UI/UX industry in Kosovo is booming, as a derivative of a booming IT industry. Kosovo is becoming one of the most competitive and attractive countries in South-Eastern Europe in terms of outsourcing IT services. According to a report from the prestigious Emerging Europe, Future of IT Report 2023, the country has established itself as a powerhouse in the IT sector, by securing the top position in the Western Balkans and 11th in Europe for its impressive IT Competitiveness Index.
The rapid development of the IT sector has propelled the development of other complementary services that are inter-related to development, in this case the UI/UX design. According to STIKK, the majority of IT companies in Kosovo are small to medium-sized enterprises and predominantly operate in the software development and IT services sectors, focusing on web and mobile applications (STIKK IT Barometer Report for 2020-2021).
UI/UX, as a by-product of software development companies
According to the StiKK IT Barometer Report, 50% of the surveyed companies in Kosovo identify as software product developers, underscoring the significance of software development as a core competency within the industry.The most commonly mentioned horizontal markets include web design and development, custom development and outsourcing, IT consulting, and mobile solutions.
Other companies identify their core service related to e-commerce, CRM, Business Intelligence, Navigation applications, ERP and Web and 38% of these companies report that they exclusively focus on delivering services for international markets. As a bi-product of these tech developments in tech products, a new opportunity window has opened up for better and more contemporary designs as well as better user experiences.
Since mobile applications constitute for a large part of the IT sector and are UI/UX intensive, the derivative of this situation was the creation of a new workforce that has gained the necessary experience and expertise working on user interaction and user experience. The new workforce has led to the creation of specialised UI/UX designers and companies that are working directly with international governments and private tech enterprises.
UI/UX, as a core expertise of individuals and companies
Since the opportunity for specialisation in UI/UX is prevalent in the industry, there is a growing number of new companies that focus solely on digital user experience as an area of expertise. These companies are composed of amazing teams of skilled designers and developers who are constantly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in crafting digital products and even winning international awards.
These companies work with state governments and technology start-ups in transforming the user journeys in their day-to-day interaction with the digital world. Some of these companies report that they work on designing applications with 10+ million users which showcases the skills, the capabilities and the experience of the new and emerging workforce. The ability of these companies to work globally and along global tech behemoths shows grit and expertise.
The overwhelming number of free and paid courses on UI/UX design that are available on the internet is significantly contributing to an ever increasing number of professionals in this space. What is seen as a late trend in the country, is that many private and public educational institutions are providing on-site design courses with a focus on user experience which indicates a bright future of the industry and a growing interest among the youngsters.
UI/UX, as the next profession of the future workforce
According to the previously mentioned report from Emerging Europe, Kosovo has the highest number of ICT students per 100,000 population, being placed second in Europe for its top-notch IT infrastructure, and ranking fifth in terms of economic impact. The ever increasing number of students and professionals entering the ICT space ensures that there is an available and a constant stream of UI/UX designers for the next generation projects.
The rapid growth of new profiles on LinkedIn who are posting UI/UX Designer as their profession is growing with a lightning speed. Also, the number of new profiles being created in freelancing platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, in platforms like Behance and Dribbble, is mindblowing and sets up the trend for more and more people moving into this space and in creative jobs in general. The dissemination of the information on this opportunity is spreading fast and more and more people are jumping onboard everyday creating a rich and vibrant design community.
UI/UX and the usage of contemporary frameworks, tools & applications
As an aftermath of the access and exposure to contemporary technological developments, this new workforce relies heavily on the usage of contemporary working frameworks, tools & technologies. The most up-to-date tools like Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch and InVision Studio are used in services that start from prototyping until the creation of high-end information architectures and incredible design systems.
The most widely used tool, Figma, enables designers to build dynamic prototypes and mockups, test them for usability, and sync up all of the progress. It also allows for a collaborative environment where multiple people can work on a project at the same time and it has become the tool of choice. It’s also browser-based, making it accessible to everyone in an instant. And as an added bonus, it’s free for individual use, which leads to faster adoption within the younger design community.
Working with contemporary Agile methodologies along development teams is another added value that offers potential customers flexibility and transparency in working along teams. These project management frameworks break projects down into several dynamic phases, commonly known as sprints. As an iterative methodology, after every sprint, teams reflect and look back to see if there was anything that could be improved so they can adjust their strategy for the next sprint and deliver a better product.
Conclusion: Early birds get the worm
Even the European Parliament's 2022 Commission Report on Kosovo also mentions the country's progress in the IT sector. As the world is moving further and deeper into the digital age, the global demand for UI/UX designers is growing and these needs will not be to be met only by working within the geographical borders where global companies are located.
Kosovo, as it’s being confirmed by international reports and by on-site developments, is heading towards becoming a tech hub for a variety of services in the tech space. First-movers in hiring or partnering with UI/UX Kosovo companies, as it has happened with the other tech sectors, are going to benefit the most. The necessary skill, experience and expertise is waiting to be harnessed at Europe’s doorstep; the early bird gets the worm.