Ukrainian UX/UI designer Mariia Diakun: If I want something, I do it because desires fade if you don't fulfill them

Mariia Diakun is a Ukrainian UI/UX designer who discovered her new profession just over a year ago. She believes there is no point in waiting for the right moment to start something new. After learning about the UI/UX design profession during a webinar, she eagerly began mastering this field. Read on Drive Music Media to learn about her successful collaborations with American clients and and how she finds inspiration amidst air raid sirens.

Interviewer: How and when did you begin your journey in UI/UX design? What were your first steps?

Mariia: I am a creative person. Art is my element, what truly resonates with me. People often say I live in my own world  and I will not deny that.

I began my career as a UI/UX Designer just over a year ago. A few months prior, I was contemplating what I wanted – to work in a creative environment, grow professionally, and have the ability to work from home, as I am a natural homebody. 

While exploring options, I realized it would be interesting to combine my work with technology, since it is rapidly evolving and represents the future. During one of the webinars, I learned about the UI/UX Designer profession. I became interested in trying it out since computers, organization, and creativity are things I deeply enjoy.

I began by taking several free intensive courses where I familiarized myself with Figma and created my first mini-projects, after which I realized this was my calling. Right before New Year's, I found UI/UX Design courses and started studying without waiting for the "clean slate of the New Year". My distinctive trait is that I do not wait for special occasions to start something. If I want something I do it immediately. I understand that desires tend to fade when you do not act on them. For me, there are no phrases like "starting Monday" or "not the right time". Instead, I believe in "there is an opportunity and desire - let us begin" and "the time is always right". So I began. Initially, it was not easy. I understood little, spending 5-6 hours or more on lectures, trying to follow the instructors and design something. I still remember thinking: "How do they create such beautiful work? Mine does not turn out like that. When will I learn to do this?"

However, I understood that it takes time, effort, and patience. My persistent nature would not let me abandon what I had started and kept me resilient even when things were particularly challenging and unclear. I would always remind myself: "Right now I know very little, but consider how much I can learn". A little over six months passed, and I was already proficient in Figma and creating engaging designs. I compiled my portfolio and received a job offer from a company.

Interviewer: Tell us about interesting projects you have implemented. Who did you collaborate with, and what was the project workflow like?

Mariia: I began creating works while still studying in the course. These included landing pages, applications, and redesigns. One of the notable projects was a mental health application for American clients. It was an invaluable experience - the application turned out vibrant, and the clients were pleased with our collaboration. Creating visuals for our company's Telegram channel is my way to unwind. We spent considerable time searching for a style concept, and it was challenging to precisely determine what we needed. However, once we found the direction, I experienced a natural flow where my hands and mind effortlessly created exactly what was required. These are small works that I create once or twice a week, which do not require much time, but I find great satisfaction in creating something new and aesthetically pleasing each time.

Another significant project involved creating animation advertising for an agency, where, as a junior Motion Designer, I was learning new techniques while creating the video. I managed to complete quite a complex work in an unexpectedly short timeframe.

Interviewer: What is most important for beginners who want to work in UI/UX design to know? Based on your experience, what are the advantages and disadvantages of this field? What mistakes should be avoided and what is important to do instead?

Mariia: Patience is essential for achieving good results. There is extensive knowledge to acquire, but it is impossible to absorb everything at once. Initially, things will not always work out as planned. There may be moments of frustration. However, once you overcome these challenges, you will realize how far you have progressed and how much you have grown. Always remember to acknowledge how much you have already accomplished.

An important principle to remember is that if a client does not like your design, it does not mean they do not like you as a person. Do not take everything personally. Constructive criticism enhances your professional development. Do not fear making mistakes or asking questions – these experiences build your expertise. Do not be afraid of not knowing something. We are all human, and none of us possesses universal knowledge.

Always seek inspiration. Try to dedicate at least some time each day to observing other designers' works. This practice fills your "repository of ideas" and helps prevent creative blocks.

Regarding artificial intelligence, it is worth mentioning. Some believe it can replace humans. However, in my view, a machine will never fully substitute human creativity. Instead, it has the potential to become an excellent tool in our work. Therefore, if you are studying design now, I recommend learning about AI capabilities simultaneously, as it can significantly enhance design work.

Regarding the advantages: A career in design requires constant development. You will never lack variety in your activities. There is always something new to master and integrate into your projects. This profession prevents stagnation.

Design is consistently engaging, encompassing psychology, marketing, fashion, and programming. This interdisciplinary nature significantly expands your perspective and skill set. You influence trends and can make meaningful impacts on people's lives. This sense of significance provides strong motivation. Typically, design work can be done remotely, allowing you to work from home or travel while maintaining professional commitments. This flexibility facilitates a healthy work-life balance. 

Regarding disadvantages: It is a sedentary profession. One can become so immersed in a project that hours pass without physical movement. Sometimes you might even forget basic needs like eating or hydrating. Therefore, it is crucial to approach this mindfully and incorporate regular breaks. Time tends to pass remarkably quickly when designing, so it is essential to take brief periods for mental reset, which ultimately enhances productivity.
A significant challenge, particularly for newcomers, is that your work quality directly correlates with your well-being and emotional state. Creating quality design becomes challenging when you are not in an optimal mental state. However, experienced professionals develop the ability to maintain consistency regardless of their mood. It is important to understand that work may not be constant. You might experience periods of intense workload followed by sudden lulls. However, this pattern is cyclical, and such quiet periods can be utilized for professional development and personal growth.

Regarding mistakes, there is a crucial point to emphasize: making mistakes is necessary for growth. Mistakes facilitate learning and retention. They are our teachers. Perfect execution from the beginning is unrealistic. The saying "those who do nothing make no mistakes" is particularly relevant here.
Another critical error is beginning design work immediately. This approach is incorrect. The proper process involves first finding examples, developing ideas, coordinating them with the client, and only proceeding with work after the style is approved. Otherwise, you risk investing time in creating "directionless design" that will require complete revision. This principle is vital for preserving your time, energy, and motivation. Receiving feedback like "I do not like this reference" is preferable to hearing "I do not like your design".

Interviewer: How challenging is it to continue your career during the full-scale war? What challenges do designers face currently?

Mariia: We have adapted to finding inspiration despite air raid sirens. Naturally, the war affects my professional activities. It is crucial to carefully select content for interfaces or videos because, for instance, rockets no longer represent space exploration or extraordinary success for Ukrainians; similarly, khaki color extends beyond fashion connotations. Overlooked elements might unintentionally trigger sensitive responses, necessitating heightened attention and careful consideration.
Due to power outages, I relocated from the capital to a smaller city with alternative power sources and generally safer conditions for continued work, as nighttime explosions and six-hour power outages were detrimental to productivity. The constant flow of news certainly does not foster creativity, so I limit my consumption of news channels to maintain mental clarity, particularly as an empathetic individual.

During the war period, I mastered English, completed UI/UX courses, and learned Motion Design. This experience reinforced the understanding that we should not waste time or postpone activities, as tomorrow is not guaranteed. It is essential to value every experience and maintain gratitude for what we have.                            

Interviewer: Tell us about the process of creating animations. Why did you decide to expand your scope of work and master it?

Mariia: I am someone who requires constant engagement. When a several-month project concluded, I recognized available time and promptly found a new challenge – enrolling in Motion courses.

This decision was additionally influenced by a situation where, while working on an application, I needed to convey animation created solely as a Figma prototype. This experience highlighted my skill limitations. Consequently, I decided to learn how to animate my static frames.

Motion design presents greater complexity than UI/UX, at least in my current experience. Although the creation process shows similarities: we begin with ideation, develop a mental or visual concept, and then implement it in the video editor. Approaching work without clear ideas often results in disorganized output. Therefore, similar to UI/UX, establishing a solid foundation before beginning work is crucial.

Interviewer: Have you worked on international projects? If so, what design did you work on and for whom?

Mariia: Indeed, and it proved to be an exceptional experience. The clients were American, approaching our company to develop a gamified mental health application. Our collaboration was characterized by close cooperation and amicability. I can definitively state that working with international clients was thoroughly enjoyable, as they demonstrated consistent politeness and professionalism. Throughout the project, I received abundant praise and appreciation, which felt unusual given my typically self-critical approach to work, yet they consistently expressed satisfaction with the outcomes.

Interviewer: What projects are you working on at present?

Mariia: Currently, our team is developing an educational application. As it has not yet been released to market, I cannot disclose specific details, but I can share that the application holds significant potential for improving many individuals' lives and assisting users in acquiring essential skills for both personal and professional development.

The application incorporates modern technology that ensures maximum convenience and interactivity in its functionality. Our team consistently generates new ideas to enhance the interface and improve user experience, focusing on comfortable and highly effective product interaction.

Interviewer: What is your mission as a UI/UX designer?

Mariia: I aspire to create designs that captivate users immediately: designs that inspire and retain users beyond their initial interaction. It is crucial that users experience satisfaction during their first interaction with the interface. First impressions cannot be recreated. Therefore, during product implementation, it is essential to ensure we are creating something users will consistently choose to return to.

However, this extends beyond mere aesthetics. It encompasses making products maximally convenient, comprehensible, and accessible. While there is common acknowledgment that contemporary children are technologically adept (which certainly holds some truth), this results from designers' dedicated efforts to create interfaces for phones, applications, and games that even young children can intuitively understand and operate. This represents the quiet yet profound mission of UI/UX Designers – creating accessibility without drawing attention to the complexity behind it.

Interviewer: Which word would you associate your projects with? Why that particular word?

Mariia: "Life". Design transcends being merely another project to complete. Every website, application, or creative work influences human experience. Design follows a lifecycle similar to human development: it begins with conception, progresses through ideation, establishes a framework, and ultimately achieves implementation and functionality. We invest our knowledge with the aspiration of creating something meaningful for the future. This process parallels the nurturing and development of a child remarkably closely.

I choose "Life" because design is integral to my existence. For me, it surpasses being merely an occupation; it represents my inner world - a mindset that accompanies my daily existence. I would hesitate to classify it as work because when engaged in a project, thoughts persist not only during active development but also during walks, shower time, exercise, and even sleep. Indeed, there have been instances where ideas manifested in dreams. During leisure time, rather than scrolling through social media platforms, I find greater engagement in exploring professional platforms like Behance or Pinterest for creative inspiration. There is abundant beauty in this life that we must learn to recognize. Design serves as the instrument enabling us to actualize this recognition and appreciation.

Pictures were provided by Mariia Diakun