What Does a UX Designer Actually Do?

Have you ever found yourself getting frustrated while using a website or app? Have you ever quit using a site or app because the navigation was too confusing, had broken links, or it took forever to load? These are examples of poor user experiences. These kinds of issues can be very upsetting, and are responsible for leading users to give up on products. A UX designer is responsible for good user experience that addresses your concerns, and makes your interactions with technology as smooth as possible. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into what a UX designer actually does, their primary responsibilities, and their value and impact on users and businesses.

What is User Experience (UX) Design, and Why is it Important?

User experience design is the process of creating products that are user-friendly. A UX designer’s job is to design these services to make sure they are easy and enjoyable to use, building your trust and making you want to return to the product. A UX designer has to understand people and their needs. Building a user's trust is so important, and even something like brand consistency can lose a user’s trust or leave them confused.

So, what are common problems users face that may lead them to give up on a site, app, or product? 

• Poor navigation
• Slow loading time
• Too many steps
• Cluttered design
• Broken links or errors
• Lack of optimization for mobile devices
• Intrusive ads or pop-ups
• Inconsistent branding

Any of these issues can ruin a user’s experience, and ultimately an entire business. A good UX designer will address all these concerns, and more, making them highly valuable!

What is the Role of a UX Designer?

To create a good user experience, UX designers go through a process of conducting user research, creating prototypes, and testing them to see what is or is not effective. To do this process well, UX designers require a special skill set, including soft and technical skills. 

So, what does a UX designer’s skill set look like? It’s a mix of being computer savvy, thinking creatively or critically, and great communication skills! UX designers have to analyze problems, and often they need to be able to proactively anticipate issues that may potentially arise. With that said, they need to place themselves in the seat of the user to anticipate and identify their needs. Utilizing these skills, UX designers also need to have a grasp on cutting edge tools and techniques like user research wireframing, prototyping, and information architecture. 

UX designers also work with other UX roles to create an engaging and easy to use product. These roles include, but are not limited to: UX Researcher, UI Designer, Product Designer, User centered designer, human centered designer. For more information on each role, and a table comparison, check out the Different Roles in UX and UI Design on the Guac.

Are you looking to become a UX designer but worried you don’t have every skill needed to be successful? A UX bootcamp can help you build the skills we just talked about. Don't stress about needing to know everything before starting. Check out this latest post on the Guac to learn about the essential skills you'll need to kick off your UX bootcamp journey.

What Are the Key Design Principles for Creating User-Friendly Products?

Now that we know what UX design is, let's discuss how it actually works. By following a specific process and following key principles, designers can create products that make people happy! Key design principles include:

• User-centered design

• Consistency

• Context

• Simplicity

• Accessibility

• Usability

• Visibility

• Hierarchy

By implementing these principles, UX designers effectively create better experiences for users. But there’s more to it! Here is where design thinking comes into play. Design thinking puts the user front and center in the design process.

What is the UX Design Process and How Does it Work?

Design thinking is divided into a 7-phase process:

• Empathize / Research - Research user needs and collect data

• Define / Analysis - Analyze data and define the project goal 

• Ideate - Brainstorming time! Create storyboards, sitemaps, and journey maps.

• Prototype / Design - Design your initial prototype.

• Testing - Test your product with users for feedback

• Implementation - Implement user feedback and the product is now ready to launch!

• Evaluation / Iteration - Continuously utilize user feedback to improve the product.

 You can show your design process through case studies, which can be used to guide clients through the product, maintaining transparency and understanding throughout the design process with business that may benefit from hiring your UX design services.

How Can Businesses Benefit from Working with a UX Designer?

As we said earlier, UX design can make or break a business. Because of this, businesses will find they benefit immensely from collaborating with a UX designer. Thanks to the designer’s expertise with user needs, they can assist businesses in targeting the goals of their audience.

For example, a business might want to create a mobile app. Why? Well, a mobile app can offer a more personalized experience for customers that builds loyalty and a desire to revisit their products and services. It can be a great tool to reach their target audience and market their products. Speaking of marketing products, a mobile app improves a businesses marketing strategies by collecting data about the customers who interact with their app. A mobile app has the potential to create an engaging and user-friendly experience, but without a UX designer, the app may be frustrating to navigate, and may even lack accessibility. If a business works with a UX designer, then they can create an app that addresses their needs and accomplishes the following goals: 

• Increased user satisfaction

• Improved conversion rates

• Reduced costs

• Competitive advantage

• Better insights and data

 Now, let's take a look at famous UX designers who have accomplished these goals! First is Don Norman. He coined the term "user experience" and highlighted the importance of designing products that fulfill the wants and needs of users. Don comes from an electrical engineering and psychology background, and he founded the Nielson Norman Group to help businesses improve their websites by researching customer needs. Check out 5 Famous and Inspiring UX Designers to Follow to learn more about Norman and other famous UX designers like Steve Krug, Yael Levey, Luke Wroblewski, and Bill Buxton.

Do you remember when we mentioned that UX designers work collaboratively with other UX roles? Well they also work with all other roles and departments in a business, including product managers, developers, and marketers. This is what UX designers do! They work collaboratively with all roles to solve potential issues, make our daily lives easier, help businesses to succeed, build trust and loyalty, and keep users happy!

Are You Ready to Enter the Field of UX Design?

UX designers are responsible for creating products and services that are easy to use and meet the needs of the user. They use a process that involves research, ideation, prototyping, and testing, as well as principles like user-centered design, interaction design, and information architecture. Businesses benefit from working with UX designers because it helps them create products that people actually want to use. If you're interested in becoming a UX designer, bootcamps are a great way to get started, even if you don't have any experience in the field. Ready to be a designer who makes a real impact on the products and services we use every day? Schedule a call with a UX designer today!

Author

Amanda Molina is an SEO content writer who loves palm trees, books, and glassblowing. She enjoys her avocados diced with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar.