How to become a UX Designer
If you’re considering a career in UX design and want to know which route to take into the profession, read our guide to discover more.
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CONTENTS
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Routes to becoming a UX Designer
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Skills you’ll need
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Finding work experience
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How to get a job as a UX Designer
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What it's like to be a UX Designer
You do not need a specific qualification to become a UX (User Experience) designer, but a relevant degree or qualification will greatly improve your career prospects. Here are some possible routes into the role.
Undergraduate degrees
Some universities offer degrees in UX design, human-computer interaction, or interaction design. It might also be worth considering graphic design, product design, or web design courses as they will cover similar topics like design principles, typography, and layout.
Entry requirements for a UX design or web design degree vary but usually range from 64 –120 UCAS points. An undergraduate degree will take three years to complete or four years if it includes an integrated foundation year or professional placement.
Degree apprenticeships
If you’re someone who learns in a more practical way, a digital user experience (UX) professional degree apprenticeship (Level 6) could be a good option. It should take the same length of time as an undergraduate degree. Entry requirements are set by the employer and the course provider. You’ll usually need to apply and attend an interview. Competition is fierce so make sure you prepare well and have the relevant A Levels (or equivalent) the employer is looking for.
Search for a vacancy via Find an apprenticeship.
Postgraduate degrees
It isn’t necessary to have an additional postgraduate degree to become a UX designer but it’s a good option if you’re looking to move into this area and have some relevant experience or a related degree. A postgraduate degree usually takes a year to complete full time or two years part time.
Alternatively, there are professional certification options in UX design, such as BCS Foundation or Practitioner certificates in User Experience which could help demonstrate your expertise and commitment.
As well as having a passion for the design of digital products, you’ll also need:
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knowledge of coding and design principles
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attention to detail
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effective communication skills
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great customer care skills
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logical approach
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problem solving
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analytical thinking
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flexible and open minded
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teamwork
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willingness to keep up to date with fast changing technology
It’s a good idea to have some work experience to draw on to help stand out from the crowd.
You could try:
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joining a web development or coding club
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attending hackathons
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volunteering for an organisation such as a charity and offering to improve their user experience
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building your own sites and applications as an example of your work
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securing an internship by approaching large web design agencies for opportunities
As almost all organisations have a web presence, you could find work in-house as a UX designer in a wide range of fields such as education, manufacturing, health and publishing to name just a few.
Alternatively, you might look for work in a web development agency working with a wide range of clients on different projects. Specialist and general job sites such as Women in Tech Jobs, CWJobs, LinkedIn Jobs and employer careers pages can be useful places to look. TechSkills is also useful for careers information.
As a UX designer you’ll be responsible for creating accessible websites that are visually appealing and offer users a positive experience. Depending on your role and specialisation, your tasks could include:
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helping your team decide the user experience (UX) strategy for its products and services
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doing research to understand service and business needs
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running workshops and attending meetings
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building prototypes and drafts that communicate your ideas to the team
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writing clear specifications and guidelines for developers or designers
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working closely with visual designers to meet users' needs
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working with the research team to plan and carry out user research and testing
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leading or taking part in review sessions to discuss how a project has gone
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analysing issues and recommending solutions
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keeping up to date with technological changes and new tools
You could work in an office, from home or at a client's business and will usually work as part of a larger team unless freelance. The User Experience Professionals’ Association is a useful professional organisation to join for networking, advice and has its own jobs board.
Starting salaries for graduate UX designers range from £20,000 to £26,000, depending on the location and size of company you work for. With experience this could rise to between £30,000 and £50,000.
Senior UX designers with management responsibilities may earn £40,000 to £65,000 or more.
You’ll usually work a standard 37–39-hour week with only occasional evenings if a particular project or deadline merits it.
Is a role as a UX Designer right for you?
If you enjoy creating user-centred digital products that improve people's lives by enhancing their experiences with technology, then a role as a UX designer could be for you.
- READ MORE
- What do graduates do and earn?
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