Introduction to UI and UX Design

• UI design tools are easy to learn but hard to master.
• Key to mastering them: knowing what to do.
• Focus on fundamentals, standard procedures, and resources.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: User Flow

• Understand user expectations (info, buying, service usage).
• Map out the journey from landing on the site to achieving the goal.
• Example: Users should find categories and websites immediately upon landing.
• Create a user flow diagram to visualize this process.

Step 2: Wireframing

• Create screens/pages based on the user flow diagram.
• Each page must contribute to achieving the main objective.
• Wireframes can be created using tools like Balsamiq, Invision Freehand, etc.
• Example for the project: single screen with navigation in the header and footer.
  • Use a sidebar for categories (inspired by Font Awesome).
  • Display designs in a grid with links, names, and images.
  • Brief overview of UX design principles applied.

Step 3: Design System

• Begin UI design with a guideline for reusable components.
• Maintain consistency with colors, fonts, buttons, etc.
• Example project colors: dark mode with neutral and one primary color.
• Color choices must be comprehensive:
  • Background, text, primary, secondary, accent, and semantic colors.
• Fonts impact readability and vibe:
  • Use Google Fonts for selection.
  • Recommended sizes: 18px for body text, 14px for small text, 32px for titles.
• Icons: Utilize libraries or create custom icons in Figma.
• Other components: buttons, inputs, and cards.

Step 4: Actual Designing

• Apply basic design principles:
  • Visual hierarchy: Importance among elements.
  • Contrast: Distinguish elements.
  • Balance: Moderate spacing and alignment.
  • Consistency: Maintain harmony.
  • Simplicity: Keep things clear and straightforward.
  • Feedback: Engage users through reactions to their actions.
• Design involves testing, iterating, prototyping, and refining.
• Use realistic text (actual content or Lorem Ipsum) for testing design sections.

Bonus Step: Illustrations and Visuals

• Add graphics using free/paid resources or create them in Figma/Spline.
• Project specifics: Minimal design, no planned illustrations.

Conclusion

• Design is a continuous journey; keep building upon knowledge.
• Encouragement to design more and contribute to the community.