According to Glassdoor, being a UX Designer is one of the 50 Best Jobs in America in 2022 based on satisfaction, job openings and earning potential.

 

These statistics have caused many now UX Designers to pivot careers from a completely different industry. With so many roads and different journey’s to becoming a UX Designer, simple skills are often overlooked or not learned.  

While more often than not, skills are transferable across industries, it’s important to understand how to then make those skills industry-specific. Find out what are some of the most essential skills all UX Designers, especially those new to the field, should have! 

 

Applied (Hard) Skills 

 

1.User Research

Methodical and thorough research by UX designers can help them provide their clients with their designs with better insights. UX designers who conduct research can assist in creating distinct user personas for well-informed, data-driven designs. Data management, collection, and organization are made easier with the aid of tools like Dscout.

 

2. Wireframing

Interface screens are laid out in a wireframe, with the fundamental objective being to demonstrate how something functions. Components that must be present from page to page are defined by wireframing. It’s often created in grayscale and contains all the interface elements required for all potential interactions.

3. Decision Mapping

Decision mapping offers a high-level theoretical perspective of how to approach and resolve challenges, much like design thinking. However, decision mapping is specifically linked to solving research-related issues, clarifying the purpose of research, and integrating research results with strategic decision-making.

Typically, decision mapping starts with a straightforward query like:

• Should this product be developed?
• Can we get rid of this functionality without having any bad effects?
• What navigation layout for the product website is the best?

4. UX Writing

The language you use in your designs can significantly affect how your users engage with the product. Customers’ ability to navigate the interface and likelihood to continue using it will depend on how designers choose to word error warnings, app instructions, onboarding pages, calls to action, and captions.

 

5. User testing

One of the most important UX designer skills to have is the ability to get accurate information from your users when they interact with your product. Developing a useful product requires learning how to test for and identify user needs. Making sure your finished product is exactly what your users want can be accomplished by observing how people engage with your designs, noting what they like or dislike or where they get stuck.

Qualitative techniques collect information and anecdotes about how customers utilize a product. These methods pinpoint the locations of difficulties and the causes of user problems.

Quantitative testing: Using a variety of UX metrics, quantitative approaches gather data to evaluate a product’s user experience. This information assesses the breadth and depth of a product’s effects on consumers.

Synthesis and analysis requires designers to recognize trends in data and analyze findings so that they can guide further development of a feature or product.

 

Interpersonal (Soft) Skills 

 

6. Communication

In UX, communication is crucial. Designers must communicate product concepts, justify the reasoning behind their work, and collaborate with other teams. Additionally, storytelling aspects are needed for their work. Design professionals may easily build, cooperate, adapt, and improve systems and products with the use of effective communication abilities.

 

7. Flexibility

Designers solicit and incorporate feedback from their whole team, frequently including non-UX professionals, in order to bring a product to life. The iterative nature of the design process necessitates frequent pivots and adjustments from designers.

8. Collaborative mindset

As a member of a team that also includes developers and content strategists, UX designers must be able to work collaboratively, offer and accept criticism, and successfully communicate with clients.

 

9. Analytical skills

UX designers may add more value to users and their internal teams by exercising critical thinking and learning about the behaviors, motivations, and needs of particular users.

 

10. Empathy

To become a great UX designer, you must be able to put yourself in your users’ shoes. Finding a solution for other people’s problems can be easier if you have empathy for and a knowledge of their frustrations—a key duty for every UX designer. Finding meaningful and practical answers to the current issue can be done by carefully listening to user feedback.

Go to https://fbuxconsulting.com/services/ to find out more about our service offerings and how we can help you become a better UX Designer!