My Journey Connecting Users and Business Through UX Design
Let me take you back to the beginning of my journey as a UX designer in India. When I first started, the term “UI/UX design” was almost unheard of. My career began in a landscape where roles were fluid, and I found myself juggling front-end development, wireframing, and design all at once. Back then, Photoshop was my everything. I used it for creating wireframes and designs. It was a versatile tool, but looking back, it was a bit of a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. I remember those days fondly, though. They were filled with late nights and the constant buzz of creativity, as I pieced together elements and envisioned how users would interact with them.
Then came InVision, and it was a game-changer. I still recall the first time I used it to create a clickable prototype. It was like breathing life into my static designs. Suddenly, clients and team members could interact with the designs in a way that felt real. This tool shifted our approach and made the design process much more dynamic and interactive. Around this time, I also discovered Balsamiq. If you’ve used it, you’ll know how its simplicity can be deceptive. It wasn’t about the aesthetics; it was about getting the structure and functionality right. Balsamiq made it so easy to whip up wireframes quickly, which was perfect for iterating and refining ideas.
As my journey continued, UXPin entered the scene. This tool was a revelation. It offered robust features that bridged the gap between design and development. I could create interactive prototypes that were so much more sophisticated than anything I’d done before. UXPin also helped manage design systems, which brought a new level of consistency and efficiency to my work. I remember how exciting it was to explore templates in UXPin and Asure. These templates were not just time-savers; they ensured that my designs adhered to best practices and industry standards. It was a period of significant growth and learning.
My journey has been heavily shaped by self-education. Over the years, I’ve read more than 100 books on UX and UI design. Each book was a treasure trove of insights, helping me deepen my understanding of the principles that underpin great design. I was a regular reader of Smashing Magazine and the UXPin blog, which were invaluable resources for staying on top of trends and best practices. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of adaptability. The tools and technologies we use as designers are constantly evolving, but the core principles of user-centered design remain the same. Staying curious and embracing new tools have been key to my success and growth in this field.
As I look to the future, I see the role of the UX designer continuing to evolve. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality are already starting to reshape our field. Despite these changes, our fundamental goal remains: to create seamless, intuitive, and meaningful experiences for users. So, that’s a glimpse into the first few years of my journey—from Photoshop to UXPin. It’s been a path filled with challenges, learning, and constant evolution.
Stay tuned for the next part of my story, where I’ll dive into my experiences with Adobe XD and Figma, and how these tools further revolutionized my design process.