What Does a UX Designer Actually Do? [2022 Guide]

As a UX designer, it's your job first and foremost to advocate for the end user or customer. Whether you're designing a brand new product, ... UXDesignUIDesignWebDevelopmentDataAnalyticsDigitalMarketingMoreCategoriesProductManagementCareerChangeUXDesignUIDesignMoreCategoriesWebDevelopmentDataAnalyticsDigitalMarketingProductManagementCareerChangeSeeourblogcategoriesUXDesignUIDesignWebDevelopmentDataAnalyticsDigitalMarketingProductManagementCareerChangeStartyourfreeUXdesigncourseStartyourfreeUXdesigncourseWhatisUXdesign,andwhatdoesaUXdesigneractuallydo?It’saquestionI’vebeenaskedfrequentlysincecompletingtheCareerFoundryUXDesignProgram.Surprisingly,thequestioncomesnotonlyfromfriendsandfamily,butalsofromemployersandpeoplewhoworkinthetechindustry.There’sstillalotofconfusionsurroundingthefield,whichiswhy,asaUXdesigner,you’lloftenfindthatyourfirsttaskinanewjobistoclearlyexplainthevalueyou’llbebringingtothecompanyandhowyou’lldoso.Thepurposeofthispostistwo-fold.Ifyou’renewtoUX,itwillprovideaclearexplanationofwhatisUXDesignandwhatitinvolves.Ifyou’reaUXdesigner,itaimstoequipyouwithaclearandconciseanswertothatall-too-frequentquestion:WhatdoesaUXdesignerdo?Here’swhatwe’llcover:WhatisUXdesign?WhatdoesaUXdesignerdo?WhatarethetypicaltasksandprocessesofaUXdesigner?WhatskillsdoesaUXdesignerneed?UXdesignerjobmarketandsalariesWrap-upandfurtherreadingIfyou’remoreofavisualperson,you’llfindabeautifulinfographictowardstheendofthispost,explainingtheroleoftheUXdesignerinanutshell.SowhatdoesaUXdesigneractuallydo?Let’sfindout.1.WhatisUXdesign?BeforeweexplorewhataUXdesignerdoes,it’simportanttofirstestablishwhatUXdesignactuallyis.UXdesignfocusesontheinteractionbetweenrealhumanusers(likeyouandme)andeverydayproductsandservices,suchaswebsites,apps,andevencoffeemachines.It’sanextremelyvarieddiscipline,combiningaspectsofpsychology,business,marketresearch,design,andtechnology.Ifyou’dliketolookattheseinmoredepth,we’veproducedahandyguidetothedifferentareasofUXdesign.Asyoucansee,UXdesignersareexpectedtowearmanydifferenthats!We’lltakeacloserlookatwhataUXdesignerdoesinsectiontwo.First,let’sconsiderwherethetermUXdesigncomesfromandhowithasevolved.UXisnotnew.Infact,thetermhasbeenaroundsincetheearlynineties,coinedbyDonaldNormanwhenheworkedforAppleasacognitivescientist.Normanwasinterestedinallaspectsofauser’sexperiencewithaproductorservice,includingindustrialdesign,graphics,theinterface,andphysicalinteraction.Toencompassallofthedifferentelementsthatdeterminehowauserfeelswhileinteractingwithaproduct,hecameupwiththeterm“userexperience.”YoucandelvedeeperintothehistoryofUXdesigninourarticleonit.Ifyou’relookingforareallyin-depthexplorationofUXdesign,thenI’drecommendthisUXguide—orsimplywatchthisshortvideoforamoregentleintroductionfrommyfellowdesigner,Dee:Sincethetermcameabout,UXdesignhasgrowntobesynonymouswithgoodbusiness;onlythoseproductsandservicesthatprovideaseamlessuserexperiencewillsucceedonthemarket.Wanttoseeitinaction?We’vegatheredfivebrilliant,real-worldexamplesofgreatUXdesign.UXdesigninactionSoweknowthatUXdesignersareimportant,andwehaveaworkingdefinitionoftheterm“UX”—butwhatdoesitactuallylooklikeinaction?Let’simagineyou’reshoppingforapairofshoesonline.Youfindyourselfinthe“shoe”category,andthereareoverthreehundreddifferentpairstobrowse—great!Thenyourealizethere’snowaytofiltertheresults,meaningyouhavetoscrollthroughhundredsofunsuitableshoesbeforeyoufindwhatyou’reafter.Yougetthereintheend,andaddthemtoyourbasket.You’rereadytomakeapurchaseand,asanewcustomer,youhavetocreateanewaccount.Ok,noproblem—untilyouseethatthereareatleasttenmandatoryfieldstobefilledin!Buyingyourshoesonthiswebsiteisstartingtofeellikemorehasslethanit’sworth,soyoudecidetoabandonshipandlookelsewhere.That’swhatyoucallabaduserexperience.UXdoesn’tonlyapplytowebsites,though–anykindofproductorserviceyoucomeintocontactwithevokesacertaintypeofexperience.Isiteasytouse?Doesitenableyoutocompleteyourdesiredtaskswithminimumeffort?Isitlogicalandefficient?Theseareallindicatorsofagoodorbaduserexperience.Nowwe’veestablishedwhatUXdesignis,let’sreturntoouroriginalquestion:WhatdoesaUXdesigneractuallydo?2.WhatdoesaUXdesignerdo?Ifyou’reconsideringacareerasaUXdesigner,you’llwanttoknowhowUXdesignersworkonaday-to-daybasis.Whatkindsofprojectscanyouexpecttoworkon?Whatisyourrolewithinacompany?WhatdoesaUXdesigneractuallydo?“HowdoIexplainwhatIdoataparty?TheshortversionisthatIsayIhumanizetechnology.”—FredBeecher,DirectorofUX,TheNerderyWefindFredBeechersumsuptheroleoftheUXdesignerrathernicely.AsaUXdesigner,you’retheretomakeproductsandtechnologyusable,enjoyable,andaccessibleforhumans.UXdesignerstendtoworkaspartofawiderproductteam,andwilloftenfindthemselvesbridgingthegapbetweentheuser,thedevelopmentteam,andkeybusinessstakeholders.AsaUXdesigner,it’syourjobfirstandforemosttoadvocatefortheenduserorcustomer.Whetheryou’redesigningabrandnewproduct,comingupwithanewfeature,ormakingchangestoanexistingproductorservice—theUXdesignermustconsiderwhat’sbestfortheuserandtheoveralluserexperience.Atthesametime,youarealsoresponsibleformakingsurethattheproductorservicemeetstheneedsofthebusiness.DoesitalignwiththeCEO’svision?Willithelptoincreaserevenueorretainloyalcustomers?Asforthekindsofprojectsyou’llworkon,thiswillvarydramaticallyfromcompanytocompany,aswillthesizeofyourteam,andyourpriorities.Ifyouwanttoknowmoreaboutthis,I’vecoveredinmoredetailthedifferentwaysinwhichaUXdesignerworksindifferentkindsoffirms.Youcanalsolearnaboutthedifferencesbetweenworkingasanin-houseUXdesigner,atanagency,orasafreelancerinthisguide.Youmayfindyourselfdesigningwebsites,mobileapps,andsoftware,orevendesigningforvoice,ARandVRdevices!SomeUXdesignersfocusonservicedesignratherthantangibleproducts,suchasdesigningtheoverallexperienceofusingpublictransportorstayinginahotel.TherearelotsofspecialistrolesundertheumbrellaofUXdesign.We’vebrokendownsomeofthemostcommonUXjobtitlesandwhattheymeaninthisguide.Whenitcomestoeverydaytasks,thesewillalsovarydependingonyourroleandthecompanyyouworkfor.MyexperienceofworkinginUXhasinvolvedelementsofresearch,testing,businessanalysis,projectmanagement,andvariouspsychologyprinciples,aswellasthemorehands-ondesigntaskssuchaswireframingandprototyping.Despitethevarietytheroleoffers,therearesomegeneralfunctionsthataUXdesignercanbeexpectedtoperform,including:ConductinguserresearchCreatinguserpersonasDeterminingtheinformationarchitectureofadigitalproductDesigninguserflowsandwireframesCreatingprototypesConductingusertestingItisimportanttobeawarethatUXdesignersarenottypicallyresponsibleforthevisualdesignofaproduct.Rather,theyfocusonthejourneythattheusertakesandhowtheproductisstructuredtofacilitatethisjourney.Inthenextsection,we’lltakeacloserlookattheUXdesignprocessandsomeofthekeytasksthataUXdesignerwillperform.3.WhatarethetypicaltasksandprocessesofaUXdesigner?AsaUXdesigner,you’llgothrougheachstepintheUXdesignprocesstomakesurethatanyandallproductsaredesignedwiththeuserinmind.Sowhatkindsoftaskscanyouexpecttocarryoutonaday-to-daybasis?ForaglimpseintoatypicaldayinthelifeofaUXdesigner,checkoutthisvideofollowingCareerFoundryUXdesigngraduateMaureenasshewalksusthroughherday:Nowlet’stakeacloserlookatthekindsoftasksthattypicallyfallintotheUXdesignerrole.Conductinguserresearch(includingtaskanalysis)PersonasandinformationarchitectureUserflowsandwireframesPrototypingandusertestingVisualdesignConductinguserresearchTheinitialstageintheUXdesignprocessiswheretheresearch(magic)happens.Generally,aUXdesignerwillgetabrieffromtheclientortheirmanageraskingthemtodosomeprojectresearch.Let’susethefictitiousfastfoodchain“Foodies”asanexample.ImagineFoodiesapproachyoubecausetheywanttodesignanewapp.Firstly,itwouldbetheUXdesigner’sroletocombinedesk-basedandfieldresearchtogetafullpictureofwhotheyaredesigningfor.Thismightincludereviewingwhatthecurrentwebsitehastooffer,interviewingexistinguserstoidentifyopportunitiesandpain-points,anddoingcompetitorresearchtoseewhatelseisoutthere.ThesetasksenabletheUXdesignertopinpointthecorefeaturesneededfortheMinimumViableProduct(inotherwords,thefirstiterationofaproductthatyou’llrelease)andtostartcreatingsomeinitialuserpersonas.ForFoodies,thecorefeaturesmightbeamenu,theabilitytomakeonlinereservations,andalocalbranchfinder.Inanutshell,theuserresearchphaseiswhenyouscopeouttheproject,identifyingexactlywhoyou’redesigningforandwhattheusers’goalsandchallengesareinrelationtotheproduct.YoucanlearnmoreabouttheimportanceofuserresearchandhowtodoitinthisguideorbyexploringthissetoffreeUXresearchtutorials.UserpersonasBasedonextensiveuserresearch,UXdesignersmightthencreateuserpersonas.Thisiswhereyoudelvedeeperintowhattaskseachpersonawantstoperformandwhy.PersonasarekeyintheprocessAtypicalpersonaforFoodiesmightbeSamantha,ago-getting20-somethingwholikeseatingartisansaladsonherlunchbreak.Anexampletaskforherpersonamightbe:“Samanthalikestopre-ordertheMoroccanLambSaladviathemobileappasitsaveshertimebetweenmeetings.”Anotherpopularapproachwhichmightbeusedinconjunctionwith(orasanalternativeto)userpersonasisjobs-to-be-done(JTBD).YoucanfindafullcomparisonbetweenpersonasandJTBDelsewhereontheblog.InformationarchitectureNext,you’llstartthinkingaboutthekindofcontentneededandhowitwillbestructuredacrossthewebsiteorapp.Thisiswhat’sknownasinformationarchitecture;workingoutthemostlogicallayoutandorganizationofthecontent.Goodinformationarchitecturemakessurethattheusercaneasilyfindwhatthey’relookingforandintuitivelynavigatefromonepagetothenextwithouttoomuchthought.UserflowsandwireframesUXdesignersusearangeoftoolstomapouttheuser’sjourneythroughaproduct,includinguserflowsandwireframes.Userflowsarebasicflowchartswhichvisualizethecompletepathausertakeswhenusingaproduct,fromentrypointrightthroughtothefinalinteraction.Youcanlearnmoreinthisintroductoryguidetouserflows.Whileuserflowsmapouttheentireuserjourney,wireframesprovideatwo-dimensionaloutlineofasinglescreenorpage.We’vecoveredthewireframingprocessinmoredetailinanotherpiece—andifyou’rekeentogetstarted,youcanfindaguidetothebestfreewireframingtools.PrototypingandusertestingWiththeproductlayoutmappedout,theUXdesignerwillthencreateprototypesandrunsomeusertests.Aprototypeissimplyascaled-downversionofyourproduct;asimulationwhichenablesyoutotestyourdesignsbeforetheygetdeveloped.Prototypesrangefromthesimplestofpapermodelstothemorerealistic,high-fidelityinteractiveprototypeswhichcloselymimicthefinalproduct.Testingyourprototypesonrealusershelpstohighlightanydesignflawsbeforeyoucreatethefinalproduct.Severalroundsoftestingcouldtakeplacebeforethedesigniscompletelyright.Onceyouknowthedesignisactuallymeetingusers’needs,thenewproductisfinallyreadytogointodevelopment.UXdesignersalsoattendsprintmeetings,overseeingproductdevelopmenttomakesuretherearen’tanyfeaturecreeps(whichoftenhappensinmyexperience!)andhelpingtomakesmallrefinementstothedesignasandwhennecessary.VisualdesignYou’llnoticethatnoneoftheabovetasksareconcernedwiththevisualdesignoftheproduct.WhilesomeUXdesignerswillalsospecializeinvisualdesign,ittendstofallunderuserinterface(UI)design.So,thefinalimagery,colorschemes,icons,andtypographywillusuallybetakencareofbyaUIdesigner.Ifyou’reconfusedaboutthedifferencebetweenthetworoles,we’vegotagreatguideexplainingthedifferencesbetweenUXandUIdesign.OnefinalpointtomakeisthataUXdesigner’sworkisrarelyfinishedaftertheproductlaunch.Therewillberefinements,smallchanges,newreleases,feedbacktogatherandanalyticstodiscusswiththeteam.TheUXdesignprocessishighlyiterative,andacareerinUXisasmuchaboutcollaborationandcoordinationasitisaboutdesign.4.WhatskillsdoesaUXdesignerneed?Withsuchavariedrangeoftasks,UXdesignersneedtohaveaverydiverseskillset.Besidestechnicalanddesignskillslikewireframing,prototypingandinterpretingdataandfeedback,UXdesignersalsoneedcertain“soft”skills.Adaptability,communication,empathy,problem-solvingandteamworkareallessentialsoftskills.AsaUXdesigner,it’simportantthatyoucancollaborateeffectivelywiththosearoundyou—fromclientsandstakeholderstodevelopersandfellowdesigners,allthewaythroughtotheenduser.BusinessknowledgealsogoesalongwayintheUXdesignindustry.It’simportanttounderstandboththegoalsofthecompanyandtheneedsofthetargetaudience,andtoalignthesewhencomingupwithdesignsolutions.Keepinmindthatifyouwanttobeafull-stackdesigner,you’llneedtocross-traininotherspecialtiesbytraininginwebdevelopmentorUXwriting,forexample.ThisisespeciallytrueifyouworkasaUXdesignerinastartup.WhatisUXdesign,andwhatdoesaUXdesigneractuallydo?AvisualoverviewAspromised,we’vecreatedtheroleoftheUXdesignerinavisualnutshellforyou:Incaseyouwanttoenlargeandopentheinfographicinanewtab.5.UXdesignerjobmarketandsalariesAswe’vesaid,goodUXhasbecomesynonymouswithgoodbusiness,becausehappyusersaregoodforbusiness!ThedemandforUXdesignershasradicallyincreased—and,asthetechindustrycontinuestoevolve,UXdesignersaremorecrucialthanever.ThisisespeciallytrueforUXdesignerswhoareonthecuttingedgeoftheirfield,andparticipatinginthetrendsthatkeepUXdesignsorelevantandnecessary. ThisdemandisalsoreflectedintheoverallincreaseinaverageUXdesignersalaries.Inotherwords,theoutlookforacareerinUXdesignisexcellent.Thatsaid,itcanbeaverycompetitivejobmarket!Ifyouwanttoreallystandoutinthemarket,werecommendcultivatingarelationshipwithaUXdesignmentorandfinessingatrulyjob-winningUXdesignportfolio.6.Wrap-upandfurtherreadingAsyoucansee,UXisafascinating,varied,andhighlysatisfyingcareerpathwhichcouldtakeyouinmanydirections.HopefullyyounowhaveagoodideaofwhataUXdesigneractuallydoes,andhowtoexplainittoanyonewhoasks!Ifyou’rekeentolearnmoreaboutwhatit’sliketoworkinUX,checkoutthefollowing,orsimplygetintouchwithustofindoutabouthowwecantakeyoufromcompletebeginnertoahiredUXdesignerinaslittleassixmonthswiththeCareerFoundryUXDesignProgram.AguidetothebestUXdesignbootcampsandhowtochooseoneShouldIdoaUXdesignbootcamporaUXdesigninternship?HowtolandaUXinternshipThepowerofstorytellinginUXRelatedUXDesignArticlesUXDesignCanYouTeachYourselfUXDesign?Here’sHowJune24,2022-13minutesreadUXDesignApplyingDesignThinkingtoWickedProblemsJune10,2022-14minutesreadUXDesignWhat’stheDifferenceBetweentheGoogleUXDesignCertificateandtheCareerFoundryUXDesignProgram?June24,2022-15minutesread