UX/UI Designer

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A UX/UI Designer is responsible for designing the way digital products such as websites and mobile apps look and feel, as well as how users interact with them. UX stands for User Experience, which focuses on making products easy and enjoyable to use, while UI stands for User Interface, which deals with the visual elements like buttons, colours, and layouts. In this role, you might conduct user research, create wireframes and prototypes, collaborate with developers, and test designs with real users to ensure everything works smoothly. This career is ideal for creative individuals who enjoy problem solving and are interested in technology.

The average salary for a UX/UI Designer in the UK is between £28,000 and £50,000 per year, with senior roles earning up to £70,000 or more.

Job availability

There are over 5,000 UX/UI Designer positions advertised in the UK each year, particularly in cities like London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

Industry growth

The demand for UX/UI Designers in the UK is expected to grow by around 13 percent over the next five years due to the rise in digital products and services.

Focuses on designing user interfaces and experiences specifically for mobile applications, ensuring intuitive navigation and appealing layouts for smartphone and tablet users.

Conducts in-depth research to understand how users interact with digital products, gathering insights to inform design choices and improve user satisfaction.

Specialises in creating digital experiences that are accessible to people with disabilities, ensuring websites and apps meet accessibility standards and are usable by everyone.

Build Essential Skills and Knowledge Learn the Basics of Design Principles

Study fundamental design concepts such as colour theory, typography, layout and visual hierarchy.

Strong foundational knowledge of design principles is crucial for creating attractive and effective user interfaces. You can start with free online resources, design books or short online courses. Understanding these basics will help you create designs that are both visually appealing and functional.

Get Familiar with UX/UI Tools

Practise using industry standard tools like Figma, Adobe XD or Sketch for designing and prototyping.

Most UX/UI designers use digital tools for wireframing, prototyping and designing user interfaces. Free versions or trials are available for many of these, and there are numerous tutorials online to help you get started. Experiment with creating your own sample projects to build confidence.

Understand User Centred Design

Learn about user research, personas, journey mapping and usability testing.

UX/UI design is all about the end user. Techniques like user interviews, surveys and creating personas help you understand what users need and want from a product. Practise by conducting simple research with friends or family and mapping out their experiences with everyday digital products.

Develop Practical Experience Create a Portfolio

Design and document your own projects to showcase your skills to potential employers.

A portfolio is essential for UX/UI roles. Include case studies that show your process from research to final design, even if they are personal or practice projects. Use platforms like Behance or your own website to present your work professionally.

Work on Real World Projects

Gain experience through internships, freelance work, volunteering or collaborating on open source projects.

Look for opportunities to design for charities, student organisations or small businesses. Even unpaid projects can build your experience and provide work to add to your portfolio. Participating in design challenges or hackathons is another great way to practise and get feedback.

Pursue Professional Opportunities Network in the Industry

Connect with other designers and professionals through events, online communities and social media.

Networking can help you learn about industry trends and job vacancies, and get advice from experienced designers. Join groups on LinkedIn, attend meetups or webinars, and participate in online forums such as UX Stack Exchange or Reddit's r/userexperience.

Apply for UX/UI Roles

Search and apply for entry level designer roles, internships or graduate schemes.

Tailor your CV and portfolio for each application, highlighting relevant skills and experience. Be prepared to discuss your process and past projects in interviews. Look for roles such as Junior UX Designer, UI Designer or Digital Designer as starting points.

Continue Learning and Specialising

Keep up to date with new tools, trends and best practices through courses and professional development.

UX/UI design is a fast moving field, so continuous learning is vital. Consider advanced courses, certifications or even a university degree in design or a related field if you want to specialise further. Over time, you can focus on areas such as user research, interaction design or motion design.

Sample Qualifications

A UX/UI Designer primarily focuses on enhancing user experience and interface design, which aligns closely with the role of a User experience (UX) designer. Both roles involve understanding user needs, creating intuitive designs, and improving overall interaction with digital products, making them the most similar in terms of qualifications.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course

University

You could do a higher national diploma, degree or postgraduate award in:

• 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

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:

• T Level in Digital Production, Design and 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

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

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.

More Information

You'll find it useful to have:

• 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.

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