As more sales transactions move to the internet, the demand for websites and mobile applications continues to be strong. There are plenty of jobs for people who design and build these digital products, including UX Designers. While UX design is definitely in demand, the field is changing as new technologies develop. Job descriptions and titles are constantly evolving, and it is easier than ever to move to a career in UX/UI design.
What Do UX Designers Do?
User Experience (UX) designers create websites and applications that satisfy both the users and the business or client the designer is working for. UX Designers conduct research and create personas of users and mockups of products or websites. They analyze the data and give presentations and workshops to other design team members and clients.
After the UX Designer conducts interviews and tests, the design team uses the information to create an interface that does what the users want and is effortless to use. They craft wireframes and prototypes to test the design. Depending on the team's needs, these can be simple, low-fidelity, pen and paper drawings or high-fidelity, interactive digital mockups. The design process is considered collaborative and iterative. A team works together to create the design rather than one person making the whole thing; the product is constantly tested, and the design changes with the new information.
What Is the Job Outlook for UX Design?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Standards, the job outlook for UX/UI Designers is strong through 2030. In particular, the tech industry and ecommerce continue to expand and are expected to grow by 13% in the next ten years. UX/UI Designers are in demand to create websites and mobile applications needed, and as extended reality products begin to come on the market, the need will be even greater. Job board Glassdoor.com lists UX Designer at #24 of the Best Jobs in America for 2022 with a median base salary of $97,047 and a job satisfaction survey score of 4 out of 5. The BLS reports the annual median pay range for UX/UI Designers at $77,200, with a low of $40,750 and a high of $146,430.
Changing Role of UX Designers
While UX/UI design continues to be in demand and all indicators point to a promising future, the field is undergoing some changes. Technological and business developments promise to take UX/UI design in a new direction in the years to come. Here are some possible new roles for designers in the coming decade.
Extended Reality Designers
As extended reality technology continues to improve, new roles develop for designers. Some of the benefits can be seen in the areas of gaming, remote medicine, education, and improvements to platforms like Zoom for meetings for work or with friends who are not nearby. These developments will lead to new or improved products, and UX Designers will be needed to ensure that the user is at the center of the design. Some examples of extended reality are:
- Virtual reality - puts users in a created world
- Augmented reality - adds digitally produced effects to the real world
- 3D interfaces - create a 3D experience, often including gestures, audio, and headsets. Holograms are an example.
- Spatial and augmented audio - used to create soundscapes for immersive experiences like art installations.
Smart Materials Designers
UX Designers are moving into the area of designing with special materials. Intelligent fabrics and clothing that react to environmental changes in temperature, body chemistry, biological functions, and magnetism are being developed. These smart fabrics will have many applications in the sports and medical fields, and UX Designers will have a role in representing users in those developments.
Artificial Intelligence Designers
As artificial intelligence evolves, UX Designers will move from designing products to designing experiences. Artificial intelligence is most often associated with big data, but it is making steady progress into many aspects of everyday life. UX Designers will have a part in creating products that are based on AI, such as:
- Self-driving cars
- Digital assistants
- Facial recognition
- Digital payment apps
- Social media
- Autocorrect
AI is also used in some digital design tools to alter and enhance backgrounds or create color palettes. It can also be used to collect data for user research and usability testing.
Post-Industrial Design
As more of the items people use every day are connected to apps, the role of UX Designers changes to embrace this trend. Known as “The Internet of Things,” this is a network of devices that connect to each other through cloud computing platforms. Some examples are smart home assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant, smart appliances, like refrigerators, thermostats, and cars. These devices are often voice-controlled, another new area for UX Designers.
Freelance Designers
Not only is the nature of UX design work changing, but the work environment is as well. In the future, more UX Designers will work as freelancers, which includes remote work. Thanks to the development of digital collaborative tools, video conferencing, and remote testing apps, design tasks can be accomplished from anywhere. If you have a stable internet connection, you can plan the design, conduct interviews, brainstorm, collaborate, and test prototypes remotely. This reduces facilities costs for companies.
Where to Learn UX Design
If you would like to learn more about UX design in order to switch to a new career, one of the best ways to do that is to sign up for classes. You can choose classes that meet in-person or online to learn design software and other applications. Some people prefer to attend brick-and-mortar sessions when learning new information, but that isn’t always available. Live online classes have a similar set-up with a real-time, remote instructor who can answer questions and take control of your monitor—with permission—to show you how to do things. Training is part or full-time and available weekdays, weeknights, or weekends.
The best way to prepare for a career shift to a field like UX design is to enroll in a Bootcamp or certificate program. These are intensive training courses that run from a few weeks to a few months, and another plus of training is leaving class with a professional-quality portfolio that you can show to prospective employers.
It’s easy to learn UX design and start a new career. Check out Noble Desktop’s UX design classes. Choose between in-person sessions in NYC at Noble’s location or sign up for live online UX design courses and attend from anywhere. Use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me to find other UX design bootcamps in your area.