UX/UI Design

User experience, user interface, interaction design

User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) are related but separate design disciplines that consider the ways the end user may or may not interact with the product being developed. Both of these roles are actively hired by product companies, agencies, consultancies and in-house teams, and this reflects how central design has become in the development of digital products.

UX design focuses on the user’s needs, and how they will navigate through a digital product. It considers what they’re looking for, what friction they might encounter while trying to complete their interaction, and what might prevent them from completing it. Strong candidates in UX can show experience with research synthesis, wireframing and iterative prototyping. They should be able to show how they work with product and engineering teams to bring work through to delivery.

UI design is more allied with design in the traditional sense, sitting closer to the visual and interactive layer. It means UI designers need a good eye for elements such as layout, typography, colour and motion. Almost all job descriptions will require UI designers to have proficiency with Figma, while experience with design systems and component libraries is a common requirement at mid-level and above. Organisations are seeking designers who can make a difference to scalable, consistent product experiences.

Although they are distinct disciplines, in practice many roles will involve some degree of both UX and UI. Being able to show a strong portfolio which demonstrates being able to carry out user research through to high-fidelity output is a real asset in the jobs market.

At a senior level, these roles increasingly require stakeholder management, mentoring and thinking about design and its function in the organisation as a whole.