Tools I use as a UI/UX Designer to stay productive | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A designer shares their go-to design tools that enhance creativity and productivity, including a MacBook Pro, Google Calendar, Figma, Notion, Maze, and more.

Key Insights

• 🫡 A MacBook Pro with sufficient specs is suitable for UI/UX design work, but higher specifications may be necessary for video editing and animations.
• ⌛ Google Calendar is an effective tool for time management, task organization, and tracking project hours.
• 🎨 Figma is a preferred design tool due to its comprehensive features, including design, handoff, prototyping, and animation options.
• 🎮 Notepads and sketches are valuable tools for jotting down quick ideas, wireframing, and drafting video content.
• 🥶 FigJam, built within Figma, is ideal for brainstorming, design sprints, and flow mapping, offering collaboration features and free templates.
• 👤 Google Meet and Zoom are used for remote meetings, design feedback, and user testing.
• 👂 Notion is a versatile tool for goal planning, project management, note-taking, and managing to-do lists.
• 😲 Maze is a rapid remote testing tool that helps validate prototypes quickly, and Google Forms is great for conducting surveys on a large scale.
• 👤 Analytics tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, and Hotjar are valuable for measuring design performance and user behavior.
• 🥶 Webflow allows for building code-free, pixel-perfect websites and supports Lottie animations, making it a valuable tool for designers.
• 👋 Starting with the tools you already have and making the most out of them can often be the best approach to design.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What laptop does the designer recommend for UI/UX design?

The designer recommends a MacBook Pro with at least 16GB of RAM and a quad-core Intel i5 processor, as it can efficiently run lightweight design tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD without the need for maximum specs.

Q: How does the designer use Google Calendar for time tracking and invoicing?

The designer allocates specific hours to tasks on Google Calendar, ensuring uninterrupted focus and preventing forgotten tasks. They also utilize Google Calendar's search function to track project hours and calculate time spent for invoicing purposes.

Q: Why does the designer prefer Figma as their go-to design tool?

The designer believes Figma offers the best designer experience, allowing them to design, handoff, and prototype seamlessly. They also mention the ability to incorporate beautiful animations using the Lottie plugin.

Q: How does the designer create lottie animations for websites and apps?

The designer exports designs from Figma to Adobe After Effects using the Ayo plugin, creates the animations, and then uses the Lottie plugin to export them as JSON files. These files can be easily inserted into websites and apps for delightful animations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The designer's essential tool is their MacBook Pro, which is sufficient for UI/UX design work but may lag for video editing or animations.

• Google Calendar is used for task organization and time management, ensuring uninterrupted deep work and tracking project hours.

• A trusty notebook and pen are used for quick idea jotting, sketching, wireframing, and video drafting.