As a backend developer looking to freelance over the summer, I'm finding UI design to be quite challenging. I struggle with aspects like layouts and choosing the right components, even with various libraries available. I'm curious about how experienced developers manage these situations when working with clients. Do you spend time learning UI design, or do you just present clients with templates to choose from? What's the best approach? Also, how do you handle requests for complex UI designs, like award-winning websites?
4 Answers
It really depends on the client. Sometimes it’s best to show them templates to keep things from getting too wild. It gives them a clear picture of what their site will look like, which helps them decide if they like it or not. Just make sure whatever you use is easy to navigate—no one wants to deal with a site that's hard to use!
I ended up writing a framework to manage UI directly through Go, so I can avoid using JavaScript for user flows. Still need to work with HTML/CSS, but it’s a good way to handle UI without stepping too far out of my comfort zone.
Lately, I’ve been using AI to help with building UIs. Tools like Google Stitch can create some really nice websites and apps quickly. You just need to set up some guardrails to ensure the generated code is clean and that there are reusable components. If that's too much, hiring a designer or a dev friend could also work well.
Don't offer services you can't fully deliver on. If frontend UI isn't your strength, it might be better to not market that aspect. There are plenty of small businesses that need basic sites, so focus on what you can do well.
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