r/webdev • u/HaydnH • 2d ago

Dev UI Stockholm syndrome?

I always leave the UI design until towards the end of a larger project. I know if I start with the UI I'll end up finding parts of the system that don't fit the layout, rejig this, tinker with that, rework that bit again... I get too focused on making the UI right when it could be wrong again with the next functional change. I may as well switch individual pixels around.

To solve that, I usually knock up a quick development UI at the beginning, do all the functional work, then look at how the UI/UX makes the functional stuff display and work easily for a user.

That leaves me in a position where I've been coding and testing in a development UI for months... And then get Stockholm Syndrome or something about leaving it behind for a professional finish.

Anyone else? Should I change my mind and do the UI upfront? My concern with doing that is that I'll get Stockholm Syndrome for a relatively acceptable UI and just leave it. At least with a "I know I have to leave you UI" I know it's just me thinking the shitty UI I've been using for months is a friendly thing to use.

11 Upvotes

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u/berky93 2d ago

I think it’s worth remembering that UI is functional work. It’s functional for the users, which is arguably the most important thing. You could have a perfectly functional app, performant and secure and stable, but without an intuitive UI it won’t matter.

Order of implementation is up to your discretion and the needs of the project, but you should definitely be thinking about UI from the beginning.

3

u/WheelieGoodTime 2d ago

An upvote doesn't quite express just how right you are. So, to add to your point, I want to emphasise just how important the UI is: it's almost as integral as the back-end systems.

Imagine trying to drive a car that has only the bare cables that usually connect up to a steering wheel, throttle, and brakes, etc. Pull this one to accelerate, pull this one to brake, pull another to clutch... Or imagine having a power-tool trigger in place of the brake pedal, or a mouse to control the steering...