Think. Design. Test. Repeat.

User experience (UX) design is often confused with graphic design, mostly because both job roles implement graphic design software for their day-to-day work.

However, UX design is an entirely separate field that requires a different skill set.

Graphic design mainly focuses on the look of a product, whereas UX design focuses on the feel of it. Now that we've got that out of the way, let's dive into what it means to be and work as a UX designer.

A growing number of businesses are realizing the importance of putting their customers and users first. In such a landscape, UX designers are becoming an increasingly integral part of product teams.

What does a UX designer do?

While it isn’t a new role, demand for UX designers has skyrocketed in recent years. The term “UX designer” is credited to Donald Norman, one of Apple’s head researchers in the '90s. Of course.

A UX designer is responsible for the functionality and usability of digital products, such as apps, websites, and software. This role is especially integral in the mobile app design process. The UX designer position is multifaceted, with typical tasks including research, design, testing, and other common collaborative duties like project management and strategy.

Study the product

Research is a large part of a UX designer’s job, even before any design happens. It’s important to understand the ‘why’ and ‘how’ before you can design the ‘what’. Knowing everything possible about a product is key to great product design.

UX designers must know the product in and out before putting their mark on it. Product research is the foundation for any UX project and shouldn’t be overlooked. Even for a UX designer working with the product for a long time, it’s key to take a step back and dig into the details. This task also can include looking outward, conducting competitive analysis, surveys, and focus groups.

Conduct user research

User research is also key to understanding how customers will use your product. UX designers often build out user personas that detail a target user’s motivations, goals, frustrations, and more. User personas represent an ideal audience, and UX designers try to tailor experiences to them.

Organize information

First things first, UX designers organize the information architecture for the product. If it’s building an app or a website, this document looks like a site map. It organizes information so users understand where and where they can go next.

Create wireframes and prototypes

The next step is to create wireframes that will eventually be built into prototypes. Wireframes are like the blueprints of your product. They typically start as pen and paper sketches and then move into digital drawings with the help of wireframing software.

Perform testing

The job’s not done yet! Once the app or website is designed, it must be tested repeatedly.

Sometimes this testing is done on a 1:1 basis so that the UX designer can see how the user navigates through the product in person. Other times, a beta test is released to a small group of people.

There are a lot of different user testing methods and a time and place for each of them. If there’s one thing you can be sure of, you’ll test more than once, typically using various methods each time.

Skills required to be a UX designer

Now that we've covered what a UX designer does, it's time to ask yourself, "Do I have or even know the skills I need to be one?"

A UX designer communicates with various stakeholders daily - from engineers and product managers to SEO specialists and project managers. The role requires a diverse set of hard and soft skills to design innovative solutions successfully.

Since UX designers design for the end user, while keeping the company's brand, values, and goals in mind, they are uniquely positioned when designing product deliverables.  Skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and the ability to work in fast-changing environments are valued in this job.

As with any cross-functional role, designers can train in different areas, such as web development, UX writing, or learning a coding language to communicate better with engineers. Knowing how to interact with different software like user experience design services can also be valuable.

How to transition to a UX designer role

There are many paths you could take to become a UX designer. Here’s a quick overview of the most common steps to take.

1. Do your research

You don’t know what you don’t know. As with anything, to understand UX design, you have to read up on it. The grandfather of UX design that we mentioned above, Donald Norman, has a book of his own titled The Design of Everyday Things. Start there and dive into other resources like blogs, podcasts, etc.

UX designers can often specialize in a design field such as user research (UX research), visual design (UI), or take a more generalist approach. Evaluate your preferences, and match opportunities accordingly.

2. Find a mentor in the industry

This can be tough, but it will put you ahead of the game. Find a mentor that you feel comfortable with. Set meetings and ask for feedback on your work and progress. Learning from someone who has been there and had the same experiences is valuable.

3. Continue your education with classes

Keep in mind that your mentor doesn’t have the time, or the patience, to teach you everything about UX design. There are a ton of online design classes as well as resources. Check with your local colleges if you prefer to learn in a classroom setting.

4. Take on real-world UX design projects

Practice makes perfect – even if you’re creating fake UX work for yourself. Ideally, you create a portfolio site if you’re looking to become a UX designer. That is the perfect opportunity to put your skills to use. Explore and use design software to flex your knowledge and learnings.

5. Consider making a career move

You’ve learned a lot and are ready to take the leap. It’s time to start applying for UX designer job openings. Leverage your network to get your foot in the door, and explain why you want to make this shift.

6. Keep learning

It’s important to stay on top of emerging trends in any industry, especially in design. Great, innovative design comes from taking what you’ve learned and applying it in a new way.

UX vs. UI designer

While often confused for the same thing, UI and UX design have a few defining differences.

UI designers work on individual pages, buttons, and interactions, making sure they are polished and functional. UX designers take a more high-level view of a product or service, ensuring the collective user flow of a site, service, or app is fully realized and consistent.

A user experience designer deals with the technical usability of a product - primarily focusing on the functional aspects. They ensure that the user flows of websites, apps, and services are consistent and make sense to the end user.

On the other hand, a user interface (UI) designer generally works with individual pages, buttons, and colors - focusing on the product's aesthetics and interactional aspects.

The two specialties go hand in hand, and to build the best products, you can’t have one without the other.

If it's your calling, pick up

Design is a passion for many, but very few people truly end up having a career they're passionate about. As our world continues to rely more and more on technology, the demand for UX designers will only increase.

So if you want to do it, go for it, and flaunt it once you've made it!

Learn more about how UX writers are an integral part of any successful design team, and how they work in tandem with UX designers.