The role of UX Designer

All of us rely on computer or cell phone screens at some point in the day now, and both the way we use them and the relevant enjoyment we get from doing so can depend in a large part on the skills of UX Designers. Creating the best possible user experience is a hugely significant role in the modern world, and for commercial organisations the better that experience the greater the revenue.

Duties and responsibilities - What does a UX Designer do?

Skilled UX Designers will need to show competence in several important duties, including:

• Communicating with clients to understand their requirements 
• The creation of various aspects of the end user experience, including storyboards, wireframes, and screen flows 
• Manufacturing working prototypes for testing purposes 
• Seeking and utilising user feedback, and reacting accordingly to opinions 
• Establishing the quality of the user experience and streamlining it to the best effect 
• Liaising at all times with senior management, clients, end users and stakeholders, often via presentations

Qualities needed for a successful UX Designer

By their very nature, UX Designers are passionate about their role, excellent at problem-solving and focused on the quality of their end-product. They are very organised, capable of working alone and as part of a team and they excel at time management. Working well under stress is a must in this role because there will be times when the pressure is on, and the deadlines are approaching.

A thorough understanding of the commercial implications of the work they produce is a must, as will a good knowledge of general design principles and how they will impact upon the user experience. In some roles, a UX Designer’s duties will be incorporated with those of a UI Designer, so a grasp on the responsibilities of both positions can be an advantage.

UX Designers can transfer their skills relatively easily from one industry sector to another, so those with a background in retail, for example, will be realistic candidates for similar roles in the likes of construction, logistics, governance, transport and more. Many UX Designers have worked previously in roles such as Visual Designer, Front End Developer, Content Strategist and Back End Developer.

Qualifications and technical skills - How to become a UX Designer?

While some employers will focus more on experience than formal academic qualifications, others will look for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in one of several relevant subjects. Those subjects include computer science, visual design, information technology and web design.

Experience with any of several UX design tools will be important. Popular applications include Sketch, Axure, InVision Studio, Proto.io, Craft, Marvel, Figma, Framer and Adobe XD, and successful candidates will be expected to have knowledge of at least some of these. 

Career development - What is the next step after UX Designer?

There are several roles that can become available to those with the relevant skills and experience, including several in senior management. They include the likes of Senior UX Designer, Lead UX Designer, Head of Design, Director of User Experience and Director of IT. The higher the level, the more likely will be the need to lead teams.

Salary and remuneration - How much does a UX Designer make?

Salaries for UX Designers are exceptionally good, even at the more junior levels. The higher the status, the more rewarding both salaries and benefits packages become.