Software designers are becoming increasingly valuable in the tech industry. Most companies have a high demand for UI/UX designers worldwide. A UX designer’s primary responsibility is to make a product or service enjoyable, usable, and accessible. In short, UX designers humanize technology. UX design focuses on how humans interact with technology, including websites, applications, and devices. It is vital to know what a UX designer does if you are interested in the field. UI/UX designers are in demand, so there are plenty of opportunities.
Read on to find out what a UX designer does.
Skills A UX Designer Needs
UX designers require a wide range of skills because they wear many hats. Technical and design skills like wireframing, prototyping and data interpretation are mandatory. However, they also require other softer skills because UX designers will often be part of a team.
Therefore, they require communication skills to collaborate with other team members and are crucial for teamwork. Problem-solving is another vital skill a UI/UX designer should have. Projects will encounter obstacles, and designers must find ways to overcome them. UX designers should also be adaptable as software design and development is a fast-paced world where things are rarely straightforward.
Business knowledge and skills like negotiation will go a long way as a UX designer. It helps to know how UX/UI design solutions contribute to the overall company goals.
Job Functions
The day-to-day responsibilities of UX designers will largely depend on the company they work for and their role at the firm. However, there are functions that all UX designers will perform regardless of the organization, including:
Conducting User Research
The UX designer will perform user research to determine what features and attributes users prefer in a product. They will evaluate the full scope of the project to find out which user problems the product will solve and the best way to present the solution to the user. Creating user personas will be beneficial when conducting user research. User research may also involve competitor research to determine which similar products exist and their strengths and weaknesses.
Information Architecture
UX designers determine the solution’s content and structure across a website or application. Information architecture refers to the layout and design of information with a preference for the most logical way. With good architecture, users can easily navigate the site or app for a better experience.
User Flows and Wireframes
A UX designer’s job is to map out the buyer’s journey; user flows, and wireframes are the best tools. User flows are flowcharts visualizing the user’s path from the initial to the final interaction. Wireframes outline a single web page or screen, and multiple wireframes make user flows. A UI/UX designer uses user flows and wireframes to ensure the most straightforward and efficient user journey for the best user experience.
Prototyping and User Testing
A prototype is a scaled-down version of a product. It is a simulation that allows you to test your designs before developing them. A UX designer will create prototypes of a product to work out the kinks before releasing the final version of the product. The designer will also test the prototype on users to determine their responses. Several rounds of user testing are often necessary before finding the ideal design. Once the designer is confident the product meets users’ needs, it can go into development.
Visual Design
UX designers will conduct visual design for tangible products and user interface design for intangible products like websites and applications. The designer’s job is to determine color schemes, images, typography, and many other visual elements of a product.
A UX designer’s work is never finished, and continuous improvement is necessary. As user needs change, so does the work of UX designers. With a basic comprehension of the skills a UX designer needs and their job functions, you can have a better chance at an informed decision about whether to join the field. However, the profession has a bright future if demand is anything to go by.
