Streamline Your Workflow: 3 Ways to Boost Efficiency in Your UI Design Business

One of the main goals of a UI design business is to give end users a smooth, efficient way to access an app or piece of software. But for your business to succeed, you need to focus on more than just end user efficiency. Internal efficiency is just as important.

The good news is that there are many ways to streamline workflows so you and your team can work as fast as possible. Some specific strategies for boosting your efficiency include registering your business as an LLC, rethinking internal processes, and investing in employee training and development.

Let’s dive into each of these efficiency-boosting strategies.

1) Register Your Business as an LLC.

First, to maximize efficiency, you need to choose the right legal structure for your business. And for most UI design businesses, that means registering as a Limited Liability Company (LLC).

What is an LLC?

At first it seems strange linking legal structure to workflow efficiency. To understand the connection, it’s first important to know a bit more about what LLCs are and how they work.

When you first start generating income from self-employment, the government automatically considers you a Sole Proprietor. In this arrangement, there is no distinction between you and the business, and no way to separate business assets/liabilities from personal ones.

By registering your business as an LLC, you are creating a separate legal entity from yourself or yourselves. Because your LLC is its own entit,y you can keep business assets and liabilities separate from your personal wealth.

Why Does an LLC Help with Workflows?

There are many benefits to the LLC, including some real benefits for your internal efficiencies and workflows. Consider:

• LLCs allow you to declare taxes on your personal tax return as opposed to filing a separate return; this pass-through taxation makes your reporting to the IRS simple and easy.

• The LLC format allows for many options for how your business is managed; you can self-manage, bring in partners, or outsource to a third-party management team.

• LLCs also avoid many of the regulatory burdens that Corporations face, so you have more time for strategy, vision, and team development.* When you start an LLC, you will need to have a Registered Agent, someone who will receive legal and tax correspondence on your behalf. Far from being an annoyance, this can actually free you up to focus more time on running your business.

• Finally, note that LLCs protect your personal wealth from creditors and from litigation, another way in which this legal structure allows you to focus on productive work.

The bottom line: Registering your UI design business as an LLC can unlock a lot of ongoing efficiency.

How to Register as an LLC

The actual steps to register your UI design business will vary a little depending on the state you’re in, but here is a general overview.

• Choose a name for your LLC. The legal name of your business must be unique, meaning it’s not in use by another LLC in the same state.

• Appoint someone as your Registered Agent. This can be an individual or an institution. The one major requirement is a mailing address in your state of registry.

• File Articles of Organization with your state and pay the fee. Note, this will be different from state to state, e.g., how much does it cost to set up a Wyoming LLC?

• Create an Operating Agreement, a kind of charter to outline how your business is run and administered day-to-day.

• Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) as well as a business bank account.

With these steps you’ll be ready to take advantage of the legal protections and efficiency-boosters of the LLC structure.

2) Rethink Internal Processes.

Beyond registering your business as an LLC, another way to streamline workflows is to rethink some of your internal processes. Simply put, many technologies, techniques, and protocols can change the way you work so you and your team can work faster.

Consider a few examples.

Make Sure Everything is Standardized

First and foremost, make sure everything is standardized. Establish standardized procedures for each stage of your UI design projects from initial client briefs to final delivery. Having clear processes helps team members understand their roles and responsibilities, reduces confusion, and ensures consistency in output. Create familiar rhythms that your team members can fall back on so every stage of client work is run like a well-oiled machine.

Make Design Systems

UI design businesses can also benefit from design systems, which are kind of like templates you can use to get a head start on all new projects. The best design systems include reusable components, patterns, and guidelines so you can streamline the design process by having a consistent set of UI elements, styles, and standards. This will save you a lot of time as you iterate on new work for your clients, as you’ll always have a foundation in place to start from.

Invest in Project Management Software

The right AI services can help you keep your workflows streamlined and efficient. Project management software is especially important. Try using software like Trello, Asana, or Monday to track tasks, keep up with deadlines, and monitor progress. Project management tools foster clear and effective communication, encourage collaboration and task assignment so everyone is on the same page, and deadlines are always met.

Be Open to Automation

Another way to streamline workflows is to automate whatever you can, whenever you can. To start, identify repetitive tasks within your processes, such as exporting assets or generating design specs. Then automate them using tools like Sketch or Adobe XD plugins or scripting languages like JavaScript. Not only will automation save you time, but it will also reduce manual errors.

Seek Continuous Improvement in Your Processes

Finally, make time to regularly review and analyze your workflows to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or areas that can be improved. Seek feedback from team members and stakeholders and be open to trying new tools or processes to make your workflows more efficient. Continuous improvement is key if you’re going to be as efficient and productive as can be.

3) Invest in Employee Training and Development.

After you register your business as an LLC and fine-tune internal processes, one final way to boost efficiency is to invest in training for your employees.

How Does Training Help Improve Efficiency?

Training can help your business become more efficient in many ways:

• Employee training helps your team members improve their skills and knowledge with US design tools, technologies, and best practices.

• Training can also keep the whole team up to date with UI design tools and innovations.

• Training helps with standardization as it reinforces the processes and procedures you expect all of your team members to follow.* Being exposed to different ideas in training will help employees develop their problem-solving skills so they can overcome challenges and obstacles more effectively and more creatively.

How to Provide Employee Training

As for how to provide training for your employees, consider:

• Find either external or internal experts to lead workshops and seminars for your team; a training event with a catered lunch is a great way to keep employees engaged in ongoing professional development.

• Invest in online courses, tutorials, or e-learning platforms that offer comprehensive training on UI design topics so employees can learn at their own pace.

• Mentorship programs are helpful, too, where more junior employees can hone their skills through direct training with more senior employees.

• Networking events and conferences are valuable too! Sponsor employees to attend relevant conferences, industry events, or networking meetups for UI design.

• Finally, support employees in getting industry certifications or credentials in this field. Examples of relevant certifications in US design include Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) or Google UX Design Professional Certificate.

In short, employee training is one of the most effective ways to make your whole organization more efficient, more streamlined, and more productive.

Advance Your UI Design Business Through Improved Efficiencies

In summary, there are many ways to make your UI design business more efficient. Three priorities are registering the business as an LLC, rethinking internal processes, and investing in employee training and development. By following these, you can get your UI design team working optimally and achieve ongoing success and client happiness.

Author Bio

Amanda E. Clark is a contributing writer to LLC University. She has appeared as a subject matter expert on panels about digital and social media marketing.