There are billions of websites online right now. Add to that the millions of mobile applications available across app stores, and the value of UX design becomes apparent very quickly.
For those of you that hear the phrase “UX design” and ask yourselves, “What does a UX designer do?” you’re in the right place.
In this post, our team breaks down five core responsibilities UX professionals manage.
1. Research
When people hear the word “design” in a job title, they assume that the job will be based on art or similar creative disciplines. UX design violates that expectation since the job is based more on psychology than anything else.
At the core of everything that a UX designer does is understanding how humans interact with things so they can create websites, applications, and products that guide consumers to the desired end.
Understanding human psychology takes ample research so prepare to put on your analytical hat if you want a career in UX.
2. Prototyping
It might surprise you to learn that when you ask a UX professional, “What does a UX designer do?” they probably won’t tell you that they work on the consumer-facing design that the public sees. Graphic designers handle that job.
UX professionals deal more with the function that lives below the form.
They take their research and prototype how things should work which they then pass on to senior leaders for approval. That work then gets handed off to artistically-focused professionals for finishing.
3. User Testing
Before money is invested in creating the final design elements associated with a digital product, UX designers need to test to see if their experience architecture is effective. This is accomplished through user testing.
As a UX designer, expect to collect data via focus groups that you’ll have using your prototypes. You’ll then take collected data to continue crafting iterations of your design until outcomes are positive enough to constitute moving onto further stages.
4. Pitching
If you’re not comfortable pitching concepts, you’ll run into barriers as you try to grow your UX career.
For every iteration you make of product interfaces, you’ll probably need to “sell” your concept to team members to get buy-in, which will catalyze the funding needed for focus testing and other support.
5. Copy Writing
While not always the case, some UX professionals also write copy for the products they create.
In many ways, the text that accompanies design influences how users interface with products. For that reason, companies want to hire a UX designer that doesn’t mind applying their skills to the use of language.
What Does a UX Designer Do? They Make Products Usable!
Usability is everything in today’s crowded digital market. After all, if a consumer doesn’t feel comfortable interacting with something, they have thousands of other products to choose from.
UX designers ensure usability, make life easy for consumers, and in turn, have a massive impact on the success of a product. So, if UX is a career you’re interested in, jump in knowing that your work will make a difference.
You now know the answer to “what does a UX designer do,” but do you still have related questions? For more information on UX and similar business topics, dive deeper into the newest content on our blog!