Visual Communications Design students know from college that motion design, illustration, crafting digital assets for web (e.g., comps, branding, style guides, mock-ups iconography, presentations layouts and mood boards, etc). and photography (exposure, video & lighting techniques) are not ends in themselves when designing graphics for web pages and apps.
The knowledge of UX skills in user journeys and information architecture stretches far beyond competency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Premier Pro, After Effects, Illustrator) and Sketch/Figma or understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript. To find UX/UI designers who understand how to design human-aware code, look for skills in the freelancer's HostJane listing that demonstrate that human thinking element: a conceptual abilit to strategically think, plan and produce content.
Here are key skills to look for. Can your prospective designer fulfil the following tasks:
(1) Integrate UI and UX design to cross-end responsive websites and platforms with front-end languages (HTML/CSS/JavaScript) leveraging Sitecore, Optimizely, Umbraco and Shopify. This should cover creative skills in digital audio and video production, graphic design and visual communication, web and mobile content development or programming, simulations, animations, games and interactive media, virtual or augmented reality.
(2) Manage digital projects KPIs and Timeframes, making sure that projects get completed on time using tools such as JIRA.
(3) Gather and evaluate user needs in collaboration with the customer team and interpret requirements to digital outcomes with digital design and UI/UX design skills through Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign), Sketch, and Figma with wireframes, prototypes and demos to meet the internal and customized requirements.
(4) Develop and implement effective search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. Assisting in analyzing, web-based visual methodologies, and developing digital-graphics plans to promote the brand identity.
(5) Have a good track record in their HostJane reviews for updating buyers with project’s progress through the messaging system.
Graphic designers will need to have or team up with a developer experienced in implementing responsive UI components for web applications and websites using HTML/CSS, ReactJS and/or Angular. Experience using prototyping tools such as Adobe XD, Axure or Figma is necessary to create the top-quality web graphics buyers on HostJane demand. Designing and producing graphics, audio and video content for online platforms including websites, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Electronic Direct Mail (EDM) and other online social networks, requires creative content generation and assistance with the creation and management of branded content strategies & content calendars.
We specialize in meeting that ongoing maintenance and content graphics creation for business websites and all future digital assets to help you leverage digital platforms to increase impact, engagement and drive sales. It's more than liaising with key influencers and nurturing those relationships - good graphics is ultimately about fulfilling an online lead generation pipeline through day-to-day social media management and engaging people in a brand's direction.