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User Experience Designer

Kaihoahoa Wheako Whakamahi

User experience (UX) designers design how products such as websites and apps look and work, based on users' needs.

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Secondary education

A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter further training. Useful subjects include design and visual communication, and digital technologies.

For Year 11 to 13 students, the Gateway programme is a good way to gain industry experience.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Diploma
  • Bachelor's degree
  • Certificate

Useful experience

Useful experience for user experience designers includes:

  • previous experience with websites, such as volunteer work in graphic or web design
  • software development
  • user or market research
  • client or project management.

What you will do

User experience designers may do some or all of the following:

  • research website and software application (app) design and technology trends
  • meet with clients to work out the requirements of their website or app and talk over ideas
  • meet users to understand their needs
  • work out website or app layouts and how the user will find their way around them
  • develop basic designs using wireframes (drawings of layouts) and prototypes (original models used to develop later versions) 
  • decide on the type, placement and content of graphics and multimedia features
  • test designs with users
  • liaise with writers, developers and other staff to help create websites or apps.

Skills and knowledge

User experience designers need to have:

  • web and app design and graphics skills
  • knowledge of user experience methods such as user research and creating wireframes and prototypes 
  • ability to develop websites and apps
  • knowledge of the principles of user-friendly design
  • understanding of how people interact with computers and mobile devices
  • understanding of common software development and project management practices.
Pay

User experience designers usually earn

$100K-$175K

per year

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as a user experience designer are good due to increasing demand for their services.
Length of training
1-3
years of training usually required.

Industry

Information Technology

User experience (UX) designers design how products such as websites and apps look and work, based on users' needs.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

There are no specific requirements to become a user experience designer. However, you usually need a certificate, diploma or degree in one of the following:

  • web/interaction design
  • graphic or media design
  • a computer-related area such as computer science.

You also usually need one or both of the following:

  • a portfolio of your design work
  • examples of projects you have worked on.

Chances of getting a job

User experience designers in demand

Skilled user experience designers are in demand due to:

  • increasing numbers of organisations shifting services and systems online
  • growing awareness of the need for user-friendly websites and apps
  • existing websites which need redesign so people can easily access them on mobile devices such as phones and tablets.

Shortage of experienced user experience designers

There are not enough experienced user experience designers to meet demand. Nearly two thirds of IT employers report skills shortages, and there aren't enough information technology (IT) trainees.

According to the Census, 1,356 user experience designers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Many user experience designers are employed by:

  • firms specialising in websites and apps
  • government departments
  • large retailers, banks, or service organisations.

Other user experience designers are self-employed.

Find out more about training

Engineering New Zealand
(04) 473 9444 - hello@engineeringnz.org - www.engineeringnz.org
IT Professionals
0800 252 255 - info@itp.org.nz - www.itp.org.nz
NZTech
(09) 475 0204 - info@nztech.org.nz - www.nztech.org.nz

Progression and specialisations

User experience designers may progress to set up their own user experience design business, or move into management roles.

Working conditions

User experience designers:

  • usually work regular business hours, but may work longer hours to meet deadlines, especially if they are self-employed
  • work from home, in an office, or anywhere a computer can be set up
  • often travel locally, nationally and internationally to meet clients, developers, project managers and systems specialists.

Physical Requirements

User experience designers need to know how to use computer equipment properly to avoid occupational overuse syndrome (OOS).

Useful personal qualities

User experience designers need to be:

  • imaginative and creative, with an eye for design
  • good at communicating ideas
  • able to accept criticism
  • able to work well under pressure and unsupervised
  • skilled at relationship and project management
  • skilled at problem solving.

Related Wintec courses

Industry

Information Technology

User experience (UX) designers design how products such as websites and apps look and work, based on users' needs.

Similar jobs in this industry

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