Interface designer

The profession of an interface designer involves improving the working environment used by human beings. Ergonomics is usually characterised by two components:

• Efficiency, which involves implementing appropriate solutions for product use, besides the designer's intentions;
• Usability, referring to how well-suited it is to the user's capabilities. This is divided into two categories:
  • Ease of use, which entails reducing physical and mental fatigue as much as possible.
  • Safety, which entails choosing adequate ways to protect the user.

The interface designer must therefore work with everyone at the company involved in the design process, to improve the staff's working environment or to improve the ergonomics of the business's products or website.

A website interface designer works in concert with the webmaster, the web designer and the content publication teams in order to ensure that the site is easy to navigate. He/she also takes part in designing the site's architecture, its page layout and its navigation.

Skills

The interface designer must have knowledge suited to his/her industry, as well as a professional background in psychology, physiology, sociology, workplace organisation, and even medicine.

If he/she works on the company website, the interface designer must have an understanding of web design and be aware of technical restrictions.

Finally, he/she must have interpersonal and organisation skills, as well as a willingness to listen, in order to become familiar with the occupations involved in the company and be in a position to run awareness and training programmes.

Education

There are specific courses of study for becoming an interface designer, but professional experience and a passion for the field are both essential qualities.

Salary

An interface designer's salary may vary from $30k-$60k (£15k-£30k) per year, depending on his/her level of experience.

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