Meet the UX Engineer

By Nethmini Dulanjalee

Consider this scenario where a design is completed and is ready to be produced as a website or an application. However, upon completing the project, the deliverable is entirely different from what was envisioned. It’s like telling a client that he will receive a black Mercedes Benz with leather seating but give him an old black fabric seat sedan. The client will, without a doubt, be irritated.

This is where the UX engineer plays a role. They are the people who are trained in both the areas of design and coding. They are the ones that ensure that the end-product is exactly what the designer had in mind and that it works as intended.

According to my experience of over 9 years at iTelaSoft, UX engineers play a key role when it comes to implementing designs as I have witnessed this firsthand. They are responsible for creating products that are aesthetically appealing as well as simple and pleasant to use. This article investigates why UX engineers are as valuable in the course of product development.

The Intersection of UX and Front-End Development

On one end are designers who have concepts revolving about layout, colors and forms for interaction. On the other hand, there are the front-end developers who use that code to bring those designs to life. And the center of it all is the UX engineer who bridges the two.

When designing an interface, a designer carefully selects a set of colors and typefaces that matches the standards of the company they are working for. This is achieved after several rounds of edits and feedback. However, developers sometimes unconsciously pick system colors or the system default font which will missing the crucial design elements like color shades and font weights.

On the other hand, developers may try to replicate the design as it is by using fixed sizes and line breaks, which would make a rigid and unresponsive layout.

A UX engineer sees a product from both perspectives, as a designer and as a developer. They strive to maintain the brand guidelines while making the designs flexible and responsive across all devices. In doing so, they ensure that the product mirrors the design on its look but assures practicality by enabling perfect use on all the screen sizes and browsers/devices.

UX Engineers Enhance Designs

It is fair to say that UX engineers make the design more usable. They always think about product or app accessibility and usability and suggest minor yet significant adjustments to enhance the user experience without compromise on essential functionality.

Let’s think about a practical example, some designs will not be suited for small mobile devices but could be appropriate for desktop applications. Let’s take a simple button, in a desktop you’ll see a very small button but if you used the same button for the mobile, it won’t be user friendly. Buttons would be required to be larger and go full width in small devices for ease of use which a UX engineer would be responsible for incorporating.

Image: Testing designs using interactive prototypes

There is a difference between designing static visuals and developing an interactive prototype. Interactive prototypes allow us to test how designs will function on different devices and screen sizes early in the process. This makes it easier and more effective and also saves time and resources by addressing any design or usability issues before moving on to development.

At all times, it is vital to consider the need for accessibility standards like Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), as one of the key features to accommodate users with disabilities. We work closely with designers and developers in order to make the necessary modifications to the product based on who it's intended for.

Iterative Problem-Solving

UX developers are quite essential during the development cycle as they make sure the designs are properly implemented. We implement changes based on our judgement and the feedback we receive from the clients in real time. This includes minor but important fixes such as choosing the right cursors for clickable items or adjusting text size and spacing for readability.

At times, we simply cannot use the original component we planned to implement and used in the designs due to technical constraints. When that happens, we make sure to adjust the styles and functionality so that users won’t notice the difference, and the component still meets the user’s needs. We are the ones who turn great designs into user-friendly, functional experiences.

Image: UX designers & developers brainstorming

The Balance of Technical Skills and Design Sense

Image: UX engineers fine-tuning visual elements

It is quite interesting that UX engineers think differently compared to the other software engineers because they are good in both development and have that design sense. This allows them to not only implement designs but to enhance them in ways that ensure the final product is both visually appealing and highly functional.

By applying front-end development skills alongside UX principles, UX engineers help create experiences that users will love. Whether it's fine-tuning visual elements, enhancing performance, or improving accessibility, our goal is always to make the product better for the end user.

Conclusion

UX engineers don’t just bridge the gap between designers and developers. They ensure that the final product is a seamless, enjoyable experience for the user. Their ability to balance design with technical implementation is what makes them indispensable to any product development team.

Whether you're a designer, a developer, or a QA engineer, collaborating with a UX engineer brings immense value to the project. Their skills ensure that the product not only looks good but works well, meets user needs, and is accessible to everyone.

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