My First UX Project: A Journey Through Design Challenges and Triumphs

As an emerging UX designer, my first project was quite an undertaking. It began during my winter vacation break when my mentor tasked me with designing an application for a music player. This initial project was just the beginning for me, a chance to understand what it feels like to design an application for a real smartphone. I started with the iOS concept design, which required a deep understanding of user interaction and visual aesthetics. This design journey taught me invaluable lessons about the complexities involved in creating a seamless user experience.

Challenges in Designing the Music Screen

The toughest aspect of the project was, undoubtedly, designing the basic music screen. I experimented with various layouts and designs before settling on one that felt intuitive and user-friendly. Initially, my design looked like:

After multiple iterations and feedback from my mentor, I restructured the design to:

Each change was a step forward, and each step was a learning experience. This process of iteration and refinement was challenging but incredibly rewarding.

Designing the Music List Screen with a Twist

Designing the music list screen was equally demanding. I wanted to present the music in a visually appealing manner, but I had to ensure it aligned with the overall theme of the application. Initially, I chose a very bright color, which clashed with the overall aesthetic:

Thanks to my mentor's feedback, I made significant improvements, resulting in:

The final design looked much more cohesive and user-friendly.

Challenges and Learning

The home screen design required planning and a balance of form and function. Though my design was ambitious, it faced some critical issues. The left navigation bar, for instance, consumed a significant amount of space, which was a design flaw that needed addressing. Despite this, the process of designing and refining this application taught me a lot about user experience and the importance of adhering to design principles.

Overall, the project was a valuable learning experience. I faced numerous challenges but managed to overcome most of them. This project, while not destined to become a real-life application anytime soon, was a testament to my growing skills as a UX designer. It was a journey that taught me the importance of iterations, design feedback, and the overall user experience.

Keywords: UX design, user experience, wireframe design