User experience (UX) design is a term some people won’t recognize, but it’s an important part of the technology that we use and see every day. UX design basically refers to planning user journeys on a website, app, or product, sketching user interfaces according to specifications, designing layouts, and researching user goals and personas. UX designers have the job of learning the wants and needs of customers and clients and using that info to plan a product that will help end-users become more efficient and capable of meeting their goals.
It’s a field that requires a wide range of skills. UX designers need an understanding of sociology, psychology, and visual design to offer solutions that will meet people’s needs. Designers must also possess tactical skills, such as concept iteration, user research, usability testing, and prototyping, to help execute their design solutions. Finally, the need to know about interaction design, content strategy, information architecture, and UI design to add input into product design. All these factors make the role of UX designer interesting.
Opportunities for UX designers seem to grow as the tech sector grows, and the Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates computer and IT companies will grow by 13% between 2016 and 2026. Even better, according to CNN Money, a UX designer is one of the top jobs in the world.
6 Great Reasons to Become a UX Designer
There are lots of reasons people might find a UX career rewarding, but here are five you might not have thought of before.
There’s Never Been More to Design
Currently, a lot of UX design involves interfaces for smartphones and tablets, but the field can also include engineering specialized technologies. As more technologies are created to improve the way we work and live, new designers will work with more UX touch points than designers of the past.
For example, a receptionist can be more productive using an appointment arrival system that only requires taps instead of sifting through dialog boxes and forms. A newer, more effective system could reduce incidences of dismissed error messages while increasing efficiency and customer satisfaction, and the UX designer would help make it all happen.
You Can Make Technology More Accessible to the World
As a UX designer, you have the ability to make technology more accessible to everyone. You can achieve this by simplifying advanced technology and bringing it to the forefront of user experience. For example, technology that requires complex human-machine interactions enables users to shop online, pay bills and perform many other essential tasks. Good UX design will create products that ensures technology is accessible to everyone, including the disabled and the elderly.
You Could Help Save Lives
It may not seem like it, but as a UX designer, you could help save lives. Good UX design leads to sophisticated medical devices and improved communication in the clinical environment.
For example the T3 medical imaging system collects high-resolution, clinical data and transfers it to a web app that allows medical professionals to analyze that data. This can reduce the need for human interpretation, which may decrease the chance of human error. Medical practitioners can make better, more informed decisions, and patients would benefit. All of this is achieved with the help of UX design, and is a perfect example of how important your job as a UX designer could be.
There Are Opportunities Galore
It’s no secret that the tech industry is steadily growing. Today, many businesses can’t survive without building a digital presence. Businesses are recognizing that websites and mobile applications with intuitive, functional user experience is tantamount to customer satisfaction, acquisition, retainment, and brand recognition and growth.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a tech genius and learn all of the coding languages to take advantage of this soaring demand. Many people don’t need a technical background to become a UX designer, but instead can find careers with good training from the right training program.
You Can Help Shape the Future
Much of technology is designed around processes and devices created for the general population through the use of practical implications and user-friendly functions. So, technology is constantly evolving to suit user trends, wants and needs. Consumer-friendly devices or gadgets, such as wearable fitness trackers, VR goggles and more are being developed and put on the market every day.
All devices have a distinct purpose depending on the user, which means, depending on who they are, users will expect a different experience and have different goals and needs when interacting with the same device. This is where UX design comes in. As a UX designer, you’ll be able to research and experiment with this technology to determine what device models offer the best user experience and are flexible enough to be useful to many types of users. You’ll also be able to use your research to help companies create products with innovative design and technology.
In summary, UX careers can sometimes come with:
- A competitive market
- Remote employment opportunities and location independence
- Ample opportunities for growth and experience as the tech community continues to grow
- Placement on the cutting edge of ever-expanding web design and mobile app development and design
- Flexible work schedule
UX design can be a rewarding career with expansion for growth and job opportunities across many industries. If it’s something you’re considering, your first step should be a comprehensive education program that’ll set you on the path to user experience success. Check out DevMountain’s upcoming UX Design classes, and see if one fits your needs.
