Career path
UX Designer
A UX designer shapes how a product works — the flows, structure, and interactions that decide whether someone reaches their goal easily or gives up frustrated. The focus is on behaviour and problem-solving, not just how things look.
What the job actually is
You design the path, not just the screen. That means understanding the user's goal, mapping the flow, sketching and prototyping solutions, and testing them before they're built. A lot of the craft is in defining the right problem and reducing friction — the best UX work is often invisible because nothing got in the user's way.
A typical day
A mix of wireframing and prototyping in a tool like Figma, reviewing research or analytics to understand behaviour, and working closely with product managers and engineers on what's feasible. You'll defend design decisions with reasoning and evidence, and iterate as you learn what actually works.
Skills that matter
- Interaction and information architecture — structuring flows so they make sense.
- Prototyping — usually Figma; turning ideas into testable artefacts.
- User research literacy — running or interpreting usability tests.
- Communication — explaining why a design solves the problem.
- Collaboration — working with PMs and engineers within real constraints.
How to switch in
People arrive from graphic design, research, customer support, and product roles. Support and front-line roles are underrated — you've seen exactly where users struggle. Build a portfolio of two or three case studies that show your process (problem → exploration → solution → outcome), not just polished final screens.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a UX designer and a UI designer?
UX focuses on how a product works — flows, structure, and usability. UI focuses on how it looks and feels — visual layout, typography, and styling. Smaller teams often combine the two into one role.