5 Communication Tips for New UX Designers

If you are a new designer, you have probably realized by now the importance of communicating with your clients and others within your workplace. Communication is an aspect that is crucial to every career, so it comes as no surprise that UX designers will need to be experts in their communication skills. In order to successfully complete a project, UX designers will need to be able to understand and talk to their clients openly and honestly. To get new designers started, here is a list of helpful tips to help UX designers sharpen their communication skills.

1. Learn to listen

As a UX designer, it is important to keep in mind your client’s needs and wants within a project so you can best meet their goals. To achieve this, you need to be able to listen to your client, both what they explicitly say and what is implied. It is better for you to spend less of your time talking, and more of your time listening to your client. Overtaking a conversation will tank your ability to succeed in your project, so allow your client to lead the conversation and use their answers to determine your roadmap.

2. Collaborate often with other designers

Collaborating with other designers and even others outside of the field of UX design helps designers continuously develop their communication skills. Interpersonal communication on projects helps a UX designer develop a successful product that works with their user. Other designers may be able to provide other perspectives or ideas to a challenge that you might not have thought of yourself. By working with others, you can continue to grow many soft skills, including communication.

3. Ask questions

Asking questions is a skill that is related to the idea of listening and will help improve your listening skills. By asking questions, the UX designer can develop a deeper understanding of the perspective of the user or client. As a designer, it is crucial to fully know what your user’s needs are, and by asking questions, you are able to develop a design that truly meets their needs. You are also able to clarify important portions of the needed design, creating a successful product.

4. Inform any changes

Project updates can sometimes feel monotonous and routine, but they hold a significance for clients: knowledge. As a UX designer, communication within project updates is important so users or clients can feel secure in the direction of the project. To be an effective communicator, you should share any changes, no matter how big or small they may seem, even if it something that could be insignificant. What may not be important to you could be a major piece for the user in the project

5. Develop empathy

Empathy is an important skill for the development of any relationship, and it still rings true even within business relationships. UX designers will develop their best work when they approach the situation with empathy. This doesn’t mean the designer has to be a warm fuzzy friend, but instead, the designer will be aware of a user’s behavior and habits. As a designer, it will be important for you to make note of these quirks within users so you can best design around their needs.

Communication is crucial for every job, and UX design is no exception. By understanding and communicating with users or clients about what meets their needs, a designer can produce better and more accurate results. With these tips, you can work your way into becoming a better UX designer.

Ready to Start Your UX Career?

To learn more about how to implement these communication tips into UX design, schedule a mentorship call today! We can help you improve your communication skills and get you on track to a successful UX design career.