User experience (UX) designer
UX designers use research to understand their users and create websites, applications and software to meet their needs.
Also known as: Interaction designer
- Starter salary£32,000 a year
- Experienced£65,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 39 a week
What you'll do
As a UX designer you'll:
- work with user researchers and service designers to understand user needs
- gather business requirements from project leaders
- design and test prototype solutions based on user research results
- write clear specifications and guidelines for developers
- use data and evidence from follow-up research to refine designs
- make sure designs meet accessibility standards
- explain design solutions clearly to stakeholders
Working environment
You could work in an office, from home or at a client's business.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- design skills and knowledge
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- complex problem-solving skills
- persistence and determination
- analytical thinking skills
- to be flexible and open to change
- the ability to use your initiative
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
How to become a user experience (UX) designer
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
University
You could do a higher national diploma, degree or postgraduate award in:
- UX design
- product design
- graphic design
- human computer interaction (HCI)
- digital media and web design
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a higher national diploma
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
College
You could do a college course, which may lead on to more advanced qualifications, or help you to get a trainee position with a company.
Courses include:
- digital media design
- digital product design
- T Level in Digital Software Development
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T Level
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do a Digital User Experience (UX) Professional Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.
You may also find a Digital Accessibility Specialist Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship useful for this job.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship
Volunteering
If you're working in an organisation that conducts user research, you could get work experience by volunteering to help in research sessions and user interviews.
You could also get involved with the online user experience community for advice and tips, and to find a mentor to help you.
Direct application
You can apply directly to companies or go through an agency that specialises in providing digital design professionals to clients.
You'll need qualifications and relevant experience to do this.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could supervise a design team. You might also become a service designer, with overall responsibility for creating new or improved services for clients and customers.
You could work in a development role if you've got experience of programming languages.
You could turn freelance and be a self-employed contractor.
Career tips
You'll find it useful to have:
- knowledge of coding like HTML , CSS and JavaScript so you can build wireframes and prototypes
- experience of using design software like Adobe Creative Suite
- an understanding of agile project development methods
It will also help if you have a portfolio to showcase examples of your work.
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleWeb designer
- Job roleUser researcher
- Job roleGraphic designer
- Job roleDigital product owner
- Job roleWeb content editor
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0