8 Essential Interaction Design Skills

Interaction Designers are Creative team members who conceive user interfaces which accommodate information-seeking agendas and important user tasks, based on an understanding of client business objectives and end-user needs. In order to be successful, regardless of the tool that is used to create the interaction design document (e.g. - Axure, Visio, Illustrator, InDesign, or Keynote), the Interaction Designer should aim to hone the following, essential skills: 

1. End-User Empathy - Often, wireframe decks are developed in absence of any real primary research with end-users. The process may end up successful, depending on the state of the previous interaction design model, however, the work is infinitely better with the right amount of empathy, gained as a result of end-user exposure. Interaction Designers need to accompany user researchers on studies, or learn to design and moderate their own research. 

2. Understanding of Business Objectives - Each screen and interface element should be planned to satisfy business objectives. Interaction Designers need to be included on the business requirements team during the project "Discovery," when requirements are gathered. It is entirely acceptable for the Interaction Designer to help drive these discussions using interaction design documentation, or "wireframes," as a "means of elaboration." 

3. Design Sensibility - Conventional and contemporary Design sensibilities are important for the Interaction Designer to have, in order to conceive credible and engaging interfaces for the end-user. Drawing upon this ability, the Interaction Designer will be able to recognize and develop smart page layouts, balanced visual elements, as well as proper emphasis of page elements. Generally, this skill is learned through experience and exposure to good Design.

4. Design Consistency - When developing concepts for the user interface of a web site or application, it is easy to acquire a fair amount of page and design inconsistencies on wireframe pages. Why? Interaction Design undergoes constant reinvention and revision, as a result of team and client reviews. Make sure that repeated design elements appear on masters or templates (most prototyping tools utilize the concept of layers, masters, or templates), and are "applied to pages." That way, any revisions that are needed for screen elements found on multiple pages, need only be changed once in the page master or template. 

5. Design Clarity - A clearly prioritized page will comfortably draw the eye to elements that are the most important on each page or screen. This clarity of intention, is the very definition of successful Design communication. Do constant battle with the urge to clutter up screens with interface elements that are randomly applied. Take 5 minutes for each screen, stand a couple of feet away from your computer screen, and ask yourself, "what is this screen trying to communicate?" If you can answer that question from a distance, than you are on the road to successful design. 

6. Wireframe Efficiency - Wireframe efficiency is the ability to limit the amount of wireframe element duplication in the document. This is a skill that is related to document management, and not a "Design skill," per se, however, once this principle is applied, documentation will be aesthetically improved. It is often the case, that elements which are repeated on multiple wireframes, get copied and pasted to each page in the wireframe document. There are many issues that can result from this approach to element duplication, from a documentation perspective. For instance, Visio still does not have the ability to "paste in place," meaning that each "copy and paste" maneuver may not end up on the exact position from wireframe to wireframe. The result will be a wireframe deck where elements appear to "jump and shift position," from page to page (ugly). Another issue, is that repeated elements in wireframe decks cause the file size to increase dramatically. Avoid these issues by creating masters and templates that represent design patterns that appear on multiple screens. Apply masters to wireframes utilizing these elements, so that repeated elements appear in a fixed position, all of the time. 

7. Good Writing Skills - Wireframe annotation can be a painful, tedious process, but it is "oh so important" for client and developer understanding of UI interaction. I generally prefer to hold off on annotating the wireframes until there is client acceptance of the design patterns and basic UI elements on key wireframes. You don't want to get stuck in revision cycles that include revisions to the wireframe designs as well as revisions to the annotations. Great annotation is detailed, precise, and clearly references each individual screen and UI element on each wireframe. Remember, wireframes are, essentially, instruction manuals for clients, designers, and developers. Good instructional aids use pictures and words to educate the reader. 

8. Competitor Intelligence - Trends in design patterns and user interface conventions are constantly changing. This change is as a result of advances in internet technologies, as well as data analytic assessments, which result in constant UI optimization. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the Interaction Designer to keep current on new trends in interaction, for digital user experiences that are in their client's competitive set. In addition, great Interaction Designers are individuals who actually go online frequently and engage in new experiences and social interaction.