Essentials of UI Design XXXXII: Expert Tips for UX Sketching
To implement the design thinking process, user experience (UX) designers turn to UX sketching. This skill is useful for individuals and teams working on creating digital products with enhanced usability. This article will show you how UX sketching can help teams to create more purposeful solutions, and increase engagement and user base.
Tips for UX Sketching
Here are the top tips from UX experts that can help you to improve your UX design sketching.
Regular practice
The key to improving at any skill is to practice regularly. How about grabbing a pen and pad right now? Sketch concepts based on topics around you or those that appear in your work. You owe it to users to improve and become comfortable at visualizing your thoughts is how you achieve this. There are online resources containing exciting UX design challenges.
Define the problem and goal to solve
It’s easy to get excited in your own imagination while doodling. To avoid getting sidetracked, top UX experts recommend stating the problem and goal to establish a direction for your sketch. It’s okay to be unsure sometimes but if you have an idea, try working backward to surface the user pain points that you’re thriving to resolve. UX only exists when there are user issues or there are improvements to be made.
Leverage clear writing
It’s often hard to scribble legibly as ideas bombard you during UX design. Nevertheless, your handwriting should be clear enough for yourself and others. Keep in mind that your role as a designer is to communicate your thoughts and ideas. That’s why your context should be legible before it gets forgotten.
Focus on the big picture
UX sketches are supposed to be rough drawings. Messy is fine, so there’s no need trying to be perfect if the concept is clear. The goal is more important than perfecting small distracting details. It’s best to shoot for breadth and keep expanding your ideas instead of drilling too deep to the point of stifling your creativity.
Set time constraints
Always set a time limit for this activity. This prepares team members for the activity and keeps them focused.
Use templates and document everything
To manage downtime for drawing exact phone sizes, consider cutting stencils with common icons, user flow diagram symbols, or mockup templates. Also use a filing system for your sketches and notes! You may need to revisit iterations and ideas.
Share and collect feedback
In a team setting, ensure there’s collective understanding. However, individual UX designers can collect third-party feedback to refine ideas.
As you learn to use UX sketching to conceptualize and communicate ideas, know that this is a creative activity. You can find an abundance of ideas for sketching and prototyping on UILand.
