UI Designer

The UI Designer is responsible for designing user interfaces. Their goal is to make human-machine interactions smooth and enjoyable. To achieve this, they create and optimize buttons, menus, and progress bars for all kinds of digital projects.

UI Designer: Overview

Similar titles: UI designer, user interface designer, interface designer

Education level: Bachelor’s to Master’s degree.

Employability: good

Starting salary: €32,000 gross per year.

Experienced salary: €60,000 gross per year.

What is a UI Designer?

A UI Designer works on the visual effects of interfaces. As a technical and creative profession, UI design is essential in digital productions. This design professional is responsible for the aesthetics of the visual elements that allow users to interact with websites, digital platforms, or mobile applications.

They choose colors, shapes, and typography for these elements. They must ensure accessibility, fluidity, and efficiency of the overall interface. Finally, their work is also a guarantee of good SEO when working on a website.

What education is needed to become a UI Designer?

To become a UI Designer, you will need to pursue higher education in graphic design or UX/UI design.

• Bachelor of Graphic Design (3 years)
• Master in Art Direction for UI/UX Design (5 years)

What are the duties of a UI Designer?

To design effective and appealing interfaces, the UI designer often needs to create several prototypes and wireframes (mockups). They then finalize the design based on feedback, ensuring that their work provides the best user experience.

Creation of wireframes and prototypes based on the digital project requirements

Initially, the UI designer conducts a project study and gathers requirements. This allows the interface professional to draft their own specifications. Based on this work, they then present several functional mockups or website prototypes. The art director or project manager approves one of them.

Design and development of the graphic interface

The UI designer can then finalize the graphic interface. Throughout this process, the professional must ensure consistency and uniformity of the visual elements they create. They must also document the elements library they design: buttons, web pages, and all other graphic and textual elements. The interface designer also ensures that their design is fully functional.

Testing the interface and monitoring the user experience

The UI Designer performs navigation and interaction tests. At this stage, they may use marketing tools such as A/B testing. This AB test ensures that a version of a website or application is as effective as possible. If the user experience is negative, the UI Designer must revisit the design and make new proposals.

What skills are required to become an interface designer?

Beyond their skills in graphic design, the UI Designer must also possess excellent technical skills. They should understand marketing and customer experience challenges. Additionally, they must enjoy teamwork.

Skills in graphic design, creativity, and mastery of software

The UI Designer must create attractive and effective interfaces. Their main strengths are creativity and a sense of aesthetics. These skills allow them to blend colors, shapes, and text into a coherent visual whole. To do this, the interface designer uses and must master numerous design software programs, as well as have excellent knowledge in:

• illustration;
• infographics;
• typography;
• digital drawing.

Technical skills and knowledge in web development and marketing

The UI Designer is part of the digital professions. They need to know and understand the technical constraints related to different mobile and desktop platforms. Skills in web technical languages, such as HTML5, CSS, or JavaScript, are also required. The UI designer must also be able to review their work. A thorough understanding of dedicated tools (A/B testing) and web standards is essential. Finally, the interface designer must have strong knowledge in marketing and SEO.

Passion for collaborative work and team spirit

The user interface designer works within a team. This team often includes UX Designers and web developers, along with marketing professionals. The profession thus requires good communication skills. The UI Designer must be able to share their ideas and persuade other professionals. They must also be open to criticism and reconsideration.

What is the salary of a UI Designer?

For a first job, a UI Designer can expect to earn between €32,000 and €40,000 gross per year. The salary of an experienced UI Designer often reaches around €60,000 gross per year. UI Designers can also work as freelancers. In this case, their compensation depends on their profile, the project, and the employing company.

Where can a UI Designer work?

There is no shortage of work for UI Designers! Job opportunities are plentiful in the digital professions. After solid training, you can work in web development companies, communication agencies, or app development. It is also possible to start as a UI Designer through apprenticeship. With experience, your profile will enable you to progress to roles such as art director or project director for web projects.

Training to become a UI designer at LISAA

After obtaining a high school diploma, preferably in STD2A (Sciences and Technologies of Design and Applied Arts), you can enroll in higher education in design. This will equip you with the skills needed to become an excellent UI Designer. Available in Paris, Rennes, Bordeaux, Nantes, Strasbourg, and Toulouse, The Higher Institute of Applied Arts (LISAA) welcomes you for a Bachelor in Graphic Design or a Master in Art Direction UI/UX Design.

During your Bachelor in Graphic Design, you will learn how to define specifications and propose graphic solutions suited to various projects. By the end of the program, you will have mastered the graphic design of interfaces from start to finish, including methodology and ergonomics. Over three years, you will learn digital drawing techniques, motion design, photography, and new technologies such as virtual reality. During your studies, you will also complete a study project and an internship of at least five weeks.