The way customers interact with your website highly depends on the look and feel of it. If you are able to capture the attention of the leads within a few seconds, then you have potentially succeeded. Otherwise, you will see them drifting to your competitor’s websites in a second.
UI/UX creates the first impression of the website on potential customers. It governs the visual appeal and browsing feel of the website, which is a basic requirement for a good customer experience. This is the reason why businesses hire professional UX UI designers and developers. Forbes published a study stating that companies centered on customer experience garner a 4-8% increase in revenue. In fact, 84% of companies that tweaked their customer experience strategies for betterment saw increased revenue.
However, getting a UI UX development company on board is quite a tedious task as most people don’t know how to go about it. Here is what a UI/UX developer means to your business and what you can keep in mind to land on your best bet.
Who is a UX Designer?
A UX designer is primarily concerned with the experience of a user while operating your product. It basically formulates the way the interface of a website will operate. This means creating a feasible wireframe that is well-structured and allows for elements to be placed in a way that demonstrates a smooth flow.
In layman terms, UX designers govern the functionality of the website by improving placement, navigation, etc. With everything in its desired place, the user is likely to have a good experience browsing the website.
Who is a UI Designer?
The task of a UI designer begins after the UX designer has put everything in place. You hire UI designers to add visual appeal to your product while retaining its functionality. They create an aesthetic design with a user-friendly interface. The task of UI designers is accomplished using features like call-to-action, color scheme, images, texts, buttons, icons, and whatnot. The aim is to increase the engagement rate and increase the conversion rate.
Both UX UI designers and developers are quite important as they work in close contact with each other to transform the face of your website/application. That is why you need to be quite mindful of the development company you hire and their skill set.
What should you Keep in Mind Before You Hire a UI/UX Development Company?
There are numerous companies in the market that specialize in UI/UX domains. However, outsourcing them is a challenge in itself as you have to take care of a lot of eccentricities. You have to put in a lot of thought to understand what you want from your UX UI designer and developer and then act accordingly. Here is a general blueprint you can follow-
- Conduct an Online Research
Hiring a professional always begins by conducting research in that field. You can start by asking your immediate contacts for references for any good UI UX development company they have worked with. Post-segregating companies by this technique, you should also seek the help of the internet. Since people constantly put forth their skills and portfolios online from across the globe, you will have access to a wider pool of talent.
But before you shortlist the companies you like, you need to have a list of the requirements you are looking for. With clear benchmarks and skill set at hand, you are likely to have a greater hold on the process.
- Request a Portfolio
The best way to get an insight into the work of UX UI designers and developers is to check their portfolios. Herein you will be able to track their previous projects and the structure they followed to accomplish them. Additionally, you will be able to track down if they have ever worked in your specific niche. For added security, do not forget to go through the client testimonials and even contact a few of them to understand the work ethics of the company.
The best UI UX development companies are those whose designs are still functional, showcase longevity and sustainability in business. Do not forget to check if businesses are still using designs formulated by your preferred company.
- Flow of Information
When outsourcing designers, you mostly go for those operating from an offshore location. This means that you need a company with remarkable communication skills that believe in a smooth flow of information.
The sign that you are going to hire a good UI designer is that he will ask several questions about the nature of work, your expectations, etc. And if a company does not ask anything, they are likely to just serve you anything.
- Incorporation of Contemporary Trends
One of the prominent reasons for outsourcing UI/UI professionals is because they are well acquainted with what’s trendy. And trends matter a lot when you are competing online. A good UI/UX professional will make use of technological advancements like illustrations, AR/VR, 3-D Graphics, etc., depending upon whatever you want and what fits your budget.
Even if you do not want so many complex technologies, you must be assured that the development company will be able to replicate them if need be. This will ensure that they have the required expertise in the concerned area.
- Tools/Delivery
Two things you should know before you hire a UI designer are the tools he/she will use and the delivery timings. You would want professionals to be well acquainted with basic tools such as Invision or Marvel for prototyping and sketching.
Additionally, how they delegate workflow and consequently the time taken to accomplish a task is important to know from the very beginning.
In Essence
Getting UI/UX professionals on board requires you to follow a structured process by listing all your requirements and ticking them off as you move ahead. Apart from following a prototype for hiring that requires researching, evaluating, and onboarding, do conduct a thorough interviewing process. Put all sorts of questions in front of the UI UX development company and if they give satisfactory answers, you know you are interacting with thorough professionals.
Lastly, do share your vision for the project with them and take their feedback. Since you are going to collaborate, it is important to have a middle ground for what you want and what they have to offer.