The reason I want to be a user interface designer is based on two motivations: helping connect people, and creating something that delights users. First of all, I am extremely passionate about technology and how it impacts people. Technology’s ability to bring people together and let them create, teach, and connect fascinates me. The ability to have such a strong impact on how people interact with that technology is one of my driving passions behind my desire to come up with better, more beautiful, and easier to understand user interfaces. Two of my most fervent passions are art and technology, and originally when I was thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, I decided that graphic design would be an ideal career for me. However, as I grew older, I noticed that I always gravitated towards user design and user experience. When reading reviews about the latest smartphone, for example, I was always most interested in the section that focused on the software, specifically the user interface. When helping friends and family decide what device to buy, the first thing I had them look at was the user interface.
Secondly, I want to create something that delights users. The term “delight”, when used in reference to software, may seem clichéd, but I think that creating something that makes users truly excited about using the product is really the goal of a user interface designer. Admittedly, the best interface blends into the background, but I am a firm believer in creating moments of wonder for a user. Whether it’s a weather app that shows a picture of the city in question, or an alarm clock that creates a paradigm shift, I genuinely want to create a product that brightens the day of an individual.
As for skills I’ll need to have, I think the most important one is an understanding of design concepts. Also important is the ability to use Photoshop and Illustrator, and some experience working in Javascript. In addition to having technical skills, user interface designers almost always work as part of a team. The ability to work in a group towards a common goal is essential.
Jesse Pearson 