UI/UX

UI (User Interface): focuses on look and feel of the product
UX (User eXperience): focuses on the overall experience of the user when interacting with the product

---	ui	ux
focus	visual elements and interaction	overall user journey and experience
tools	sketch, figma	user research, wireframes, prototypes
output	design systems, style guides	flows, wireframes, usability testing
goal	attractive, intuitive interfaces	easy, enjoyable and efficient usage

core principles of UI/UX design

user-centered design: always design with the user's needs, preferences and goals in mind
usability: product should be easy to use and understand
consistency: use consistent design patterns for colors, fonts, buttons and layouts
accessibility: build products that can be used by users with disabilities (e.g. colorblindness, motos impairments)
visual hierarchy: guide the user's attention by prioritizing important elements
feedback: provide feedback to user's actions
iterative design: test your designs frequently and improve based on user feedback

wireframe: simple visual representation of the product's layout
- made with simple shapes, lines and text
- usually made with pencil and paper
personas: fictional characters created to represent the target audience of the product
- used to help designers understand the needs, goals of their users
- typically contains the user's personal info: name, age, occupation, goals, pain points
user journey: visualization representation of the steps a user takes to achieve a goal on a website
- used to map the user's experience and pain points
- typically includes the following points:
  - start
  - goal
  - steps
  - pain points: difficulties of the client during the journey
  - end
user story: brief description of a user's goal or problem that a product or service should solve
- typically includes the following statements:
  - as a: a description of the user, often in the form of a persona
  - i want to: a statement of the user's goal or need
  - so that: a description of the benefit or value that the user will gain from achieving their goal
- format: as a [user type], I want to [goal] so that [benefit]
- example: "As a busy professional, I want to be able to quickly and easily find the information I need on the company intranet, so that I can stay up-to-date on company news and projects."

problem-solving approach that focuses on understanding the needs of users, brainstorming ideas and testing practical solutions