One of the parts of app development I enjoy the most is designing the UI and UX. I like building clean interfaces that are easy to understand and feel satisfying to use. I also like giving each app its own personality. Even though my apps share a similar style, I try to make each one feel unique in some way. Designing things this way helps me grow as a developer and as a visual designer.
I see every new project as a chance to improve my design skills. I like experimenting with different layouts, animations, and visual styles. I want the UI to feel simple and direct, but also smooth and polished. I want someone to open the app and immediately understand where to go and what to do next without any confusion.
A lot of my inspiration comes from the apps I use every day. I pay attention to what works well and what feels frustrating. For example, Robinhood has one of the cleanest and most satisfying mobile interfaces I have ever used. It feels modern, light, and fast. The animations are smooth, and the screens are simple but powerful. On the other hand, some apps I use, like the Chase credit card app, feel cluttered or inconsistent. They work fine, but the experience is not as enjoyable.
I also watch YouTube videos about design, UI trends, and app breakdowns. Seeing how other designers think about spacing, color, typography, and structure helps me shape my own style. I like when creators explain why they made certain design choices. It makes it easier to understand how everything fits together.
Even though I have a certain style I like—clean layouts, strong clarity, and simple flows—I try to give each app its own identity. Sometimes that means using different accent colors. Sometimes it means changing the layout structure or trying new components. These small differences help each app stand out and feel like a complete product rather than a template copied over from the last project.
This approach also helps me improve my design instincts. Every time I try something new, I learn more about what works and what does not. It also helps me practice making decisions quickly. Instead of endlessly tweaking things, I focus on creating a solid UI and improving it with every project I build.
A big part of UI and UX design is balancing personality with clarity. I want the apps to feel nice to use, but the interface should never get in the way. Inputs should be obvious. Buttons should be clear. The user should not have to think hard or dig through menus to get results. This is something I constantly refine as I build more tools. Simplicity is not the same as being plain. You can still have style and personality while keeping the experience clean.
Over time I want to keep getting better at visualizing ideas, creating layouts, and designing complete experiences. Every app I build helps me practice this, and each project teaches me something new about how people interact with software. I enjoy the learning process, and I am excited to keep improving.
As I build more apps and expand Kurt and Leo Labs, I will keep exploring new UI and UX ideas. Design is something I always want to grow in, and each project gives me another chance to level up.