As a UX designer, you may find that your first task in a new job is to explain the value you’ll bring to the company and how you’ll do so.
So, what does a UX designer actually do?
In short, UX designers try to make the experience of interacting with products, services, and technology as enjoyable and easy for the user as possible.
This article will dive deeper into this to clearly explain what a UX designer is and what the role involves.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- What is UX design?
- What does a UX designer do?
- UX designer job market and salaries
- Key takeaways
- FAQ about UX designers
What do UX designers do? Let’s find out. Of course, if you want to dive right in, try our free short course.
1. What is UX design?
UX design focuses on the interaction between real human users and everyday products and services, such as websites, apps, and even coffee machines.
It’s an extremely varied discipline, combining aspects of psychology, business, market research, design, and technology.
If you’d like to look at these in more depth, we’ve produced a handy guide to the different areas of UX design.
The term UX, coined by Donald Norman when he worked for Apple as a cognitive scientist, has been around since the early nineties. To encompass all of the different elements that determine how a user feels while interacting with a product, he coined the term “user experience”.
You can dive into the history of UX design in our article on it. If you’re looking for a really in-depth exploration of UX design, then try this UX guide.
Or, you can read a first-person perspective from Ruofei, who went from accountant to successful UX designer.
Since the term came about, UX design has become synonymous with good business; only those products and services that provide a seamless user experience will succeed on the market.
UX design in action
So we know that UX designers are important, and we have a working definition of the term UX, but what does it actually look like in action?
Let’s try an example: Imagine you’re shopping for a pair of shoes online.
You find yourself in the “shoe” category, and there are over three hundred different pairs to browse—great! Then you realize there’s no way to filter the results, meaning you have to scroll through hundreds of unsuitable shoes before you find what you’re after.
You get there in the end and add them to your basket. You’re ready to make a purchase and as a new customer, you have to create a new account.
Ok, no problem—until you see that there are at least ten mandatory fields to be filled in! Buying your shoes on this website is starting to feel like more hassle than it’s worth, so you decide to abandon ship and look elsewhere.
That’s what you call a bad user experience. UX doesn’t only apply to websites, though–any product or service you come into contact with evokes a certain type of experience.
Is it easy to use? Does it enable you to complete your desired tasks with minimum effort? Is it logical and efficient? These are all indicators of a good or bad user experience.
Want to see more examples of it in action? This article offers five real-world examples of great UX design.
Now we’ve established what UX design is, let’s answer the question: What does a UX designer actually do?
2. What does a UX designer do?
The UX designer makes products, services, and technology usable, enjoyable, and accessible for humans.
UX designers tend to work as part of a wider product team and often find themselves bridging the gap between the user, the development team, and key business stakeholders.
Whether designing a new product, coming up with a new feature, or making changes to an existing product or service, the UX designer must consider what’s best for the user and the overall user experience.
As a UX designer, it’s your job to advocate for the end-user or customer.
At the same time, you are also responsible for ensuring that the product or service meets the needs of the business. Does it align with the CEO’s vision? Will it help to increase revenue or retain loyal customers?
Ok, but what kinds of projects can you expect to work on, and what is your role within a company?
On a typical day, a UX designer will likely be designing websites, mobile apps, and software or even designing for voice, AR, and VR devices.
Some UX designers focus on service design rather than tangible products, such as designing the overall experience of using public transport or staying in a hotel.
It is important to be aware that UX designers are not typically responsible for the visual design of a product. Rather, they focus on the user’s journey and how the product is structured to facilitate this journey.
In this video, experienced designer Dee talks you through what a UX designer does:
Tasks and responsibilities
As a UX designer, you’ll go through each step in the UX design process to ensure that all products are designed with the user in mind. Let’s take a closer look at daily tasks.
- Conducting user research
- Creating user personas
- Determining information architecture
- Creating user flows and wireframes
- Prototyping and user testing
1. Conducting user research
The initial stage in the UX design process is where the research (magic) happens. Generally, a UX designer will get a brief from the client or their manager asking them to do some project research.
Let’s use the fictitious fast food chain “Foodies” as an example. Imagine Foodies approach you because they want to design a new app.
Firstly, it would be the UX designer’s role to combine desk-based and field research to get a full picture of who they are designing for. This might include reviewing what the current website has to offer, interviewing existing users to identify opportunities and pain-points, and doing competitor research to see what else is out there.
These tasks enable the UX designer to pinpoint the core features needed for the Minimum Viable Product (in other words, the first iteration of a product that you’ll release) and to start creating some initial user personas. For Foodies, the core features might be a menu, the ability to make online reservations, and a local branch finder.
In a nutshell, the user research phase is when you scope out the project, identifying exactly who you’re designing for and what the users’ goals and challenges are in relation to the product. You can learn more about the importance of user research and how to do it in this guide or by exploring this set of free UX research tutorials.
2. Creating user personas
Based on extensive user research, UX designers might then create user personas. This is where you delve deeper into what tasks each persona wants to perform and why. Personas are key in the process.
A typical persona for Foodies might be Samantha, a go-getting 20-something who likes eating artisan salads on her lunch break. An example task for her persona might be:
“Samantha likes to pre-order the Moroccan Lamb Salad via the mobile app as it saves her time between meetings.”
Another popular approach that might be used in conjunction with (or as an alternative to) user personas is jobs-to-be-done (JTBD). You can find a full comparison between personas and JTBD elsewhere on the blog.
3. Determining information architecture
Next, you’ll start thinking about the kind of content needed and how it will be structured across the website or app. This is what’s known as information architecture; working out the most logical layout and organization of the content.
Good information architecture makes sure that the user can easily find what they’re looking for and intuitively navigate from one page to the next without too much thought.
4. Creating user flows and wireframes
UX designers use a range of tools to map out the user’s journey through a product, including user flows and wireframes.
User flows are basic flowcharts that visualize the complete path a user takes when using a product, from the entry point right through to the final interaction. You can learn more in this introductory guide to user flows.
While user flows map out the entire user journey, wireframes provide a two-dimensional outline of a single screen or page. We’ve covered the wireframing process in more detail in another piece—and if you’re keen to get started, you can find a guide to the best free wireframing tools.
5. Prototyping and user testing
With the product layout mapped out, the UX designer will then create prototypes and run some user tests.
A prototype is simply a scaled-down version of your product; a simulation that enables you to test your designs before they get developed. Prototypes range from the simplest of paper models to the more realistic, high-fidelity interactive prototypes which closely mimic the final product.
Testing your prototypes on real users helps to highlight any design flaws before you create the final product. Several rounds of testing could take place before the design is completely right.
Once you know the design is actually meeting users’ needs, the new product is finally ready to go into development.
UX designers also attend sprint meetings, overseeing product development to make sure there aren’t any feature creeps (which often happens in my experience!) and helping to make small refinements to the design as and when necessary.
6. Visual design
You’ll notice that none of the above tasks are concerned with the visual design of the product. While some UX designers will also specialize in visual design, it tends to fall under user interface (UI) design.
So, the final imagery, color schemes, icons, and typography will usually be taken care of by a UI designer. If you’re confused about the difference between the two roles, read our guide explaining the differences between UX and UI design.
One final point to make is that a UX designer’s work is rarely finished after the product launch. There will be refinements, small changes, new releases, feedback to gather and analytics to discuss with the team.
The UX design process is highly iterative, and a career in UX is as much about collaboration and coordination as it is about design.
Essential skills for a UX designer
With such a varied range of tasks, UX designers need a diverse skill set. This includes:
Industry-specific UX designer skills
- Wireframing and prototyping
- UX writing
- Visual communication and UI
- User testing
Crossover skills
- Business acumen
- Research skills and analytics
- Customer service
- Coding and development
Soft skills
- Adaptability
- Communication
- Empathy
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork
As a UX designer, it’s important that you can collaborate effectively with those around you—from clients and stakeholders to developers and fellow designers, all the way through to the end user.
Business knowledge also goes a long way in the UX design industry. It’s important to understand both the goals of the company and the needs of the target audience and to align these when coming up with design solutions.
Keep in mind that if you want to be a full-stack designer, you’ll need to cross-train in other specialties by training in web development or UX writing, for example. This is especially true if you work as a UX designer in a startup.
Find out more with our full guide on UX designer skills.
3. UX designer job market and salaries
As we’ve said, good UX has become synonymous with good business because happy users are good for business!
The demand for UX designers has radically increased—and as the tech industry continues to evolve, UX designers are more crucial than ever. This is especially true for UX designers who are on the cutting edge of their field and participating in the trends that keep UX design relevant and necessary.
This demand is also reflected in the overall increase in average UX designer salaries, as the annual salaries listed here, aggregated from Glassdoor and Indeed, show:
UX Design Intern: $60,864
Junior UX Designer: $100,334
UX Designer: $106,896
Senior UX Designer: $139,001
Senior UX Design Manager: $159,856
Get a full breakdown of the UX designer salary in this article.
Clearly, the outlook for a career in UX design is excellent. That said, it can be a very competitive job market. If you want to really stand out in the market, we recommend cultivating a relationship with a UX design mentor and finessing a truly job-winning UX design portfolio.
4. Key takeaways
As you can see, UX is a fascinating, varied, and highly satisfying career path that could take you in many directions. Hopefully, you now have a good idea of what a UX designer actually does and how to explain it to anyone who asks!
If you’re keen to learn more about what it’s like to work in UX, check out the following videos about a day in the life of a remote UX designer and an on-site UX designer, and then we recommend getting in touch with us to find out about how we can take you from complete beginner to a hired UX designer in as little as six months with the CareerFoundry UX Design Program.
- What’s the difference between UX design and UI design?
- 9 of the best UX design portfolio examples from around the web
- A guide to the best UX design bootcamps and how to choose one
5. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about UX designers
1. What are the requirements to become a UX designer?
The requirements to become a UX designer can vary, but some common qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in fields like interaction design, graphic design, or a related discipline. It’s important to have a solid understanding of UX principles, such as user research, information architecture, and interaction design.
Proficiency in relevant software tools and coding languages can also be beneficial. Building a strong portfolio that showcases your UX design skills and effective communication and collaboration abilities is crucial. Remember to research specific job requirements and tailor your skills accordingly.
2. How to become a UX designer?
To become a UX designer, there are several steps you can take. Start by gaining relevant education, such as earning a degree in fields like interaction design or graphic design. It’s also important to develop a solid understanding of UX principles through self-study or online courses. Building a strong portfolio that demonstrates your UX design skills and problem-solving abilities is essential.
Seek practical experience through internships or freelance projects to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios. Networking with professionals in the industry and staying updated on current trends and technologies can further enhance your chances of becoming a successful UX designer.
3. Do UX designers get paid well?
UX designers generally have good earning potential. The salary for UX designers can vary depending on factors such as experience, location, and company size. However, on average, UX designers tend to earn competitive salaries.
According to industry reports, the median annual salary for UX designers is above the national average. Keep in mind that salaries can differ across industries and companies, so it’s important to research specific job postings and negotiate your compensation based on your skills, experience, and the local job market conditions.