What in the world is a "UX designer"? A guide for students

1. What's a UX designer?

　🤔 But first, what's "UX"?
　✨ "UX designer" defined
　🔍 What do UX designers do?
　💡 What products do UX designers work on?
　❓Why do UX designers exist?

2. Careers related to UX design

　📱 UI designer
　🖥️ UX researcher
　📐 Product designer
　🎨 Graphic designer

3. Where can I find internships?

Part 1. What's a UX designer?

🤔 But first, what's "UX"?

UX stands for "User Experience" and it's all about making products easy for people to use. The term usually applies to digital products like apps and websites, but let's use the example of a physical product to better understand it: a flashlight.

Let's say there are two flashlights: a basic one and a well-designed one. The basic flashlight turns on and off, and that’s pretty much it. The well-designed flashlight:

• • Has a textured grip that makes it easy to hold securely, even in rainy weather.
  • Has a switch that's large and glows in the dark, so you can easily turn it on without fumbling. 
  • Is energy-efficient, so you don’t have to change batteries too often. 

In other words, it's not just a tool for seeing in the dark! Every aspect of its use—from how it feels in your hand to how it functions in different situations—has been considered to enhance your overall experience. 

This focus on making everything about the experience better is what good UX aims at. 

✨ "UX designer" defined

As you might guess, a UX designer is someone who designs and enhances the user experience of products and services.

Their job is to make sure that when someone uses a product—whether it's a website, an app, or any other user interface—it's not only functional but also easy, enjoyable, and efficient to use.

🔍 What do UX designers do?

UX designers do two main things:

1. They think about how users would use a digital product.
2. They design that product around users' needs.

Here’s how.

1. Research: UX designers start by understanding the users' needs, behaviors, and motivations through research. This might involve observing users, conducting interviews, or gathering feedback to get a clear picture of what users want and need.

2. Design: Based on their research, they design the product. They create wireframes, prototypes, and designs, focusing on how the product feels and how easy it is for users to achieve their goals.

3. Testing: UX designers test their designs with real users to see what works and what doesn’t (e.g. a user might get stuck somewhere in an app because the design is confusing).

4. Iteration: They use the insights gained from user testing to refine and tweak designs.

5. Implementation: UX designers often work closely with developers and other team members to bring their designs to life, ensuring that the final product remains true to their user-centered vision.

In essence, UX designers think about how everything fits together from the user's perspective, making sure that every touchpoint is thoughtful and coherent.

💡 What products do UX designers work on?

1. Digital products

   • Websites and mobile apps like Tiktok and Instagram.
   • Software applications like Microsoft Word and Canva. 

2. Consumer electronics

   • Smartphones and tablets: UX designers help make sure that the things you do on your devices, like swiping and tapping, feel natural. They also ensure these devices meet the needs of different users. 
   • Wearable technology:  For gadgets like smartwatches and fitness trackers, UX designers work on making sure you can read and use them easily, even though they have such small screens. 

3. Services

   • Banking services: Online banking, mobile apps, and even ATM interfaces are designed with UX in mind.
   • Healthcare services: In healthcare, good UX helps make apps and systems clear and simple, helping you book your doctor visits or check health info without hassle.

4. Physical products

   • Home appliances: Many modern appliances come with screens and buttons that UX designers help make user-friendly.
   • Automobiles: As cars include more digital features, like touchscreens, UX designers are key in making sure these are safe and easy to use while driving.

❓ Why do UX designers exist?

Just as a construction firm could build a house without an architect, it's also possible for developers to create digital products without a UX designer. Why do UX designers exist then? 

1. There's a lot of competition in tech. Back when computer software was new, there weren’t many options available. Developers didn't have to worry too much about making their tools super easy to use because there wasn't another choice around the corner. People had to use whatever was available, even if it was a bit complicated.

2. More people than ever are using tech products. In the early days, software was primarily used by the tech-savvy: enthusiasts and tech professionals. They were okay with tough interfaces because they were used to it. As the average Joe (and his parents and grandparents!) began relying on technology, it became important to make software that everyone could use easily.

3. Good design boosts business. Good UX design isn't just about making users happy—it also serves key business needs. Take a shopping app for instance. If the checkout process is simple and quick, users are more likely to complete their purchases without abandoning their carts. This has a direct impact on the company's bottom line.

So UX design roles tend to exist for software tools that face the general public and in spaces where design really matters for the business.

This is in contrast to, say, internal applications that a company's employees might use – or applications in spaces that aren't very competitive. These tools don't need to look or feel great; they just need to work.

Part 2. Careers related to UX design

📱 UI designer

UI Design, or User Interface Design, involves creating the actual visual layout of a product. This can include everything from choosing colors and typefaces to determining how a website or an app's buttons and switches look. It’s essentially about making the interface visually appealing and intuitive for users. 

Some companies have separate UX and UI designers. In this case, both the UX and UI designers would make wireframes, which are like "drafts" of what the final product would look like. However, the UX designer would make a "low-fidelity wireframe" (this can be as simple as a sketch on paper) and then hand it off to the UI designer, who would then flesh out the design and make, say, a high-fidelity wireframe, with colors and branding applied and all.

– Former UI/UX designer @ AT&T and WebMD

🖥️ UX researcher

A UX researcher plays a specialized role focused solely on understanding the behaviors and needs of users. They conduct studies, perform tests, and gather data to build user personas and inform the design process. UX researchers do not typically design wireframes; instead, they provide the critical data that informs design decisions.

📐Product designer

Product design is a broader term that encompasses both UI and UX design but also includes the strategy and overall vision for a product. Product designers are involved in everything from the initial research to the final design implementation. They focus on understanding user needs, crafting the entire product experience, and ensuring that the product effectively meets its intended functions and business goals.

🎨 Graphic designer

Unlike product designers, graphic designers tend to sit in marketing, branding, or advertising teams. They might design logos or advertisements for websites and social media.

I've worked at agencies where some clients may not have any type of brand representation (no logos, social media, flyers). So the agency will also have a graphic designer or art director to establish the client's brand.

I've also done that myself in my own agency. I can build out their logo and their brand colors and once we have that all good to go, then I can start applying branding to the product that I build out for them.

– Former UI/UX designer @ AT&T and WebMD

Part 3. Where can I find internships?

You can find plenty of internships on Prosple. We have a vast selection of internships curated for students like you. Just filter 'til you find the right fit!