Learn the skills you need to kickstart your career in UX design and how to develop them effectively.
It’s an exciting time to embark on a journey in user experience (UX) design. Glassdoor listed “UX designer” as one of their 50 Best Jobs in America for 2022, based on job satisfaction, earning potential, and job openings.
There are multiple paths to becoming a UX designer, and showcasing the right set of skills is often key to getting hired. But what are those essential skills?
To find out, I reviewed UX designer job listings on LinkedIn, highlighting skills most frequently included in job descriptions from top companies like Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Peloton, IBM, Playstation, Tesla, Adobe, and Visa.
Start advancing your skills today. Ready to dive into UX design? I’ve been expanding my skills through various certifications, primarily on Coursera and LinkedIn Learning. Coursera costs me $55 a month, while LinkedIn Learning is free through Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) as part of my studies.
What skills does a UX designer need? UX designers utilize a blend of technical and workplace skills. Here are the top nine essential skills for aspiring UX designers:
UX Designer Technical Skills
- Prototyping, Wireframing, User Flows, Mockups A significant part of the product development process involves envisioning the product’s appearance. This is done through wireframes, low or high-fidelity prototypes, mockups, or user flows.
- Wireframe: A basic layout of a web page prioritizing elements based on user needs.
- Prototype: A sample or simulation of the final product for testing and feedback.
- Mockup: A realistic visual model of the final webpage or application.
- User Flow: A diagram mapping each step a user takes when using a product or service.
- Visual Design and Design Software Both UX and UI designers use visual design software like Figma, Sketch, Photoshop, and Illustrator. Mastering these tools and understanding visual design principles such as typography, color theory, layout, and icons are crucial.
- User Research and Usability Testing Understanding the user is fundamental to UX design. Conducting user research helps identify user needs and problems. Usability testing validates design choices. Some companies have specialized roles like UX researchers to focus on these tasks.
- Agile Agile project management practices are common in software development. Understanding Agile methodologies can enhance your ability to work within iterative product development cycles. Agile UX design is becoming increasingly important.
- Information Architecture Information architecture (IA) involves organizing and structuring content effectively. Good IA helps users find information easily and complete tasks efficiently. Practice creating sitemaps of websites or apps to understand IA better.
- Application Development While not expected to write code, having a basic understanding of application development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) can help UX designers communicate with developers and set realistic design expectations.
UX Designer Workplace Skills
- Collaboration UX designers frequently collaborate with other teams, such as leadership, UI designers, and developers. Effective teamwork involves giving and receiving feedback and integrating new ideas to improve the product.
- Communication and Presentation Strong communication skills are essential for conducting user research, presenting designs to stakeholders, and collaborating with team members. Effective visual and written communication enhances the overall UX design process.
- Prioritization and Time Management Managing multiple projects and tasks is common in UX design. Practicing time management and prioritization will help address the most critical needs efficiently.
How to Improve UX Skills You probably already possess some of these skills, while others may be new. Here are ways to develop your UX design skill set:
- Take UX Courses: Enroll in UX design courses for structured skill development. Courses like the Google UX Design Professional Certificate on Coursera cover wireframing, prototyping, user research, usability testing, and design software.
- Stay Updated on UI/UX Trends: Subscribe to top UX blogs and podcasts to stay informed on the latest trends and best practices.
- Practice Your Skills: Engage in guided projects on platforms like Coursera. For example, practice prototyping with Figma, user research with Google Forms, and Agile project management with Miro.
Getting the Job Showcase your skills on your resume and during interviews. Highlight specific stories where you applied these skills in previous jobs, courses, or personal projects.
Start Advancing Your UX Design Skills Today
Take the next step toward a career in UX design by enrolling in the Google UX Design Professional Certificate on Coursera. Experience what UX design entails with a seven-day free trial of Coursera Plus.
Give your team access to a catalog of engaging courses and hands-on projects to develop impactful skills. Learn more about Coursera for Business.
By continuously enhancing your skills and staying updated on industry trends, you’ll be well-prepared for a successful career in UX design.
Silvia Pizarro McCants | UX & Graphic Design Portfolio
Artistic Roots, Modern Expressions: Design That Transcends Boundaries
9 essential skills for UX designers in 2024. (2021, May 6). Coursera. https://www.coursera.org/articles/essential-skills-for-ux-designers
(N.d.). Glassdoor.com. Retrieved June 1, 2024, from https://www.glassdoor.com/Award/index.htm
Unsplash. (n.d.). Photo by Karl Solano on unsplash. Unsplash.com. Retrieved June 7, 2024, from https://unsplash.com/photos/stack-of-books-on-brown-wooden-table-FnD1bPuFxWw
