Welcome to our brand-new ″Day in the life″ series, where we take you behind the scenes of life in the tech world. Through these stories, you’ll get an inside look at how we work, the people behind the roles, and what it’s really like to build and grow in this fast-paced industry.
To start strong, we’re diving into the world of UI/UX designers. These professionals are the creative minds who bridge the gap between technology and user experience, making sure our products are not only functional but also easy to use and visually appealing. In a software development company like ours, they play a crucial role in shaping how users interact with our products.
So, whether you’re thinking about pursuing a career in design or you’re just curious about what it’s like to work in tech, this post is for you. Let’s take a look at a day in the life of our talented UI/UX designers, Felix and Belema, here at Aptiw!
Morning Routines
Q: How do you get yourself in the right mindset to tackle a busy day of design work?
Felix: “For me, I always take a few minutes to do some mindful breathing. It’s not just about clearing my head—it’s about setting my intentions for the day. It’s like hitting the reset button.”
Belema: “I start with water. I know it sounds simple, but staying hydrated helps me feel more alert and ready. Without that, it’s tough to get into the zone.”
Tackling the Day’s Work
Q: Once you’re at the office and set up, what’s your approach to making sure the day goes smoothly and you stay on track with your tasks?
Belema: “For me, it’s all about the to-do list. I always write down what I need to focus on. It helps me prioritize and make sure I don’t miss anything important.”
Felix: “Same here! I start by reviewing what I worked on the previous day. I find it helpful to go back and adjust if needed. Sometimes, just taking a second to reframe things makes a huge difference.”
Q: And once you’ve got your lists set, how do you kick things off as a team?
Felix: “We always begin with the daily standup meeting to share updates and any roadblocks we’re facing with the rest of the team. It’s key to sync up and make sure we’re all moving in the same direction.”
Belema: “Yeah, today was exciting because we’re working on a key design feature for Soutle, our app. After the standup, we dove into a design huddle to break down tasks for the day.”
Q: Sounds exciting! What’s on today’s agenda for this project?
Felix: “I’m refining the navigation bar and polishing up the stats sections on the dashboard. The goal is making sure it’s clean, intuitive, and easy to use.”
Belema: “My main focus for today is gathering all the visual assets for the dashboard—icons, colors, and images—to make sure everything aligns with the overall design. It’s a fun process because it’s about bringing the whole aesthetic together.”
Collaboration
Q: When most people think about working in tech, they picture designers or coders just sitting at their desks all day. Is that how your day really looks?
Felix: “Not even close! I’d say design is 50% of what we do, but the other 50% is a mix of collaboration, feedback, and research.”
Belema: “Exactly! A huge chunk of our time is spent working with others. Ultimately, the goal is making sure that the designs fit the bigger picture—whether that’s user needs or business goals, and we can’t achieve that in isolation”
Q: Can you tell us more about how collaboration actually plays out during the day?
Felix: “A lot of it is constant communication. I’m regularly syncing with Belema, the CEO, and even other team members outside design. We’re always checking in to make sure we’re all on the same page and that the design aligns with what the users need.”
Belema: “Also, collaborating closely with the dev team is a must. Once we finalize the designs, we’ve got to make sure they’re feasible. There’s no point in designing something if it can’t be built!”
Q: How does that collaboration help make your designs better?
Felix: “It helps us avoid roadblocks. If we weren’t collaborating early on, we’d end up wasting time on designs that just wouldn’t work. It’s about refining our ideas together to make sure we’re building something both functional and impactful.”
Belema: “Right. It’s about making sure the designs work in real life, not just in theory. Communication throughout the entire process is what makes our designs actually come to life in the best way possible.”
The Harsh Reality
Q: The design world often looks glamorous—filled with colors, sleek visuals, and cool fonts. Is that truly the reality behind the scenes?
Felix: “It’s definitely not all rainbows and sunshine. The hardest part for me is finding the balance between functionality and aesthetics. A design might look great, but if it doesn’t work for the user, it’s not going to help anyone. That balance between making something beautiful and making it practical is a constant challenge.”
Q: Can you dive a little deeper into that challenge? What’s the hardest part about balancing the two?
Felix: “Sometimes, a design element might look amazing on the surface, but it actually gets in the way of the user’s experience. The challenge is making sure it’s intuitive—easy for users to navigate while still being visually appealing.”
Q: And what about you, Belema? What’s the toughest part of the design process for you?
Belema: “Ah, yeah, feedback is definitely the toughest part for me. You can spend hours or even days working on something, only to get feedback that means you have to start over. It’s tough, especially when you’ve put so much effort into it. But at the end of the day, it’s part of the process.”
Q: That sounds pretty frustrating. How do you handle it when that happens?
Belema: “It’s annoying, for sure, but it actually helps me grow. Getting negative feedback pushes you to think outside the box and try new things. Every time I get knocked down, I learn something that makes me a better designer. So, it’s frustrating but also a chance to improve.”
Tools
Q: I’ve heard you both mention using tools like Figma and AdobeXD for design, but I’m curious—what other tools do you rely on to spark your creativity?
Felix: “For me, Dribble and Behance are absolute essentials. They’re where I go to get inspired and see what other designers are working on. It’s like having a constant stream of fresh ideas that keeps me motivated.”
Q: Cool! Do you have a specific routine for checking them out?
Felix: “Yeah, I’ll usually browse through them whenever I need a boost. It’s kind of like hitting refresh when I need new ideas. I love seeing other people’s work because it keeps me pushing the limits of my own designs.”
Q: So, Felix has his go-to tools to spark creativity, but what about you, Belema? Do you have any top-secret tools or platforms you use to kickstart your creative process?
Belema: “Oh, absolutely! For me, it’s a mix of Pinterest and Spotify. I start by scrolling through Pinterest for a few minutes to get the creative juices flowing. Just seeing a few images or layouts helps spark fresh ideas. And then, once I’m ready to dive into my work, I can’t do it without Spotify. Music is key for me—it keeps me focused and really gets me in the zone. When my playlist is on, everything just seems to flow a lot smoother.”
Advice for Aspiring UI/UX Designers
Q: As we wrap up, I’d love to hear some final words of wisdom from you both. For anyone looking to pursue a career in UI/UX design, what advice would you give?
Felix: “My advice is simple, but I think it’s really important: Design for the user, not for your portfolio. It’s easy to get caught up in making something that looks impressive, but at the end of the day, it’s about how the user experiences it. The design needs to serve their needs first, not just look cool on paper. Focus on making something functional and intuitive.”
Q: That’s a powerful point, Felix. What about you, Belema? Any advice for the up-and-coming designers out there?
Belema: “I completely agree with Felix, but I’ll add my own spin to it. Stay curious and don’t be afraid to get messy. Experimentation is where the magic happens. It’s through trial and error that you figure out what works and what looks good. Don’t be afraid to fail—it’s all part of the process and part of your growth as a designer.”
Final Thoughts
A big thank you to Felix and Belema for letting us tag along on their day and giving us a true behind-the-scenes look into a day in the life of a UI/UX designer. It’s clear that their work goes far beyond just creating visually stunning designs – it’s all about balance, collaboration, and constant learning.
We hope this glimpse into their world gives you a better understanding of what it’s like working in tech. If you’re hungry for more behind-the-scenes content, be sure to check out these articles on the blog:
Behind the Scenes of the First Cohort of Our Internship Program;
Behind The Scenes: How The First Phase of Soutle Beta Testing Went.
Until Next Time,
Ciao!