Before the Code: How UX/UI Training Changed the Way a Developer Builds
“As the sole developer in his organisation, Zaw Lin Htay took the WSQ User Experience & User Interface (UX UI) Design Essentials Course to move beyond functionality and create more intuitive digital experiences.”
Zaw Lin Htay was already comfortable working behind the scenes of digital products.
As a software developer, much of his experience was focused on backend development, APIs and technical implementation. His priority was to make sure systems worked correctly and reliably.
However, his role required him to do more than backend development.
As the only developer in his organisation, Zaw also had to manage frontend work and user interface design. This meant he was responsible not only for how a system functioned, but also for how users interacted with it.
Zaw Lin Htay at work as a software developer, where he manages both backend development and frontend requirements.
Before attending the course, he had little formal knowledge of user experience and user interface design.
“Before joining the course, I had almost zero knowledge of UI and UX. I was mainly focused on backend development and APIs.”
When Functionality Was No Longer Enough
Zaw’s existing approach to interface design was practical and developer-focused.
He relied on standard frameworks such as Bootstrap and used familiar colour conventions. For example, green might indicate a save action, red might represent delete, and orange might be used for an update.
The interface could function as intended, but there was still room to improve how it looked and how naturally users could move through it.
His manager encouraged him to strengthen this area and improve the user interface of the systems he was building.
SwanArh Academy, a freelance website project developed by Zaw Lin Htay
“I was the only developer in the company, so I had to work on both the backend and frontend. My boss encouraged me to improve the user interface.”
Learning to See Through the User’s Perspective
The course introduced Zaw to a different way of thinking.
Instead of focusing only on whether a feature worked, he began to consider whether the experience made sense to the person using it.
He learned to think more carefully about questions such as:
What information should appear on a landing page?
How should content and functions be arranged?
How many clicks should users need to complete a task?
Can users quickly understand what to do next?
Does the interface support the user’s intended journey?
These considerations helped him shift from a purely technical mindset towards a more user-focused approach.
“I started thinking about what sections a landing page should include and how many clicks users need to complete what they want to do.”
For Zaw, this was an important change. He was no longer viewing the interface simply as the visible layer of a system. He began to understand it as part of the overall experience.
Using Figma Before Development
One of the practical changes Zaw made after attending the course was to begin using Figma for prototyping.
Instead of moving directly into development, he could first explore how a page or interface should be structured.
This allowed him to think through the layout, user journey and interaction before implementing the design.
After the course, I started using Figma to create prototypes before applying the design.
For a solo developer managing several responsibilities, this gave him a clearer way to plan the frontend while continuing to handle backend development, documentation and other technical requirements.
Personal finance and asset management portal developed by Zaw Lin Htay
The course also changed the way Zaw assessed digital experiences beyond his own work.
After developing a stronger understanding of UX and UI principles, he found himself noticing usability issues on other websites more easily.
He became more aware of whether a user journey was clear, whether too many clicks were required and whether the structure of a page supported the user’s goal.
This growing awareness gave him enough confidence to recommend the course to a colleague who was responsible for managing the organisation’s corporate website.
I recommended the course to my colleague because I could see usability issues more clearly after attending it.
The recommendation reflected how useful Zaw found the course, even though UX and UI design were not his primary specialisation.
SafeMe, a personal safety app concept developed by Zaw Lin Htay
One of the projects that reflects Zaw’s broader approach to digital experiences is SafeMe, a personal safety app concept focused on emergency location sharing and communication.
Continuing to Improve
Zaw is realistic about his progress.
He does not describe himself as a UX or UI designer, and he recognises that areas such as visual design, colour selection and human interaction still require further practice.
At the same time, the course gave him a practical foundation that he could apply immediately.
It helped him improve the way he approached page structure, user flow and prototyping, while complementing his existing technical strengths.
Zaw continues to develop his technical and digital design skills through practical projects
If you’re looking to strengthen your understanding of UX/UI design and apply user-centred principles to your digital projects, explore the course to learn more.
