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About Ux Designer Job Salary
UX (user experience) designers measure and optimise applications (usually web based) to improve ease of use (usability), and create the best user experience by exploring many different approaches to solve end-users’ problems. One way that a UX designer might do this is by conducting in-person user tests to observe behaviour. They then refine and tweak apps, software and websites to create products that people like and find easy to use.
A similar role is that of a UI (user interface) designer. However, UI designers focus more on designing the presentation and interactivity of a product. Some roles combine both UX and UI.
For a UX designer, typical duties include:
considering existing applications and evaluating their UX (user experience) effectiveness
considering the human-computer interaction (HCI) element of a design
using online tools, such as screen readers, to aid their research
running user testing of applications, software and websites
defining interaction models, user task flows, and UI (user interface) specifications
communicating scenarios (hypothetical users), end-to-end experiences, interaction models, and screen designs to other people working on a product
working with creative directors and visual designers to incorporate a visual or brand identity into the finished product
developing and maintaining design wireframes (basic mock-ups of applications) and specifications
Typical employers of UX designers
Financial services organisations
Manufacturing companies
Educational institutions
Banks
Specialist software development companies
Consulting firms
Telecommunications companies
Public sector organisations
Self-employment is also an option for UX designers
UX design jobs are advertised online, by careers services and by recruitment agencies.
View our graduate IT and technology vacancies.
Qualifications and training required
There are routes into UX design for both graduates and school leavers. Many UX jobs advertised ask for a bachelors degree in a design or computing-related subject, such as HCI (human computer interaction). To enter the profession without a degree, you could start out in another digital design role and specialise in UX when you have built up a portfolio of experience. Alternatively you could start by seeking out one of the few UX apprenticeships available.
To find out more about getting into IT and technology via a school leaver route, visit the IT and technology section of TARGETcareers, our website aimed at school leavers.
So you’re an aspiring UX designer, avidly browsing the web for job opportunities—or perhaps you’re an HR manager tasked with composing a job ad for a field you know very little about. After reading through dozens of job ads, you’re quickly coming to the realization that it’s a minefield out there.
The truth is, user experience design is such a broad term—and, for companies, a major source of confusion when it comes to writing UX designer job descriptions. And there are so many potential UX design career paths you could follow!
As a UX designer looking for work, navigating the vast and complex sea of job listings is no easy task! But don’t worry. In this guide, we’ll show you how to decipher and understand all the different kinds of UX designer job descriptions out there, and we’ll provide some helpful templates that HR managers can use to write job ads that encourage the right people to apply. We’ll also take a look at how employers distinguish between junior and senior UX designers.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a much better understanding of the UX design job market. Throughout this post, we will answer the following questions:
Why does the UX designer job description vary from company to company?
What skills and requirements can I expect to see in a UX designer job description?
What specialist roles come under the UX design umbrella?
How do employers distinguish between junior and senior UX designers?
Where can I look for UX design jobs?
Searching for UX design jobs: What should my next steps be?
Before we dive in, you might like to check out our UX job ad teardown video. In it, seasoned designer Dee Scarano (who has over ten years’ experience in the industry) looks at three real-world UX job ads (posted by Deloitte, Adobe, and Amazon) and talks us through what the hiring managers behind these roles are really looking for. Watch it here:
- The UX designer role means different things to different companies!
This is something you need to bear in mind throughout your job search: The UX designer role means different things to different companies.
So why is this?
One reason is that many employers don’t actually know what they need from a UX designer. They’ve heard that UX is important and they’re willing to invest, but they haven’t quite figured out what the UX designer’s role could or should be within their company. In this case, there’s a tendency to write catch-all job descriptions that list every single UX skill and task imaginable.
Then there’s the matter of company size. Smaller companies, especially startups, tend to look for one UX designer to cover all bases; a generalist who can cater to all their UX needs.
Larger organizations with more resources may be looking for UX designers who specialize in a particular area. They might distinguish between UX researchers, information architects, UX strategists, and so on. Bigger companies may also have more variation in terms of seniority levels—but more on that later.
Despite these variations, there are certain skills and requirements you can expect to see on most UX designer job descriptions. Let’s take a look at these now.
- What can I expect to see in a UX designer job description? A general overview
So what does a UX designer actually do? What kinds of skills, tasks and responsibilities can rightfully be included in a UX designer job ad?
UX designer job descriptions: Tasks and responsibilities
Plan and conduct user research and competitor analysis
Interpret data and qualitative feedback
Create user stories, personas, and storyboards
Determine information architecture and create sitemaps
Create prototypes and wireframes
Conduct usability testing
UX designer job descriptions: Skills and requirements
Adaptability
Communication, collaboration and teamwork
Problem-solving
Design thinking
A user-centric mindset
Attention to detail
Creative and analytical approach
Understanding of interaction design principles
Knowledge of industry tools such as Sketch, InVision, Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Zeplin and OmniGraffle
Business know-how: Understanding of business metrics and the ability to translate company goals and objectives into digital experiences
- What specialist roles come under the UX design umbrella?
In addition to UX designer job listings, you’ll also come across more specialist UX roles. As already mentioned, these roles are more likely to be advertised by larger organizations with a bigger design team.
Let’s explore some of these job titles and their respective job descriptions.
User Experience Researcher
As the name suggests, UX researchers focus on the research phase of the design process.
Experts in human behaviour, they are responsible for gathering in-depth insights into the user’s needs and motivations. They rely on qualitative and quantitative research, employing a range of different techniques that are all grounded in one of three key methodologies: observation, understanding, and analysis.
Here’s what you’re likely to find on a UX researcher job description:
The UX researcher job description: Tasks and responsibilities
Work closely with the product team to identify research questions
Plan and conduct interviews, user surveys, card sorting and usability tests
Design and execute studies into user behaviour and attitudes
Conduct heuristic evaluations
Help define and refine user personas
Present and communicate insights in order to help shape long-term product strategy
The UX researcher job description: Skills and requirements
Knowledge of / experience in marketing, cognitive science, psychology, economics or information science, with a solid understanding of user experience design
Fluent in user-centered design best practices
Excellent communication skills and empathy for the user
Ability to collaborate with different teams
Adept at handling and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data
Knowledge of industry tools: Presentation programs (Keynote, Powerpoint); UX design programs (Sketch, Adobe); analytics tracking tools (Google Analytics, etc.)
You can learn more about the UX researcher role here. And here are the top 5 UX research interview questions you’re likely to be asked.
UX Architect / Information Architect
Information architecture has roots in both library science and cognitive psychology; in some ways, you can think of information architects as digital librarians! Information architects are concerned with the organization of content and information across a digital product, and how this contributes to a positive user experience. They ensure that the page or screen is structured in such a way that makes it easy for the user to achieve their goal. Information architects are also responsible for the overall navigation of the site, making sure that the user’s journey is logical.
So what tasks and requirements are you likely to find on an information architect’s job description?
The information architect job description: Tasks and responsibilities
Work with the UX researcher to identify users’ needs and understand how users consume and navigate content (a task analysis can help with this)
Carry out an assessment of existing information architecture and identify areas for improvement, including content inventories and audits
Plan and design the information architecture for the website or app; what information should go where? Which elements are more important and should be given priority?
Create use cases and flow diagrams, and define information hierarchies
Labelling of information
Create wireframes and taxonomies
The information architect job description: Skills and requirements
Excellent communication and teamwork skills
Solid understanding of user-centered design and interaction design principles
Proficient in industry tools such as InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Visio, Project, Excel and PowerPoint
Strong attention to detail
Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative user research
UX Writer
A more recently emerging role within the UX field is that of the UX writer. Indeed, written copy plays an important part in the overall user experience, and more and more companies are now looking for dedicated UX writers.
As a UX writer, you’re essentially responsible for crafting all and any text that the user encounters when interacting with the product. It’s important to note that UX writers are not the same as marketing writers, whose primary aim is to attract new users and keep them engaged. Copywriting for UX is more focused on making sure the user experience is as smooth as possible, which means creating useful, concise copy that guides the user in the right direction and helps them complete their desired actions.
Here are some key components of a UX writer job description:
The UX writer job description: Tasks and responsibilities
Take part in user research in order to understand the target audience
Analyse product metrics such as daily sessions, time-on-page, and goal completion rate in order to evaluate effectiveness of existing copy
Write compelling, user-friendly copy that guides the user and embodies the voice of the brand
Devise and implement a UX editorial strategy
Collaborate across different teams to ensure that copy is in line with both the branding and business goals
The UX writer job description: Skills and requirements
A background in communications together with a solid understanding of the UX process
Excellent copywriting skills
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Creative and analytical mindset
Superb attention to detail
Ability to understand data and convert it into effective copy
UX Analyst
As part of the overall strategy for increasing the reach of the product, UX Analysts have the critical job of improving the adoption and engagement rate of consumers by studying the numbers. By analyzing client retention and revenue trends, UX analysts can determine the best way to create realistic client goals and then achieve them. UX analysts are comfortable with consumer research, psychology, and the latest in UX best practices which serve as the backbone of a UX-related project rollout.
UX analyst job description: Tasks and responsibilities
Model workflows and plan tasks for UX design projects
Collaborate with Product Managers, Marketing, Customer Success, and Sales to develop a core understanding of user personas
Create a well-organized, value-driven framework for implementing sturdy UX design
Document functional all aspects of the product design process
Conduct research to identify user needs
UX analyst job description: Skills and requirements
UI/UX Development or Design Experience
Proficiency in HTML5, CSS3, and ES6
Knowledge of responsive design
Ability to translate design artifacts into usable code
Solid grasp of CI/CD pipeline and associated tooling
Excellent communication skills
Ability to work independently in an autonomous environment
Product designer
Similar to a full-stack designer, a product designer’s role is to take charge of the entire process of creating products and valuable experiences, including UX, UI, coding, project management, and identifying problems. A large part of a product designer’s role is to design solutions to the problems that might arise during the initial iteration of the product’s design.
Product designers also support the developers through the launch process and collaborate with the marketing teams to ensure synergy between the brand and the product. They are, in short, the guardians of the product: ensuring it’s the most relevant, cost-effective, and functional product that all stakeholders are happy with.
Product designer job description: Tasks and responsibilities
Combine UX thinking with design execution, to produce usable and intuitive user interfaces
Plan and run user tests and other design research to inform design decisions
Collaborate with the rest of the design team to evolve and refine our design system, ensuring visual cohesion and engineering efficiency across all user touchpoints
Help build out design processes, tools, and culture
Communicate design solutions to engineers and stakeholders
Design and prototype elegant solutions for web and mobile apps
Understand user needs
Work within brand guidelines to create layouts that reinforce a brand’s style or voice through its visual touchpoints
Product designer job description: Skills and requirements
A strong command of contemporary design tools including Sketch and Invision
Experience with user research such as surveys, interviews, and usability testing
Background in designing for mobile-first platforms
Problem-solving and analytical skills
An understanding of design patterns
A solid foundation in layout and design
Excellent attention to detail
User Experience Strategist
In larger companies, you’ll likely have a team of UX designers who focus primarily on creating products and services with the end user in mind, as well as the more business-focused teams who are concerned with things like branding, customer retention, revenue, and generally making a competitive entry to market. UX strategy is where these two forces converge. A user experience strategist sees to it that all the moving parts are working in harmony—essentially ensuring that the UX designers are also aligning with the needs of the business, and vice versa.
Here are some of the key tasks and requirements you might find in a UX strategist’s description:
The UX strategist job description: Tasks and responsibilities
Translate business and user needs and technology constraints into solution concepts that are meaningful, easy to use, and engaging
Facilitate workshops to answer critical business questions through design thinking, rapid prototyping, and testing ideas with customers
Lead and support discovery of the project lifecycle, including workshops, user and stakeholder interviews, analytics, audits and benchmarking
Utilize quantitative and qualitative research to generate meaningful insights that will drive creative concepts
Design journey maps, navigation design, sitemaps, information architecture, wireframes, storyboards and prototypes
Bring complex data products to life through maps, dashboards and infographics
Define reporting and measurement metrics focused on project and usability goals
The UX strategist job description: Skills and requirements
The ability to present design ideas with clarity and passion, and to receive feedback with open-mindedness
Expert communication skills and the ability to get buy-in on ideas within a large organization
A high degree of creativity, empathy, passion, and problem-solving ability
Expert in all areas of user experience design (information architecture, interaction design, visual design, prototype engineering, content, user experience)
In-depth knowledge of market research, competitive landscape, and testing methods (A/B, multivariate testing)
These are just a few of the specialist UX job titles out there. User experience encompasses the entire brand, so UX can pretty much be combined with any other area of product development!
- How do employers distinguish between junior and senior UX designers?
If you’re searching for your first, or next, UX design role, you might be wondering: What sets junior, mid-level and senior UX designers apart?
Level of seniority often comes down to years of experience in the field. There is rarely a clear-cut marker, however; every company has its own take on the words “junior” and “senior”, and for many employers, soft skills and cultural fit will take priority.
When searching for UX design roles, don’t get too hung up on years of experience. Instead, evaluate your suitability based on where you’re currently at in your career and how the job description fits into that.
If you’re still learning and exploring, start by searching for junior roles that focus on gaining experience and fostering your development. Remember, just as a senior would be expected to help juniors develop their skills and knowledge, a junior should enter a company expecting to be mentored and developed. A junior is much more than an inexperienced or lesser paid UX designer; the junior is the future of the design team, and therefore of the product itself. Junior user experience designer job ads tend to ask for 0-3 years’ experience. You can also search for entry-level and associate roles.
If you’re practicing UX independently and can confidently make and articulate design decisions, a mid-level role will give you more room to take the initiative and hit the ground running. Mid-level UX designer job listings may ask for anywhere between 2 and 5 years’ experience, but this varies greatly from company to company.
Perhaps you’re already able to advise on best practices and think in terms of UX design strategy. If you’ve reached the stage where you consider yourself a UX leader, you’re probably ready for a more senior role! Generally speaking, you’ll need at least 5 years’ experience to qualify as a senior, but it really does depend on the company and your personal ability.
Use “years of experience” as a guideline, but don’t consider it the be-all and end-all. If you consider yourself a perfect fit for a certain role but don’t have the desired level of seniority, it’s certainly worth reaching out to the recruiter. Remember: UX designer job descriptions are made up of both essential skills and nice-to-haves. If you tick every other box, years of experience shouldn’t be a deal-breaker!
- Where should I look for UX design jobs?
Now you have a much clearer idea of the UX design job market, there’s only one thing left to do: Search for jobs! So where do you start? Be sure to check out the following portals and platforms:
User Experience Professionals Association
AIGA design jobs
UX Jobs Board
Just UX Jobs
Dribbble jobs
Smashing Jobs
CareerFoundry career hub
LinkedIn
Indeed
Glassdoor
- UX designer job descriptions: Key takeaways and next steps
If you’re just starting out in the industry, this might seem like a lot to take in. UX designer job descriptions can be varied, inconsistent, and downright confusing.
However, you can simplify your job search by setting out a few key goals. Think carefully about what you want from your next UX design role and jot down a brief wishlist. Consider what kind of environment you’d like to work in—fast-paced startup, larger corporation, or something in-between? Do you want to be a specialist or a generalist?
Perhaps you’re undecided, and that’s OK too! In that case, find a role that lets you cover all bases and revisit this later in your career.
Remember, read each and every UX designer job description carefully and pay attention to what it’s telling you about the role and the company.
User experience designer is one of the most in-demand creative industry jobs right now. Here’s the scoop on the typical UX designer job description, education and skills requirements, as well as UX designer salary benchmarks.
As both mobile and web development continue to boom and the lines between design and technology increasingly blur, the demand for user experience (UX) designers remains robust.
It’s a hot area and many creative professionals seems to realize this. According to The Creative Group’s Creative Workplace survey, web and UX design was cited as the top area creative professionals want to develop their skills.
But sometimes it’s not clear where the UX designer job description begins and ends, especially when it’s lumped in with user interface, interaction design and other design and development functions.
In a nutshell, the UX designer is responsible for how a product or website feels. The UX designer’s job is to zero in on users’ underlying emotional and functional needs — then help execute on those discoveries to create an enjoyable experience. So what does that look like day to day? Read on for details about a UX designer job description, as well as an overview of UX designer salary projections.
Search our open UX designer jobs now!
UX designer salary benchmarks
Job candidates often have the upper hand when it comes to UX designer salary negotiations because demand for their skills is high. So what kind of average starting salary can UX designers now command? According to The Creative Group 2020 Salary Guide, the midpoint salary for UX designers is $96,250.
Duties and expectations
The UX designer creates satisfying or compelling experiences for users of a product, often drawing on results from user research and workflow analysis. Generally, UX designers need to possess strong creative, technical and problem-solving skills. The UX design role may involve psychology, storytelling and computer science as well. Areas of focus may include content, controls, visual design and development, information architecture, user research, branding and customer/technical support.
What does a UX designer do? Responsibilities often include:
Consulting with clients to understand their goals and explaining research results
Conducting usability testing
Creating wireframes, storyboards, sitemaps and screen flows
Creating product prototypes
Developing personas and usage scenarios
Analyzing user feedback and activity, and iterating to enhance the user experience
Assisting with content development
Conducting competitor and customer analysis
UX designers must have a solid understanding of graphic design and web technologies, and of wireframing tools such as Axure RP and Balsamiq. A good grasp of design programs and tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks and InVision is also necessary. UX designers must have the ability to quickly adapt to new technologies and a willingness to keep their skills and industry knowledge current. They frequently work with user interface designers, web developers and graphic designers.
Professional experience and skills
UX designers are expected to be self-directed but also collaborative. They must possess superb communication, time-management and process-management skills. Keen problem-solving and organizational abilities are necessary among other soft skills. Creativity, passion and attention to detail are also keys to success in this field. Always play up the aforementioned strengths when interviewing for UX roles.
UX designers are typically required to have a bachelor’s degree in visual design, communications, computer science or psychology. Previous design experience is often required.
Wondering about a UX designer salary? Use our Salary Calculator to find out what a UX designer can earn in your city.
This UI-UX Designer job description template includes the list of most important UI-UX designer’s duties and responsibilities. This UI-UX Designer job description template is customizable and ready to post to job boards. Use This UI-UX Designer job description template to save time, attract qualified candidates and hire best employees.
UI-UX designer job description template
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UI-UX Designer job description template
This UI-UX Designer job description template will help you save time, attract qualified candidates and hire the best employees.
In order to attract a UI-UX Designer that best matches your needs, it is very important to write a clear and precise UI-UX Designer job description.
UI-UX Designer job profile
UX-UI Designers are generally responsible for collecting, researching, investigating and evaluating user requirements. Their responsibility is to deliver an outstanding user experience providing an exceptional and intuitive application design.
UI-UX Designer job description: Intro
UI-UX Designer job description should start with an interesting, eye-catching introduction.
Here is an idea of what this introduction may look like:
We are looking for an experienced and creative UI/UX Designer to join our team!
As an UI-UX Designer , you will be responsible for delivering the best online user experience, which makes your role extremely important for our success and ensuring customer satisfaction and loyalty.
You will be designing ideas using various methods and latest technology. You will be designing graphic user interface elements, like menus, tabs, forms, and widgets.
UI-UX Designer job description: Job duties and responsibilities
UI-UX Designer job description should contain the following duties and responsibilities:
plan and implement new designs
Optimize existing user interface designs
Test for intuitivity and experience
Communicate with clients to understand their business goals and objectives
Develop technical and business requirements and always strive to deliver intuitive and user-centered solutions
Combine creativity with an awareness of the design elements
Create prototypes for new product ideas
Test new ideas before implementing
Conduct an ongoing user research
UI-UX Designer job description: Job requirements and qualifications
UI-UX Designer job description should contain the following requirements and qualifications:
X years of experience as an UI-UX Designer or similar role
UI design portfolio
Bachelor’s degree in relevant field
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to discuss and explain design options
Detail oriented
Critical thinker
Problem solver and customer-centered
Knowledge of Adobe range of products including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat and Dreamweaver
X years of experience with HTML5 & CSS3
Some knowledge of Usability Factors in Human Computer Interaction.
How to use this UI-UX Designer job description template?
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A user-experience (UX) designer must have a clear understanding of business goals and user behavior, and be proficient in a wide variety of skills, ranging from psychology to design and technology.
In order to identify a great UX designer, it is necessary to employ an effective recruiting process that covers strategy and content, user research, wireframing and prototyping, user-testing and analytics, along with the usual set of requirements that will ensure the candidate is a good fit for your organization and your particular project.
While filtering out designers lacking in UX experience by summarizing the difference between UX and UI design, it is important that UX design job descriptions and job ads clearly reflect your particular needs.
User-Experience Job Description And Ad Template
Copy this template, and modify it as your own:
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Company Introduction
{{Write a short and catchy paragraph about your company. Make sure to provide information about the company’s culture, perks, and benefits. Include office hours, remote working possibilities, and anything else you think makes your company interesting.}}
Job Description
We are looking for a user-experience (UX) designer able to understand our business requirements and any technical limitations, as well as be responsible for conceiving and conducting user research, interviews and surveys, and translating them into sitemaps, user flows, customer journey maps, wireframes, mockups and prototypes. The UX designer will also be expected to design the overall functionality of the product, and in order to ensure a great user experience, iterate upon it in accordance with user-testing. {{Add any specific experience here.}}
A UX designer is a technical role that is responsible for enhancing customer satisfaction by improving the usability, accessibility, and pleasure associated with a product in a way that is attractive and convenient for users. A UX designer is responsible for creating interactive programs that enhance a customer’s experience with a brand and facilitate an enjoyable experience using various forms of digital and web media. UX designer is also required to have a functional understanding of coding and transfer the brand’s strengths and personality seamlessly throughout the interface of a product.
As the position combines elements of research psychology and digital design a UX designer requires specialized training in both subjects to deliver quality products and services. A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Web Development, Graphic Design or related field is essential. Individuals who enjoying bringing abstract concepts to life and working with a team on creative initiatives tend to perform well in the position of a UX designer.
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UX Designer Job Description Template
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Job Overview
Example Co. is one of the leading companies in our field in the area. We’re proud of our 3.6 rating on Glassdoor from our employees. We are hiring a talented UX Designer professional to join our team. If you’re excited to be part of a winning team, Example Co. is a great place to grow your career. You’ll be glad you applied to Example Co.
Learn more about the key roles, responsibilities, and skills of a UI/UX designer and find out what employers look for in potential UI/UX candidates in this comprehensive guide.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
What Is a UX Designer and What Does a UX Designer Do?
What Is a UI Designer and What Does a UI Designer Do?
What Is the Salary of a UI/UX designer?
What Is a Typical UI/UX Designer Job Description?
What Are the Key Skills of a UI/UX Designer?
5 Common UI/UX Designer Job Roles
What Are the Key Responsibilities of a UI/UX Designer?
UI/UX Designer Job FAQs
Learn more about the key roles, responsibilities, and skills of a UI/UX designer and find out what employers look for in potential UI/UX candidates in this comprehensive guide.
Need to know more about the essentials of UI/UX design? Visit our comprehensive guide on how to become a UI/UX designer here.
what does a ux designer do
What Is a UX Designer and What Does a UX Designer Do?
User experience (UX) designers are responsible for creating an optimal experience for the user when they interact with a digital or physical product, such as a website or a coffee machine. Some focus on service design, such as designing the overall experience of using public transportation or visiting a doctor.
Their main concern is studying users, understanding their behavior, and architecting a user journey that enables the user to achieve their desired tasks with minimal effort.
The day-to-day activities of a UX designer vary widely between companies or even between projects within the same company, but some general job functions include:
Conduct user research. Learning about users and their behavior, goals, motivations, and needs. UX teams may collect data via various methods, such as interviews with users/stakeholders, competitive analysis, online surveys, and focus groups. The data is analyzed and converted into qualitative and quantitative information that guides decision-making.
Create user personas. Identifying key user groups and creating representative personas of their behaviors and demographics. Personas can be used to make in-depth scenarios, a day-in-the-life of a persona, which shows how the product fits into the user’s everyday routine.
ux designer personas
Determine the information architecture of a digital product. Organizing content within an app or website to guide the user to accomplish tasks or educate them about the product. An effective information architecture tells users where they are and how to find the information they need—think of a sitemap or a chatbot with quick-answer prompts.
Design user flows and wireframes. Creating a low fidelity representation of a design. Wireframes represent a user’s journey as they interact with a website or app, including UI elements such as buttons or images. These are represented in a simplified version using placeholders.
ux designer user flow
Create prototypes. Generating an interactive final version of the product pre-development, which is either clickable or tangible. It should enable the user to test the main interactions of the product. Modern prototyping tools even allow designers to record prototypes as videos to guide users through the product’s design functions.
Test products on real users. Gathering feedback from users based on a minimum viable product (MVP). An MVP is the first iteration of a product with the minimum qualifications required for go-to-market. Product testing can be structured (designers gather user feedback by asking specific questions) or unstructured (the user is left to their own devices to figure out how to use the product, and feedback is gathered based on their natural response rather than explicit questioning).
Interested to see what a UX designer’s portfolio looks like? Check out some Springboard graduate portfolios here!
What Is a UI Designer and What Does a UI Designer Do?
User interaction (UI) designers are primarily concerned with how a user navigates through a digital product. User interaction design is considered a UX function, so you will often see UI/UX used interchangeably in job titles and job descriptions, or it may fall under the responsibility of a product designer.
The day-to-day activities of a UI designer may include:
Determine how users interact with products. User interface design concerns the visual styling of an app or website. Think things like how icons are designed, how they’re arranged on the page, and how they relate to each other. Design elements such as font choice, color scheme, graphics, buttons, and menu styling are all elements of interface design. Together, these design choices help people understand what items can be clicked, tapped or swiped, which of a series of buttons is most important, and how to recognize calls-to-action.
UI design
Work closely with UX designers. UI designers work closely with UX designers to make sure the user journey reflects the UX team’s product vision. For instance, is a user able to complete all the steps in an online purchase? Do they respond to upsell or cross-sell prompts at checkout? Some UI designers work on voice user interfaces for voice-activated IoT devices, such as smart speakers or virtual assistants. Their job is to design conversation pathways that facilitate tasks for the user without the aid of a visual interface.
What Is the Salary of a UI/UX designer?
UX designers earn an average salary of $85,277 per year, according to Glassdoor. Entry-level UX designers can expect $64,622 (includes salary, bonuses, and overtime pay) according to Payscale.
UI designers earn slightly less at $83,837, while entry-level positions pay $49,995.
Learn more about UI/UX designer salaries here.
ux designer salary
What Is a Typical UI/UX Designer Job Description?
A typical UI/UX designer job description incorporates a mix of key responsibilities and qualifications. Potential candidates will be expected to:
Create user-centered designs by understanding business requirements, the voice of the customer, user journeys, customer feedback, and usability findings
Quickly and iteratively create user flows, wireframes, prototypes, low and high fidelity mockups
Communicate with product and engineering teams, as well as business stakeholders and executive leadership
Ensure the voice of the customer is present by incorporating customer feedback, usage metrics, and usability findings into design
Performing metrics analysis post-launch to inform design/UX optimization efforts
Know how to use prototyping tools such as Sketch, Invision, or equivalent
Possess excellent communication, presentation, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
What does it take to be a UX designer at Google? Find out in the video below!
What Are the Key Skills of a UI/UX Designer?
The job description of UI/UX designers varies widely. Many professional UI/UX designers originate from unrelated fields and bring transferable skills such as visual design, software development, or digital marketing.
Likewise, their educational backgrounds are diverse, although a degree in graphic design or web design can help. UI/UX designers need a range of technical skills such as UX research, wireframing and prototyping, interaction design, visual communication, and information architecture.
Because UI/UX design is such a people-focused job, hiring managers differentiate candidates more heavily on their soft skills than their credentials. Soft skills are what make a mediocre designer exceptional. As such, UI/UX designers must show that they are good communicators, are curious, flexible, and empathetic to the user.
Learn more about the key skills of UI/UX designers here.
5 Common UI/UX Designer Job Roles
UI/UX design is a multidisciplinary field with a growing range of niche specializations including UX writing, interaction design, usability testing, visual design, and more. UI/UX job descriptions usually mention a mix of these roles.
UI/UX design. The scope of this job is on creating the user interface based on user research insights. To achieve this, designers use processes such as wireframing and prototyping, followed by usability testing. The UI/UX design title is the most comprehensive and may include some or all of the below functions. In most organizations, UI/UX functions are blended under one job title.
Visual design. Visual designers are responsible for the look and feel of a physical or digital product. This can include everything from packaging to web design. They work closely with interaction designers and UI/UX copywriters to create a user experience that is aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, and efficient. They may also assist UI/UX designers with developing high-fidelity prototypes towards the end of the design phase.
Research and usability. UI/UX researchers focus on gathering input from users. They conduct user interviews, observe users in their natural habitat or a testing environment, host focus groups and design surveys. They are also responsible for converting structured and unstructured qualitative and quantitative data into usable insights for the UI/UX team, which means they must be skilled data analysts.
Coding. UX engineers are liaisons between the design and engineering teams. They are responsible for taking a design and bringing it to life with code. A UX engineer’s arsenal includes computer languages such as HTML, JS, CSS, and so on.
UI/UX writing. UI/UX writing is a niche specialty, but it helps to have an understanding of it. Microcopy is a powerful tool to create a good experience for users. These are the words we read or hear when we use a digital product and are a key element of website navigability and the overall experience.
Learn more about UI/UX designer job roles here.
ux designer job roles
What Are the Key Responsibilities of a UI/UX Designer?
UI/UX designers are responsible for overall user satisfaction with a product. Their priority is to continually look for ways to improve the product experience, even for bestselling products that have been on the market for years.
They may do this by making the product faster, easier to use, or more fun.
In fact, UI/UX design at its core encompasses the entire user experience. For a physical product, this includes packaging, the purchasing process, and the transportation of the product. For a digital product, it encompasses technical troubleshooting and even how hard or easy it is to explain the product to other people.
Learn more about the key responsibilities of UI/UX designers here.
UI/UX Designer Job FAQs
Want to know more about UI/UX design? Read on to find the answers to some frequently asked questions.
Is UI/UX design right for me?
UI/UX design is such a multidisciplinary field that there’s no hard and fast rule about who can become a UI/UX designer. That said, certain personality traits may be predisposed to thriving on the job.
Putting the user first. UI/UX designers advocate for user needs throughout the design and implementation process, even if the research contradicts the status quo. Perhaps you’ve worked in customer support, you’re empathetic or you just really enjoy being around people and finding out what makes them tick. The point is, you realize you’re there to make a change.
Humanizing technology. Gadgets, devices, and software are only effective if people know how to use them. A UI/UX designer’s job is to create user-friendly interfaces that enable users to understand how to use complex technical products. If you’re passionate about the latest technology trends and devices, you’ll find great fulfillment in being involved in the design process for the next hot gadget.
Switching between tasks. Variety is one of the top perks of being a UI/UX designer. One day you’ll be conducting a focus group and the next you’ll be working with a graphic designer to finalize some high-fidelity mock-ups. Being flexible and able to pivot from one task to the next is an important soft skill for a UI/UX designer.
Communicating with other teams. If you loathe public speaking, consider brushing up on it before you enter the field. UI/UX designers routinely make presentations to stakeholders on their research, or present in front of users at a focus group discussion. Communication is one of the most important skills for a UI/UX designer because the role is so collaborative. You should also be able to discuss design principles with non-design folks, such as developers.
Will UI/UX design be automated?
Certain parts of the UI/UX design process may be handled by AI, such as data analytics for gauging product performance. However, the discipline as a whole is so grounded in understanding humans through user research, a process that demands emotional intelligence and one-on-one communication with users in real-time, that it’s highly unlikely that UI/UX design can be significantly automated anytime soon.
On the other hand, coding has become slightly less of a necessity as more and more prototyping and wireframing tools are being designed with non-programmers in mind.
How do you measure the user experience?
UI/UX design is an iterative process, so using data analytics to evaluate performance and usability is key. UX metrics are a set of quantitative data points used to track the user experience of a website or mobile app over time. They are also used during usability research, such as UX benchmarking, which is a way of comparing certain product metrics with those of competitors.
This is important because every metric is relative. For instance, the average time on site metric of eight minutes is great for a publisher, but for a bank, it could mean the user is struggling to complete a certain task or can’t find the information they need.
Metrics also need to be adjusted to the channel you’re measuring. For instance, important website metrics include factors like traffic, page views, and bounce rate, while social media success is measured by the number of followers and engagement. Overall, UX quality can also be inferred from sales data, such as average order value or conversions, because these represent users having a favorable user experience and brand perception.
How do you improve the user experience?
Reducing effort is a huge component of improving UI/UX design. People don’t want to have to hunt for information or click on buttons that lead to dead links. They’ll also choose interfaces that enable them to accomplish tasks in the shortest possible time, and abandon brands that don’t meet these efficiency and ease-of-use standards.
For example, one of the biggest pain points in booking a doctor’s appointment is finding healthcare providers that accept your insurance. ZocDoc is a mobile app that enables users to select search filters for finding general practitioners that accept certain types of health insurance. They can also book their appointment through the app without having to call the doctor’s office, and receive automatic calendar reminders regarding their visit.
Ready to switch careers to UI/UX Design?
Springboard offers a comprehensive UI/UX design bootcamp. No design background required—all you need is an eye for good visual design and the ability to empathize with your user. In the course, you’ll work on substantial design projects and complete a real-world externship with an industry client. After nine months, you’ll graduate with a UI/UX design mindset and a portfolio to show for it.
Check out Springboard’s UI/UX Design Career Track to see if you qualify.
Not sure if UI/UX design is the right career for you?
Springboard now offers an Introduction to Design course. Learn what designers do on the job by working through a project with 1-on-1 mentorship from an industry expert. Topics covered include design tools, research, sketching, designing in high fidelity, and wireframing.
Check out Springboard’s Introduction to Design Course—enrollments are open to all!
Responsibilities for UX Designer
Conduct testing of sample applications, websites and software to Assess user experience and ease of design
Use recent studies and findings to establish the best overall design elements to include in UX design experiences
Build storyboards to conceptualize designs to accurately convey project plans to clients and senior management
Create surveys for research through various media platforms to gather feedback on user’s ease of use and satisfaction interfacing on company websites and products
Design the aesthetics to be implemented within a website or product, from the layout menus and drop-down options to colors and fonts allowing for interface edits as needed
Analyze customer responses and website data to examine high traffic web pages and determine why certain webpages perform better
Enhance user experience by creating seamless navigation through various digital programs and interfaces within the company
Combine interface design concepts with digital design and establish milestones to encourage cooperation and teamwork
Qualifications for UX Designer
3-5 years of demonstrated experience in creating and implementing UX design
Proficient with visual design programs such as Adobe Photoshop and others
Ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment to create top-performing interfaces for clients
Experience with coding and ability to troubleshoot using HTML, CSS and comparable languages
Continued education and research into UX trends and current design strategy and technologies
Professional written and interpersonal skills when communicating with customers and clients
Ability to prioritize and manage several milestones and projects efficiently
Account for challenges using problem-solving skills and seek to optimize data for the best possible outcome
Experience creating storyboards and website mapping
Responsibilities
Translate concepts into user flows, wireframes, mockups and prototypes that lead to intuitive user experiences.
Facilitate the client’s product vision by researching, conceiving, sketching, prototyping and user-testing experiences for digital products.
Design and deliver wireframes, user stories, user journeys, and mockups optimized for a wide range of devices and interfaces.
Identify design problems and devise elegant solutions.
Make strategic design and user-experience decisions related to core, and new, functions and features.
Take a user-centered design approach and rapidly test and iterate your designs.
Collaborate with other team members and stakeholders.
Ask smart questions, take risks and champion new ideas.
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Requirements
Three or more years of UX design experience. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience designing complex solutions for complete digital environments.
Expertise in standard UX software such as Sketch, OmniGraffle, Axure, InVision, UXPin, Balsamiq, Framer, and the like is a must. Basic HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript skills are a plus.
Ability to work with clients to understand detailed requirements and design complete user experiences that meet client needs and vision.
Extensive experience in using UX design best practices to design solutions, and a deep understanding of mobile-first and responsive design.
A solid grasp of user-centered design (UCD), planning and conducting user research, user testing, A/B testing, rapid prototyping, heuristic analysis, usability and accessibility concerns.
Ability to iterate designs and solutions efficiently and intelligently.
Ability to clearly and effectively communicate design processes, ideas, and solutions to teams and clients.
A clear understanding of the importance of user-centered design and design thinking.
Ability to work effectively in a team setting including synthesizing abstract ideas into concrete design implications.
Be excited about collaborating and communicating closely with teams and other stakeholders via a distributed model, to regularly deliver design solutions for approval.
Be passionate about resolving user pain points through great design.
Be open to receiving feedback and constructive criticism.
Be passionate about all things UX and other areas of design and innovation. Research and showcase knowledge in the industry’s latest trends and technologies.
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Conducting user research and testing
Developing wireframes and task flows based on user needs
Collaborating with Designers and Developers to create intuitive, user-friendly software
ux designer job description
Job brief
We are looking for a UX Designer to design software and platforms that meet people’s needs. You will combine interfaces and workflows to enhance user experience.
In this role, you should be an analytical and creative designer who is able to grasp user needs and solve problems. A strong portfolio of successful UX and other technical projects is essential.
Ultimately, you will make our product more user-friendly and intuitive to attract and retain customers.
Responsibilities
Understand product specifications and user psychology
Conduct concept and usability testing and gather feedback
Create personas through user research and data
Define the right interaction model and evaluate its success
Develop wireframes and prototypes around customer needs
Find creative ways to solve UX problems (e.g. usability, findability)
Work with UI designers to implement attractive designs
Communicate design ideas and prototypes to developers
Keep abreast of competitor products and industry trends
Requirements
Proven experience as a UX Designer, UI Designer or similar role
Strong portfolio of design projects
Background in project management and research
Familiarity with interaction design and information architecture
Proficient in design software (e.g. UXPin, Balsamiq)
Knowledge of HTML/CSS; JavaScript is a plus
Problem-solving aptitude
Analytical mind with a business acumen
Excellent communication skills
BSc in Design, Computer Science, Engineering or a related field
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