What does a UX designer do?

If you visit a website and get frustrated because you can't find the information you need, or if you use an app more than others simply because it's fun, it's all thanks to UX design.  

UX designers make aesthetic decisions about digital products, but they are also concerned with other aspects such as branding, usefulness, efficiency and functionality.  

Although UX is a relatively new field, it is becoming increasingly popular as the market becomes more customer-centric, which is why the demand for UX designers is growing rapidly. But there are so many reasons why designers love their work, aside from the growing job market. Here's what a typical UX designer does in a day and how you can get a foothold in the field.

Roles and responsibilities of a UX designer

Before you plan and strategize your career in this field, you need to understand what a UX designer does on a daily basis. Although the duties and responsibilities vary depending on the company, work environment and team structure, here are some general responsibilities that come with the position of a UX designer:  

• Application of ideation techniques such as brainstorming
• Creating wireframes and prototypes based on design ideas
• Giving criticism and feedback on drafts
• Solving UX problems
• Collaborate with other team members in the implementation and execution of designs
• Carrying out usability tests
• Maintenance and improvement of designs  

These tasks and responsibilities may be similar to those of a user interface (UI) designer, but if you look closely, there are many differences between the two roles.  

UX designer vs. UI designer. Many people use these two terms interchangeably without realizing how different they are. So let's take a look at how they differ.

With UI, the focus is on aesthetics, with UX on problem solving. One of the tasks of a UX designer is to know exactly what users need and expect. Therefore, a UX designer must identify problems and look for solutions to them. A UI designer, on the other hand, focuses on how the product or service should look and feel on the surface. While they design based on the user, they focus solely on the design.

UI refers to product images and UX takes care of the user journey. The point of user research, testing and experimentation is to provide users with a meaningful experience. UX designers often work on all of these steps to figure out how to create a great user experience.  UI designers, on the other hand, focus on the layout, color scheme, and everything else that makes the website or web application appealing to the user's eye. They also take into account the research findings of UX designers.

UX and UI require different skills. These two roles require different skills to accomplish daily tasks. A UX designer needs skills such as knowledge of wireframes, prototypes, UX research, visual communication and empathy.  A UI designer needs communication skills, business knowledge, familiarity with agile and lean software development, usability and participatory design.  

UX designers usually earn more than UI designers. Although these two professions are relatively new, they are in high demand these days. However, due to their skills and specialization, UX designers seem to be more in demand.

Why should you choose a career in UX design?

Most companies are expanding their business online to appeal to a wider audience. This has led to cut-throat competition in the market. To have an edge in this complicated environment, every business needs to impress its users. This is where UX designers come into play. Due to the increasing demand, there are more and more opportunities in this field.  But that's not the only thing that's appealing about a career in user experience.

Here are some reasons why you should consider a career in UX design:

• More and more design-oriented companies - Since users are attracted by good design, many companies have switched to a design-oriented approach. This is one of the reasons why it is becoming easier and easier for aspiring UX designers to find a good job, and the trend will continue to rise.
• Scope for creativity - This is the perfect area for innovative and creative people. Not only do you get the chance to showcase your talent, but your creativity is also appreciated. You can bring your unconventional ideas to the table, and there is also plenty of room to experiment. Creativity has become a necessary skill to become a UX designer, and if you are, then this can be a very fulfilling career.  
• Great salaries - With a wide range of opportunities, you can find jobs with very attractive remuneration packages. Even starting salaries can reach up to EUR 80,000.00. As you gain experience and improve your skills, you'll get even better positions and the paychecks that come with them.

How to become a UX designer

There's no doubt that there are plenty of job opportunities for UX designers, but competition for the best jobs is also increasing. If you want a career in this field, it's a good idea to take the right steps to get there.  

• Start reading: First and foremost, read as many books, blogs, articles and other materials as you can to decide whether or not this field is for you. You need to familiarize yourself with what a UX designer does on a daily basis and how much you can earn as a UX designer. Reading this will give you the answers to all these questions and more so you can plan your next move.  
• Educate yourself: You don't necessarily have to go to university to become a UX designer. The most efficient way to get into the industry is to attend a boot camp. 
• Develop your hard and soft skills: To be a successful UX designer, you need both technical and soft skills. UX research, wireframing, prototyping, visual communication, UX writing, information architecture, collaboration, empathy and analytical skills are some of the skills you need to have to become a good UX designer.
• Learn the tools of the trade: It is extremely important that you know how to use the tools of the trade. These will help you in your daily work as a UX designer. Some of the tools that are essential for this profession are: ReFramer, Sketch, Figma, InVision, Adobe XD, Lunacy, Hotjar, Usabilla and UsabilityHub. If you have a good command of these tools, your chances of getting a good UX job will increase.
• Get certified: A certification course is a great way to specialize in a particular skill or area. This lets hiring managers know that you have a good command of certain skills and areas of the field. Also, you can work on a specific skill that you are lacking by taking a certification course in that area.  Numerous websites and institutions offer both online and offline certification courses. Most of these courses have a flexible schedule and duration. You can even enroll in a part-time course if you are already working somewhere and don't have much time.  
• Practice with real-world UX design work: Most companies prefer applicants who have real-world experience, even for entry-level jobs. Therefore, you should do some work yourself to be considered a strong candidate for the job. Internships are one of the best ways to gain this experience. You can also do freelance projects and include them on your resume, which you can create on sites like LinkedIn.  
• Develop your personal brand with an online portfolio: A polished, professional website or portfolio gives recruiters an impression of your skills, hard work and passion.  

With these steps and your own commitment to learning some new skills, you can make it big in UX design. There's a lot to learn, but once you have a good understanding of the field, you can let your creativity run wild.