How to Become a UX Designer
UX Designer
A UX designer is involved in the development of a product; their focus is on how the user will experience it. This could be anything – an application, a website, a television or even an experience in a restaurant or hotel. A UX designer will analyse how the user will feel after using their product... Read More »
A UX designer is involved in the development of a product; their focus is on how the user will experience it. This could be anything – an application, a website, a television or even an experience in a restaurant or hotel. A UX designer will analyse how the user will feel after using their product and offer changes related to their findings.
When analysing a product, whether that be a pre-existing product or a prototype for a new one, a UX designer will ask questions like “is this product easy to use?”, “is it pleasant to look at?” and “is this the most efficient it could be?”. The answers to these questions will enable the user to have the best possible experience with the product. While doing this, the UX designer must ensure that the product goals are met and that it is likely to turn over the desired amount of money.
A UX designers typical duties will include:
- Conducting research into what users do on platforms and what they wish they could do. This could be done through analysing data or hiring the public to take part in User Testing.
- Using target audience research and data to create personas – these are hypothetical people who might be using the service – and describing why they might be doing it.
- Showcasing the information received and analysed through flowcharts.
- Creating prototypes of the model that will be used in the final product.
- Doing some parts of the visual design, although this is more likely to be undertaken by the UI designer.
- Refining products that have already been launched
- Gathering analytics and discussing them with the team.
A UX designer does not need to be a graduate, but a degree in tech, design or a software-related field could be beneficial. Knowledge of software like Photoshop and Javascript is essential, and all UX designers must have excellent research and communication skills.
What degree is most commonly held by an UX Designer?
- BA / M of Graphic Design
- BA / M of User Experience Design
- BA / M of UX Design
- BA / M of Industrial and Product Design
- BA / M of Computer Science
- BA / M of Design
- BA / M of Design and Visual Communications, General
- BA / M of Human Computer Interaction
- BA / M of Information Technology
Career Transportability across Countries
What is the Salary of an UX Designer?
Experience | Average salary | year | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
AU$ | UK£ | US$ | ||
Web Designer | $45,000 | £38,310 | $70,000 | |
Mid-level | $60,000 | £68,405 | $124,990 | |
Design Manager | $72,000 | £90,302 | $165,000 |
What skills are needed to become an UX Designer?
- User Interface Design
- Web Design
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Graphic Design
- Interaction Design
- Photoshop
- wireframing
- Illustrator
- Information Architecture
- User Experience
- InDesign
- HTML
- CSS
- User Experience Design
- User-centered Design
- Adobe Photoshop
- Usability Testing
- Adobe Illustrator
- User Research
- Typography
- Social Media
- Logo Design
- Microsoft Office
- inVision
- User Experience (UX)
UX Designer Courses
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Introduction to UX and Accessible Design
Explore the world of user interfaces and accessible design and discover how you can start a career as a UX designer
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Creating a Great User Experience for Mobile Apps
Discover the essentials of user experience and bring your product to life by designing your own mobile app
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Digital Skills: User Experience
Learn about why user experience UX is important the research and design basics and the tools and testing techniques used in UX
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Create Accessible Interfaces
Learn how to program inclusive creative interfaces for disabled users while meeting legal accessibility requirements
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Programming with GUIs
Learn what a Graphical User Interface is and write your own GUI-based applications with this practical course for teachers