UX (User Experience) Designer: Job Description, Key Skills, and Salary in 2022

UX designer is a cross-disciplinary role whose ultimate aim is to improve the end user’s experience when using software or web-based products by employing their knowledge of technology architecture, graphic design, UX theory, and coding (optional). This article provides an overview of the position of UX designer, including the responsibilities, roles, skills, and salary in 2022.

What Do UX Designers Do? Roles and Responsibilities

UX designer is a cross-disciplinary role aiming to improve the end user’s experience when using a software or web-based product by employing their knowledge of technology architecture, graphic design, UX theory, and coding. 

The position of UX designer is an intriguing one. It is among the most sought-after specializations, especially in product-driven enterprises. Yet, many companies looking to recruit UX designers have varying (and often wrong) conceptions of the role’s essential duties.

Smaller businesses, particularly startups, often need a single UX engineer to handle all areas, a generalist capable of meeting all UX requirements. Larger firms with greater resources may seek UX designers with specific expertise. They could differentiate among UX analysts, information researchers, UX marketers, etc. Larger organizations may also have a broader range of seniority levels. 

Even though the interpretation can differ slightly, a UX designer’s (user experience designer) foundational objective is to optimize product satisfaction. Designers constantly seek ways to enhance the brand experience for the customer or user, such as making the product more innovative, straightforward, or fun.

A UX designer can also be called a user’s ambassador within the product team, ensuring that every element of the product is at its optimum – and that all steps in the product creation process are seamlessly streamlined toward user satisfaction. The design process consists of five interdependent phases:

• Understand: Where you get knowledge about your users
• Determine: Discover challenges and user requirements
• Ideate: The process of generating problem-solving design concepts begins
• Prototype: Mock-ups and, finally, the end product are created, similar to 3D printing a physical prototype
• Trial: Where you test and refine your designs with actual users

The UX designer is involved in this entire product and experience designing process, from start to finish. 

See More: What is CAD (Computer Aided Design)? Definition, Types, and Applications

Key responsibilities of a UX designer

The key roles and responsibilities of a UX designer are as follows:

1. Conducting user and market research

At the beginning of the UX design process, analysis takes place. Typically, a UX designer would receive a request from either the client or one‘s manager to conduct project research. First, the UX designer must correlate desk and field studies to understand the target audience comprehensively. This may include evaluating the current website’s offerings, conducting user interviews to discover opportunities or pain areas, and competitive analysis to determine what else is available. It also may involve techniques like real user monitoring. 

These activities help the UX designer identify the main features required for a Minimum Viable Product (the MVP or first version of a product that will be released) and develop first user personas.

2. Crafting user personas for the product or application

UX designers may construct user personas after conducting significant user research. This is when one delves deeper into the tasks and motivations each potential end user desires to accomplish. Another prominent technique that could be used with customer persona is jobs-to-be-done (JTBD). They will also consider the challenge the product intends to resolve and where this fits into the larger brand image.

3. Understanding the information architecture

Next, you will consider the required content and how it will be arranged throughout the website or application. Information architecture comprises figuring out the most logical structure and arrangement of the material. A good information architecture ensures that users can simply discover the information they want and move from one webpage to the next without much effort. Some companies may employ a separate UX architect to look after this responsibility. 

4. Leveraging wireframes, mockups, and other tools

UX designers chart the user’s path across and through a product using various methods, such as user journeys and wireframes. User journeys are simple flowcharts that depict a user’s actions and experiences while interacting with a product, from the point of entry to the last interaction. This article offers an introduction to user journeys. Wireframes create a two-dimensional layout of a tiny screen or page, while user flows depict the whole user experience.

5. Tweaking the prototype and testing it

After mapping out the product’s layout, the UX designer constructs prototypes and executes user testing. A prototype is only a stripped-down avatar of the product; it is a simulation that allows you to test concepts before development. Prototypes may vary from basic cardboard models to near-perfect, interactive prototypes that closely resemble the final product.

Before creating the final product, testing your prototypes with actual consumers helps to reveal any design weaknesses. Once it is determined that the design meets user requirements, the new product may be developed.

UX designers also participate in sprint sessions, monitoring product development to prevent feature leakages, and assisting with minor design adjustments until final user acceptance testing.

6. Participating in the visual design process (i.e., the user interface)

You will note that none of the duties mentioned above involve the aesthetic appearance of the product. Even though some UX designers concentrate on visual design, this is often considered a part of user interface (UI) architecture. So, a UI designer will typically be responsible for graphics, color schemes, icons, CSS configuration, and typography, with timely feedback from a UX designer. In addition, a UX designer’s job is seldom completed after the introduction of a product. There will be tweaks, minor modifications, new product releases, comments to compile, and analytics to review with the team.

7. Balancing functionality with the aesthetic aspects

Numerous individuals believe that modern digital products ought to be minimalist and entirely functional. However, the reality is not that simple: users of applications and websites want both problem-solving and aesthetic excellence. UX designers are responsible for achieving a balance between these elements. They understand how to efficiently combine aesthetics and functionality, adjusting their technique to the product’s and audience’s objectives.

Is a UX designer’s role the same as a UI designer’s?

User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) development frequently go hand in hand, although there are significant distinctions between the two professions. While UX includes the whole user experience, UI concentrates on the visual design and interface. While a UX designer is tasked with creating a comprehensive product experience for the end user, the UI designer’s role is complementary. It goes one step further — employing the UX designer’s direction for the product’s visual layout.

See More: What Is Domain-Driven Design? Meaning, Process, and Examples

UX Designer Key Skill Requirements In 2022

Here are the top skills you need to succeed in a UX designer role:

1. Empathy and active listening

To become a great UX designer, it is essential to be able to place oneself in the user’s shoes. Understanding and empathizing with other people’s difficulties might help you discover a solution for them; this is a critical role for every UX designer. Listening carefully to customer feedback is a fantastic method to comprehend the problem in question to devise effective solutions.

2. Design theory and familiarity with software tools

UX designers and UI designers construct a product’s visual aspects using visual design tools like Figma, Sketch, Photoshop, and Illustrator. In addition to tool proficiency, you should develop your comprehension of visual design guiding principles, such as typography, color theory, layout, iconography, and overall design concepts.

3. Collaboration and communication skills

Frequently, UX designers collaborate with UI professionals, software developers, graphic artists, salespeople, and product managers. Collaboration is crucial for UX designers to execute their concepts as envisioned. Designers may also act as developers and cooperate with other developers.

4. Interaction design capabilities 

Creating aesthetically beautiful concepts is one thing; however, knowing how to implement those concepts is another thing entirely. Interaction design and user experience have many similarities. For instance, you must determine if your consumers expect to browse or swipe across a list. By acquiring insights into your consumers’ conceptual frameworks, you may better comprehend how they engage with your product.

5. Data analytics skills

It is crucial to get your products tested after creating them using a prototype tool. The effectiveness of the design is crucial, and by relying on data analytics, you may acquire a deeper knowledge of its efficacy. In truth, product excellence demands a robust database.

6. Diplomacy, advocacy, and negotiation

UX designers are frequently at the vanguard of organizational transformation. UX designers must also collaborate well with several other disciplines. Generally, UX designers should be design negotiators. In addition to being able to balance multiple personalities and agendas sensitively, designers must be adept at highlighting the value of research and design within a company.

7. Content Capabilities

UX authoring encompasses all visual elements of the interface. UX designers must manage everything, from headers and microcontent to icons and menu bars, or advise UX writers where to position the material. Each element is designed to direct visitors through the page, encouraging them to continue and perform various actions.

8. Understanding the Agile methodology

UX designers collaborate with several departments to rapidly launch new products or product upgrades. One should include lean or agile software development (or even other project management methodologies) alongside communication and collaboration capabilities among UX design talents. Especially when working remotely, practical experience with agile methodologies helps accelerate the process and increase departmental cooperation.

9. Curiosity and an eagerness to learn

Interested professionals have the potential to interact constructively with customers, products, and even challenges. Curiosity leads to formulating perceptive questions, attentive listening, and a deeper engagement with situations. UX is a continually evolving discipline. Developing a feeling of curiosity assists designers in staying updated.

10. Critical thinking to support wireframing/prototyping activities

Skills in wireframing and prototyping are fundamental to the UX design profession. For this reason, designers should be capable of critical thinking. They must also be able to collect important information and use it in a practical setting. Questioning basic assumptions, recognizing one’s mental processes, and cultivating greater foresight are methods for enhancing critical thinking abilities.

See More: What Are CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)? Meaning, Types, and Properties

UX Designer Salary In 2022

Since the inception of the UX business, demands for UX designers have constantly increased. McKinsey’s research “The business value of design” demonstrates that design-led organizations have higher revenues and overall performance. As recognition of this truth increases, so does the typical UX designer’s income.

In the U.S., the average salary of a UX designer is $91,225 per year, as per PayScale (last updated on 17.11.2022). Popular cities such as New York, Seattle, and San Francisco have highly renowned design schools and are home to industry leaders such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft. Consequently, incomes differ based on location within the United States.

There are several IT opportunities around the United Kingdom, but due to London’s status as Europe’s startup hub, many businesses are seeking the assistance of UX designers. The national average UX designer pay is £43,939.

Further, as your experience and skills grow, your salary expectations should reflect that. That’s why, in the U.S., a UX design intern can expect to earn $60,864, a junior UX designer earns $100,334, a UX designer role has a salary of about $106,896, a senior UX designer earns $139,001, and a senior UX design manager would make $159,856 per year.

See More: Web Developer: Job Description, Key Skills, and Salary in 2022

UX Designer Jobs In 2022

As mentioned, UX designer is a generalist role, with skills cutting across fields and disciplines. If you want, you may specialize further and aspire for any one of the following UX designer jobs:

1. UI/UX designer

A UX/UI designer covers both UX designer and UI designer tasks. At small businesses or those with small UX teams, it may be necessary for a single individual to undertake both of these roles.

2. UX research specialist

UX researchers specialize in doing user research. This implies that they should be experienced in gathering quantitative and qualitative information using a range of methodologies, such as interviews, structured questionnaires, and A/B testing. UX researchers also evaluate data and provide the UX team with their observations and suggestions.

3. Senior UX manager

As implied by the term, a UX manager is in command of the team. They are responsible for allocating team members to assignments, representing the team’s expertise throughout the organization, and guaranteeing the team’s professional growth. Typically, UX managers also lead and supervise significant projects.

4. Information/UX architect

This person is responsible for organizing and arranging content and data throughout the design phases of a product. They establish the navigational path across the brand, the taxonomy of the product’s pages, and the layout of the pages to provide a seamless and logical user experience, often through user engagement theories like gamification. 

5. UX writer or UX copywriter

UX writer is among the industry’s more recent job titles. UX writing includes developing the content a user sees, hears, or encounters while interacting with a digital product. UX writers specialize in generating copy that assists the user in navigating the product. This involves crafting all the minutiae of the copy, calls for action, and glitch reporting, based on user requirements instead of marketing objectives.

6. UX strategist

A UX strategist is a designer who knows how to execute and leverage business strategies. Frequently, they are responsible for developing business objectives with customers and stakeholders and determining a content strategy for a brand that combines user needs and business requirements.

7. Product designer

The product designer position is fairly new and parallels the UX designer role. A significant difference, though, is that a product designer focuses on the product itself in addition to the user experience. While all UX designers must consider business objectives while designing user experiences, product designers must also consider long-term business objectives, just like other product roles such as scrum master. 

8. UX unicorn

In the realm of computer startups, a “unicorn” is a person who not only has the conventional set of abilities necessary for a function but also possesses extra capabilities in another subject. These extra abilities amplify their value to an organization, hence the iconic title. A UX unicorn is often a UX designer with design and front-end programming expertise.

UX unicorns are uncommon; only those with the technical ability to perform frontend technical work are considered UX unicorns. Thus, UX unicorns oversee the complete design process and more. In addition, they transform their designs into code.

See More: What Is 3D Printing? Working, Software, and Applications

Takeaway

The success of modern software products often hinges on the UX designer. They envision how a person will first encounter, get to know, navigate, drop off, and eventually return to the product, thanks to the stickiest possible user experience. That is why this is now an in-demand career option for young tech professionals. 

Did this article clarify all your doubts about a UX design career? Tell us on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you! 

MORE ON IT SKILLS AND CAREERS

• Career Path in Cybersecurity: How to Enter, Key Skills, Salary, and Job Description
• CISM Certification: Exam Cost, Salary, and Jobs in 2022
• Cybersecurity Specialist: Key Skill Requirements and Salary Expectations
• CISSP Certification: Exam Cost, Salary, and Jobs in 2022
• Digital Forensics Salary, Career Path, and Certifications in 2022