Here is how design thinking can help.

1. ️‍Empathize. ( Act as a detective)

•Who are you making the app for? Put yourself in their shoes.Feel their frustrations

•How do they feel about existing apps? (Frustrated? Lost?)

2. Define (Write the problem statement)

Turn your detective notes into a clear problem:
For example - “people can't get a national ID without wasting time and getting frustrated."

3.Ideate (Get creative)

Think of all the ways to solve that problem.

•An app that helps you register and get your ID delivered to your door steps?
•An app that schedules an appointment with the ID agency?

4.Prototype (Build a quick prototype)

•Don't worry about complicated codes, just sketch or build a simple version of your ideas.

•Draw screens of your ID card scheduler.

See a step by step tutorial on how you can design your prototype on my YouTube channel - Design with Ken

5 Test (Get feedback)

Share your prototype to real people and ask for their honest opinions.

•Does it solve their problems? Is it fun to use?

•Use the feedback from the test to improve your app, test it again, and keep getting better until everyone loves it.

Bonus tip>>>> Remember, there are no stupid ideas in design thinking.The weirder the better, because it might just lead to a stupendous app.

Good luck creating awesome apps.

The short answer to this question is NO.

It can be useful but is in no way essential.

I will throw more light in a bit but first, let's get this clear.

User interface design, user experience design and coding are three different things.

A UI and UX designer do not depend on coding skill to carryout their jobs any more than a mechanic also need to know how to drive a car.

However, if you can drive as a mechanic, you will be able to communicate with drivers about their problems better.

So also as a designer that knows about coding, it will be much easier to communicate and work with developers.

Having a knowledge of coding will also give you a competitive advantage when you enter the job market.

If you are wondering what codes to learn, I suggest you learn the basics of HTML, CSS, and Javascript.

Hope this cools your mind.

- design with Ken

Avoid these mistakes as a fresh UI/UX designer.

1.Failing to make people realize the value of the services you offer.

2.Focusing too much on how beautiful your design is over its functionality and usability.The users needs and goals should be your top concern.

3.Being too emotionally attached with your designs and not willing to receive feedbacks and make changes

4.Not reading quality books.

Speaking of books, it should include other fields like phycology, negotiation, marketing etc

5.Adding instead of taking away.

When designing, bear in mind that less really means more. The less complicated the better.

Every great designer started as a beginner.

Please share the mistakes you made / think fresh designers make.

UX design is all about the overall experience of the user during and after using your product.

Using a house structure to explain better,

Questions like:

Is the living room the first room you walk into at the entrance?

Does the bedrooms have their bathrooms? Or does a visitor have to leave her room to yours to make use of the bathroom?

How is the positioning of the windows? Does it ensure enough natural light?

A UX designer is responsible for how the user feels using your product.

UI on the other hand is all about the visual layout and design of a product.

That is, the look and the feel of a product which include typography, color scheme and layout.

Using a house as an example, UI design is what make your house looks beautiful.

Things like the colour and size of your chair, the color of the walls the presence of flower verses and other accessories that makes you enjoy living in the house.

I hope this gives a better understanding.