About UI/UX design

To start the conversation and understand what design really is, our first few questions were focused on explaining UI/UX design from his perspective and the skills necessary for his role. Furthermore, we talked about Marko's first design steps and how it all started.

What exactly is UI/UX design?

Marko: As a UI/UX designer, I have learned that designing digital products is not just about making them visually appealing. It's also about creating products that are easy to use and intuitive for users.

The UI (user interface) design focuses on designing the visual elements of the product, while the UX (user experience) design focuses on creating a seamless user journey. To be successful, you need to master both.

What skills does a UI/UX designer need?

Marko: I believe that to be a successful UI/UX designer, you need a combination of technical and soft skills. Technical skills include proficiency in design tools such as Figma or Sketch, knowledge of HTML/CSS, and an understanding of design principles such as typography, color theory, and layout. On the other hand, soft skills include strong communication skills, the ability to collaborate effectively with others, creativity, problem-solving skills, and empathy toward the end-users of the product.

How did you start learning about UI/UX design?

Marko: Everything started when I was a high school student, at the School of Electrical Engineering Split. The school was great but didn’t encourage me enough to learn about this topic. However, I met other students there who shared the same interests which helped me a lot. This encouraged me to attend DUMP Internship for web developers, where I learned about UI & UX design and started exploring more about it. Since then, I’ve taken courses and started freelancing. Nonetheless, I wanted to experience working in a team so I applied for the role of UI/UX designer at Blank.

Working at a software development agency

Marko has been a part of our design team for a year now. It didn’t take him long to meet everyone and get used to our agency’s workflow. So, let’s hear a little about his experience at Blank and the projects he liked working on the most.

Do you remember the first few weeks at Blank? How did you settle into your role?

Marko: When I started my job at Blank, my experience during the first few weeks was great as my colleagues supported me and helped me to get on track. Every morning, I wake up knowing all the tasks for my workday and focus on solving them. I enjoy preparing for client meetings, researching new projects, and designing UI as it is my favorite part of the job.

What’s your team like?

Marko: At Blank, we don't have a large design team. My colleague Josip and I are responsible for designing all web and mobile apps that come out of Blank's doors. We collaborate with other colleagues in different areas such as development and project management and make a great team together. Despite having loads of interesting projects to work on, we always have time to joke around in the office and play FIFA.

How busy are you?

Marko: Although I have a lot of tasks and meetings, they are well organized and scheduled, so I don't feel pressured by them. What motivates me the most is solving challenging problems, creating user-friendly products that improve people's lives, and working with a talented team to learn new skills. This job title brings all the different types of projects that might cross your mind, making it unpredictable and always interesting.

Tell us a little about your favorite project.

Marko: Recently, I loved working on EverySign. It’s a mobile application that allows logged-in users to collect signatures for uploaded documents. The app already existed but the UI was outdated and there were a few bugs in terms of UX and flow. We have fixed those things to make the app easier to use and more visually appealing.

UI/UX designer’s advice

Finally, here’s his advice for anyone who’s starting with UI/UX design. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been working and the projects you’ve had, we believe everyone could use it sometimes.

What advice would you give someone starting your role?

Marko: If you're starting a UI/UX role, I would say that the most crucial thing is to accept feedback and not get too emotionally attached to your designs. Accepting feedback helps you to appreciate good feedback and make necessary changes that will improve the product. As a UI/UX designer, my goal is to design products that make users' lives easier and improve their overall experience.

Join the Blank team

Are you also a designer? Our team is constantly growing and we're happy to have talented and motivated people join our team. If you have a UI/UX portfolio to share, visit our careers page to send us an application and we will let you know when a position for you opens.