How do you fix bad UI/UX when you're the only one on the project?
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Every side project I build hits the same wall. The code works, the idea is fine, and then the interface makes it look unfinished.🤯 No designer, no budget for one.
So I'm curious how other solo builders actually handle this:
What's your design process when there's no designer? Component libraries, copying layouts you like, AI tools, something else?
How do you find out the UX is bad in the first place? I can tell when something feels off, but I can't articulate why — so I end up changing colors instead of fixing the real problem.
Curious what your setup looks like.🤔🤔
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Honestly I'd take a plain UI that's easy to use over a pretty one that makes me stop and think.
Hand it to a friend who's never used it and just watch. Don't help them unless they're completely stuck.
I usually go screen by screen and ask myself: what I am supposed to do here, and is that obvious?
I actually think copying a layout you like is fine for a solo project. Better than spending days trying to invent your own version of everything.
Recording myself using my own app helped more than I expected. I noticed all these tiny moments where I'd stop and wonder what to do next.
I’ve found that asking someone to complete one specific tasks is more revealing than asking them whether the UI looks good. Would you consider doing quick task-based tests with a few people?
I usually find the biggest UX problems by watching someone else use the app without explaining anything. Where do you usually get that kind of outside feedback?