Billy Seabrook, Global Chief Design Officer at IBM iX, emphasizes the role of UX generalists as the advocates for customers and society. UX designers craft the appearance, feel, and functionality of web pages and apps, combining human psychology with research and creativity.
For those interested in pursuing a successful career in UX design, Fortune provides an essential guide.
3 Key Technical Skills for UX Designers
Technical skills, or hard skills, involve practical knowledge that must be learned or taught. The primary hard skills for UX designers include research, data analysis, and product development. IBM refers to this process as a loop or infinity sign.
According to IBM, “The Loop” for UX designers involves observing user interactions with your idea or solution, identifying insights from those observations, and then creating a prototype. This cycle repeats as the designer refines the product based on user feedback to ultimately meet their needs and provide an excellent experience.
1. Research and Observation
UX design focuses on creating digital products that cater to the end user's needs, with research being critical to achieving this goal.
Billy Seabrook highlights research as the first step in UX design, making it a crucial skill for designers. Usability.gov suggests methods like focus groups and first-click testing, depending on the product, timeline, and environment.
Effective UX designers are proficient in both quantitative (numerical data) and qualitative studies (subjective user insights). They conduct surveys, interviews, and user observations to uncover unmet needs.
Nadita Gupta, an Accessibility Product Designer at Microsoft, warns, “If we don’t ask the people who are eventually going to use our product what they want, we’ll build something nobody will use.” She advises beginners to start with heuristic evaluation or auditing, analyzing what works and what doesn't, while ensuring they design for real end-users, not themselves.
2. Data Analysis and Reflection
The second essential skill is data analysis and reflection on research. This involves identifying user pain points from interviews or testing.
Seabrook describes this as “finding the forest through the trees,” which means synthesizing raw data into actionable insights to better address user desires.
Tools that assist in this process include:
- Google Analytics: Provides quantitative data on site performance, helping identify potential issues.
- Hotjar: Collects qualitative data on user experience with features like session recordings and heatmaps.
- Optimizely: Known for A/B testing and behavioral analytics to test site variations and measure their impact.
- Adobe Analytics: Offers predictive insights and detailed analysis to enhance user experiences.
To enhance data analysis skills, Fortune has compiled a list of data analytics certifications from top tech firms and universities.
3. Integrating Research and Analysis into Product Development
Once research and analysis are complete, the next step is creating the product. Key skills include:
- Information Architecture (IA) and Sitemaps: UX designers organize information to ensure users can easily find what they need. Understanding user needs and preferences helps create intuitive IA, akin to constructing a house's foundation before decorating it.
Tools for organizing content include DYNO Mapper, PowerMapper, and Microsoft Visio.
- Prototyping and Wireframing: The visual design process is crucial, extending beyond aesthetics to enhance usability and brand perception. Tools like Figma, Origami Studio, InVision, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe XD are essential for this stage.
Gupta advises considering accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in design, ensuring digital experiences are accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
3 Essential Soft Skills for UX Designers
A Wiley Workplace Intelligence report indicates that soft skills training is highly valued and significantly impacts performance. Here are three crucial soft skills for UX designers:
1. Authenticity and Craftsmanship
Companies like Uber and Spotify demonstrate the importance of authenticity and craftsmanship. Authenticity sets work apart, and a true craftsman creates products with passion, pride, and care, constantly improving their craft.
Seabrook explains that proving authenticity involves transparency about the data methods used. As UX design evolves, human touch and craftsmanship may gain more value over AI-generated content.
2. Empathy and Ethics
Empathy is essential in UX design, bridging the gap between users and stakeholders. Designers must humanely create products that appeal to both. Seabrook emphasizes the importance of empathy and ethics, particularly with the rise of AI, and the need to balance speed with humanity in design.
3. Design Eye
A keen eye for design is crucial for UX designers. It involves quickly spotting mistakes and understanding composition, balance, and aesthetics. While some skills can be learned through education, raw talent plays a significant role in recognizing what “good” looks like.
Gaining UX Designer Skills
UX design skills can be acquired through formal education, online resources, and hands-on experience. Fortune lists online bootcamps that offer practical experience and job preparation. Additionally, free resources from online creators can provide valuable learning opportunities.
The Takeaway
Success in UX design requires a blend of hard and soft skills, from conducting research and building products to incorporating authenticity and empathy. No single skill is paramount; choose skills that align with your interests and career goals. Gupta advises starting small and letting curiosity guide your learning journey.
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