How User Centred Design Shaped My Career as a UI Designer

I’m currently part of the brilliant design team at JBi, working as a UI designer. But my journey into this field started in a slightly different place—studying a form of product design known as User Centred Design (UCD) at Loughborough University back in 2018.

I didn’t always know UI design was where I’d end up, nor did I know really anything about it when I began my degree, but my background in UCD has played a huge role in shaping my career. I wanted to take this opportunity to share how my studies have influenced my approach to UI design and why UCD provides an excellent foundation for anyone looking to pursue a career in this field.

UCD vs. UI: Understanding the Difference

User Centred Design (UCD) and User Interface (UI) Design are closely related but serve different purposes within the design process:

UCD is a broad design philosophy that ensures products are created with the end user’s needs, behaviours, and experiences at the forefront. It involves extensive research, testing, and iteration to create the best possible user experience.

User Interface (UI) Design focuses specifically on the look, feel, and interactive elements of digital products. It involves designing buttons, typography, colour schemes, animations, and layouts to ensure a seamless, engaging, and enjoyable user experience.

While UCD is often associated with UX design, its principles are just as valuable in UI design. The best interfaces are created with a deep understanding of user needs and accessibility in mind—something UCD places a strong emphasis on, and instilled in me during my studies.

My Journey from UCD to UI Design

During my time at University, I became immersed in the principles of UCD— its “user first” approach really resonated with me. However, I found myself increasingly drawn to the digital side of design, particularly web and mobile interfaces.

While my degree included modules on digital design, their primary focus was on research and strategy aspects of UX rather than the finer details of UI. These aspects of the design process were interesting. However, whenever I was allowed to experiment with designing digital interfaces, I found myself far more engaged. That was my first indication that UI design might be the right path for me.

As I progressed through my studies, I sought opportunities to explore UI design further. This led me to apply for a placement as a Junior UI Designer between my second and third year, where I gained hands-on experience and quickly realised that this could be the career for me. By the time I graduated, I knew I wanted to continue in UI design and see where it could take me.

Life as a UI Designer at JBi

Following my final year at university and a brief time out, I set about searching for a way to satiate my hunger to get back to the world of UI and digital design. When I came across JBi, the idea of working in a fast-paced agency with exposure to big and exciting clients with a diverse range of project requirements piqued my interest immediately… and I wasn’t disappointed.

After joining, I was immediately brought onto the exciting projects I’d hoped for, with clients such as Hitachi, Ofwat, and the Home Office. The fast-paced nature of agency work meant I had to adapt quickly, which I believe my background in User Centred Design helped me to do. The working environment also allowed me to develop my skills further, learn new ones and gain hands-on experiences which have been invaluable for my progression as a UI designer.

Some Highlights of my Experience so Far:

Diverse Projects: Working across various industries has kept my work fresh and exciting.
Fast-Paced Environment: Unlike physical product design, where development cycles can take years, UI design allows for quick iterations and fast turnarounds.
Supportive Team: The guidance from my colleagues has been instrumental in refining my skills and growing as a designer.

The Overlap: How UCD Has Helped Me as a UI Designer

Studying UCD significantly influenced my approach to UI design in several ways:

1. User-Centric Thinking

One of the most valuable lessons from UCD is the importance of always designing with the user in mind. When working on UI projects, I constantly consider:

• Who will be using this interface?
• What are their expectations and needs?
• How can I make the experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible?

This mindset has ensured that my designs aren’t just visually appealing but also functional and user-friendly.

2. Accessibility and Inclusivity

My UCD background has ingrained in me the importance of accessibility. In UI design, this means:

• Ensuring text is legible and colour contrast is sufficient.
• Designing interfaces that accommodate different levels of digital literacy.
• Considering users who rely on assistive technologies such as screen readers.

This approach has been particularly valuable at JBi, where we work with clients who require high levels of accessibility compliance.
If you’re curious to learn more about the role accessibility plays in our work, we have previously written about the importance of accessibility and designing with empathy for our users.

3. Understanding User Journeys

In UI design, every visual element contributes to the overall user journey. My experience with UCD has helped me think beyond aesthetics and consider how each element guides the user through a website or application.

4. Iterative Design & Testing

UCD taught me that design is an ongoing process that involves continuous testing and refinement. Applying this to UI design, means working closely and collaboratively with the UX team, prototyping and testing early on to gather feedback and ensure that the user journey is the best it can be.

Tips for Anyone Looking to Get into UI Design

If you’re currently studying UCD or a related field and are considering a career in UI design (Which I strongly recommend), here are some tips to help you get started:

1. Start Practicing with Industry Tools

Figma is a great (and free!) tool for UI design. Experiment with it, build mock interfaces and get comfortable with its features. Trust me, it will be one less hurdle to overcome when you’re breaking into the industry.

2. Use UI Task Generators

A great way to hone your skills and generate content for your portfolio is by taking on random UI design challenges. I used Sharpen to generate design tasks, improve my problem-solving abilities, and brush up on my Figma skills having not utilised them during my gap year.

3. Study Other Designers’ Work

Browse Behance and Dribbble to see how professionals approach UI design problems. Try replicating their work (for personal use only!) or designing your own solutions.

4. Embrace Continuous Learning

UI design is an ever-evolving field, so staying updated with design trends, accessibility guidelines, and new tools is crucial. Follow design blogs, attend webinars, and never stop refining your skills.

Final Thoughts

Studying User Centred Design gave me a strong foundation for understanding user needs and behaviours—something that has made me a more thoughtful and effective designer.

If you are passionate about creating engaging and user-friendly digital experiences, UI design is an incredibly rewarding career path. With the right mindset and a willingness to learn, you can leverage your UCD background to craft interfaces that look great and provide meaningful experiences for users.

If you’re considering a career in UI design and have any questions, feel free to connect—I’d be happy to share more about my journey!