3 UX Career trends every Web Designer should know
Tags: Design Thinking, Designer, UX, Careers, User Experience

Designing high-quality user experiences will be as important as ever in 2020. Here are three top trends that every web designer needs to keep in mind for future projects.

UX Job Titles Are Getting Stranger

As the field of user experience grows, more and more companies are figuring out what UX means for them and their product or service offerings. That’s translated into increasingly complicated and simultaneously vague job titles that have something to do with UX.

UX as a field intersects the creation of functionality, design (i.e., the “look and feel”), and business analysis. These fields overlap in different ways and result in a variety of deliverables (such as a prototype, a visual design, or a business case). Each makes up an important aspect of UX as a whole.

The most commonly used name is “UX Designer.” However, UX design only covers a small aspect of what a full UX process might involve.

UX design figures out how the visible shell of a solution interacts with the hidden system inside. It differs from visual design in that visual design uses graphic design principles to make sure that that shell appeals to users. If you see a posting calling for a “Visual Designer,” a “UI Artist,” or a combination of the two, that company has visual design-heavy needs.

Some job positions want a UX expert to dive into the hidden system itself and create more functionality. These code-heavy positions tend to use words such as “Developer” or “Engineer.” Companies looking for someone to design a solution and then bring it to life may also ask for a “Product Designer.”

It’s Not All About Design

While large companies can afford to have more specialized employees and departments, a UX expert at a small agency will have to wear many hats. The core three skills that comprise UX — functionality, visual design, and business analysis — won’t be enough to cover every area. To be a successful UX designer, consider developing the following skills into your toolkit.

Content Writing: Like UX designers, content writers seek to organize content to maximize its intended impact. Before even writing a piece, a content marketer looks at who the intended audience is and what the desired effect is — a form of user research and business analysis.

Like UX designers, content writers seek to organize content to maximize its intended impact. Before even writing a piece, a content marketer looks at who the intended audience is and what the desired effect is — a form of user research and business analysis. Marketing: Digital marketers and UX experts can learn a lot from each other about how to attract and engage users. Marketing relies on both research and creativity, taking data analysis and business needs into account to generate fresh ideas. The business side of marketing helps inform UX experts on how to turn a great design into effective conversions.

Digital marketers and UX experts can learn a lot from each other about how to attract and engage users. Marketing relies on both research and creativity, taking data analysis and business needs into account to generate fresh ideas. The business side of marketing helps inform UX experts on how to turn a great design into effective conversions. Communication: Collecting user insights, gathering requirements, coordinating with team members, documenting your work, seeking feedback over multiple rounds — every important stage of UX requires communication.

New Markets in Asia Are Growing

India and China are experiencing headline-grabbing growth in population and spending power every year. Their emergence as powerhouses in tech comes as no surprise and nor should their growing demand for UX research and solutions.

Conclusions

The UX landscape may look quite different in 2020, but the principles remain the same. Working with an agency that specializes in UX/UI design will help companies stay on top of those trends without having to invest in those resources in-house.

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