UX (or User Experience) Designers create easy, efficient, relevant, pleasant experiences for the end-user. UX Design can be applied to any product or service, from websites to vegetable peelers, or even a visit to the local supermarket.
If you’re practical but creative, have great all-round communication skills and are looking for a job which is fast paced, full of variety, and requires lots of human interaction, then a career in UX Design could be really rewarding.
About you:
- Empathetic, curious and an excellent communicator
- A critical thinker with a flair for visual design and great analytical skills
- Collaborates well and has good writing skills with at least a basic understanding of coding
The job:
- Meet with clients to gain an understanding of their product or service
- Conduct market and user research
- Design and develop prototypes/drafts/mock-ups based on user needs
- Collaborate with Designers and Developers to polish the product ensuring the best experience for end-users
- Present the final solution to the client and help with its delivery
Lifestyle impact: Low
- Part Time opportunities: Moderate – around 30% of UX Designers work part-time (source: labourmarketinsights.gov.au).
- Average hours for full-time workers: 43 hours a week, which is average (source: labourmarketinsights.gov.au).
- UX Designers’ salary (median) $75,000* per year (source: ato.gov.au). *Salaries vary depending on your skills and experience.
- Future career growth: Very strong (source: labourmarketinsights.gov.au).
- You will be most of your work indoors, and working with computers and other technology.
- Most of your work will usually be done during regular business hours.
UX Designers are most in demand in these locations:
Demand for UX Designers is highest in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. Most work in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry.
How to become a UX Designer in Australia
There are no formal qualification requirements to become a UX Designer in Australia, and there are many pathways into this career. However, obtaining a degree in a related field could jump-start your career and make you eligible to apply for more senior positions, faster.
Step 1 – Study English, Maths and IT at high school. Creative subjects could also be beneficial.
Step 2 – Do some reading about UX Design and work out which of the many career options in UX Design would best suit you.
Step 3 – Develop your eye for design (not just the visual but how processes work and connect) and gain more understanding of human psychology. A good way to make this happen and boost your CV is to get some related work experience.
Step 4 – Check out short courses and degrees in UX, coding or visual design.
- User Design Experience at RMIT
- Coding Bootcamp at the University of Adelaide
- User Interface and Experience Design with Open Universities
- Diploma of Graphic Design
- Bachelor of UX and Web Design at Torrens
Step 5 – Create your portfolio (include any mock design projects, blogs, websites, etc., that showcase your work and skills), and keep it updated. Stay up to date with new trends, user expectations, software, and don’t forget to network.
Step 6 – Consider further qualifications to upskill and keep you competitive, e.g. Graduate Certificate of UX and Web Design.
Find out more here –
Similar Careers to UX Designer
UI (User Interface) Designer
Digital Project Manager
Instructional Designer
Product Designer
Find out more about alternative careers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between UX and UI?
They are both elements of the consumer experience. User Interface (UI) Design is all about creating an appealing look or layout – you’ll need to understand coding and visual design concepts like colour schemes, fonts, etc. Whereas User Experience (UX) focuses on functionality, how the end users will interact with the product or service, how to streamline them to make it easy to use but get a specific job done. The main goal is to provide a good or pleasant experience for the end-user.
Do I need to learn programming to become a UX Designer?
Not necessarily, but knowledge of HTML, CSS, and coding will help you do better in your job and could be advantageous when applying for jobs.
Where do UX Designers work?
UX Designers can work anywhere; in offices, Design firms, with companies who design and produce products and or services of any description, financial organisations including banks, large accounting firms, government departments, museums, or even freelance.
Do I need to go to university to become a UX Designer?
Not necessarily. Portfolios and work experience probably count more when you’re applying for jobs, but relevant qualifications could also work in your favour and help you to get interviews more easily.
