer has been challenging, but rewarding as it has taught me the importance of creating effective user experience. By breaking down the user journey into its atomic stages and constantly iterating on my design approach, I've been able to improve my skills deliver better experience for users. I have discovered, nevertheless, that in the field of user interface design, learning never stops. Technology and user needs are constantly evolving, which means designers must stay curious, flexible, and willing to adapt order to continue raising the bar for user experiences.