Opportunities to further your career within the UI & UX Design industry
UI and UX Designers will be highly sought after in the future. A recent Adobe study revealed 87% of UX Design Managers think hiring more Designers is a top priority within their organisation. Major tech companies, including the likes of IBM and Atlassian, have almost doubled their design hiring goals within the last five years.
App and web development has become crucial to a company’s success, particularly for established brands that are adapting their services to appeal to a digital audience. Being able to offer a clear, smart, user-friendly design will become paramount to getting ahead of the competition. Furthermore, the unprecedented success of app-based businesses like Uber, Deliveroo and Airbnb suggests more start-ups will follow a similar business model, which relies on intelligent interface design.
Recent Changes
The difference between UI and UX roles has become more pronounced in recent years. Employers are beginning to understand that user experience and user interface are two different concepts. Yes, the UI and UX of a product are intrinsically connected, but they are two separate and equally important roles that should be filled by a professional with expertise in that particular area.
Future Prospects
UI and UX Designers have a relatively stable career path. You usually start out as a junior and then gain experience as you progress through the ranks to Head of User Experience or User Interface. With such a large pool of creatives specialising in UI and UX, it is imperative that you continue to learn and engage with new technologies in order to maintain your relevance within the market.
Employers’ Requirements
Employers are looking for driven Designers with passion for building products and delivering services through informed design. Confidence to lead the visual and UX process for a product is also essential. You should be someone who can see and deliver UI and UX strategies, and know how to create innovative solutions. In addition, it is beneficial if you are a hands-on Designer with a solid grasp of the latest user experience techniques.
CV Requirements
You will need to have an impressive portfolio of product and service design case studies. Your portfolio should demonstrate good skills across user-centred design and cutting edge techniques, and should be submitted together with your application.
Interview Preparation
Interviewers are likely to ask you questions about past projects you have been involved in. They might ask for your opinion on what constitutes a good user experience or user interface design. They will also want to know which kind of questions and thought processes you need in order to achieve a good design.
Be prepared to walk through your portfolio and give a quick presentation of your work. The interviewer will want to understand the role you played on each project, as well as the challenges you faced, and the approaches and methods used to amend any issues.
Educational Requirements
A degree in a Creative or programming field is desirable but UI & UX Designers can come from a variety of backgrounds. Many have chosen to retrain from a previous career path. However, with demand for UI and UX becoming greater, degrees in relevant fields or specialist degrees may become standard entry requirements.
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