Role of UX Designer: An Ultimate Guide for You

A design is not just how it looks. It also is about how it feels. The role of a UX designer covers a lot. The design process is not complete without a UX designer. The role of a UX designer varies. For big groups, it’s different. They tend to focus more on growth. Yet, there is confusion in the role of UX designers. It arises because of small firms. For small firms, it primarily covers all design works. Development and user experience are first. The role of a UX designer also spins around the design study process. We will explain all roles of a UX designer. Do you remember what a UX design is? If not, let’s start.

It is a term defining User Experience. It involves all. Product’s all aspects.  Landing pages website, service all. It is any interaction a user has with how the product works or influences the user. It twirls around the question of how the user feels when they interact with a website.

What does a UX designer do?

UX designer takes care of a product or website. They aim for user ease. Giving a good user experience is what their work is. The role of a UX designer involves search as well. It is because they always look for improvements. So, the product can provide the best experience. They do it by making it easy. Faster, sometimes, and by using simple functions. The feeling part is the one for a UX designer to work.  Let’s see their working process.

The process includes: –

• Attain data
• Development
• Designing
• Test
• Improving usability and functions.

Here are the responsibilities of a UX designer.

User Research

The role of a UX designer is diverse. It is what the research tells us. UX designer needs to collect much info. The research is on market trends and user needs. It is the first step of success. The aim is to get a great design. The results help a UX designer. The research process includes many things. The rivals and leaders of the niche. It helps UX designers develop trendy designs. What are the market standards? What opportunities do they have? How can one make a design better? What technical issues do they need to take care of? Also, the research lets designers know. User’s goals, how they behave? What are their motives? What is their top priority or need?

The collection of data is via many sources.

• Observation
• Interviews with users
• Analysis reports
• Surveys
• Focus groups

All data helps in the other steps. For example, a designer can develop the best structure. Also, it helps in reducing errors. Let’s move next.

Design

After the research comes is the design. We have a misconception here. Design only belongs to the User Interface area. It is wrong. Design belongs to UX also. It is for a seamless user experience. Here, the role of a UX designer involves: –

• To solve problems about use and access
• Creating joyful experience
• An output that meets the user’s need

UX designers also create representative personas. They sketch the website design. They do it at the end of the research. The identification of significant user groups is a must. It is a way to select the best pattern. It is for the users they have. After that, they write scenarios. Like how is a day in someone’s life? So, how the website can work in a user’s life. All the steps are a must, whether it is a product or a website. Maybe the redesign process of something.

Information Architecture (IA)

The role of a UX designer involves structure making. In this, a designer has research. More, the personas. Now, it is the time for Information architecture. It is the development of the structure of a site. It can be an app, product, or website. Also, it helps to provide info to users. Where are they? What is their position? For example, a UX designer shows the top menu. They make the users get to the right place. It is the step that helps many aspects, for instance, in the creation of.

• Navigation
• Hierarchies
• Categorizations

Wireframes

Let’s see the other role of a UX designer.  Now is wireframes. They create wireframes. It is after they determine Information Architecture. Wireframes are a low fidelity depiction of a design. It must depict every part. The steps that a user will take for using the website or product.

Wireframes are the main structure of a design. They also serve as a guide. So it is when the development beings. There are some traits each wireframe have.

• Must have the design of every part of the final result.
• One must create wireframes swiftly. UX designers can use simple placeholders. It is for good depiction.
• There must be a simple design of the UI objects.
• One hardly use wireframes for product trial. (It helps UI designers. It is in the process of feedback for design)

Prototypes

Many people use wireframes and prototypes as the same. Yet, they are not. The two are different. They look different. Also, they work differently. Not even both are for the same purpose. They serve many reasons. Not just this. Also, they communicate differently. Wireframes are more like architectural blueprints. More, like a building plan. A prototype is not the same. The role of a UX designer here is of an advanced level. It’s more like a draft form of a product. It is a middle or high depiction of the product. The UX designer delivers.

Prototypes must have these aspects.

Prototypes are to teach one about the product. How one interacts. So, designers keep it away from static images. Instead, they use interactive prototypes. Here, interactive means clickable. The world is progressing. Technology has its changes. The latest tools for prototyping helps you in new ways—for instance, Adobe XD. One can record the prototypes as videos. It helps in making others learn well. The viewers get to know all effectively. It includes the functions of a design.

Prototypes can help in user testing. They must allow a user to test like one is doing on the final product. The user must check the prototype with the final product. The prototype will be different from the product. Yet, it will be very close to the outcome. Also, prototyping helps the designer to share it with others.

Testing

It is the stage of testing the product. UX designer gets to know about the problems. Starts when the user interacts with the product. It is more like test the way one interacts. Moreover, It has many complex test procedures. It happens in many ways. UX designers take in-person user tests. They keep it to observe one’s behaviors. This feedback can provide a better user experience. Here, the role of a UX designer is an empathetic one. UX designers empathise with clients how they feel about the use of the product. Also, it is best due to many reasons. It helps to choose the best version. One makes various versions of products. Then show to the users. This reduces trial and error repeats. Designers sometimes also conduct surveys or questionnaires. Further, designers can easily observe users. It will help them to notice where the problem is.

The feedback by this process is best. It helps in the next phase. The two options are structured, or non-structured are common. Yet, they say. The most usable method that requires natural responses is better.

Representation of Design

The next phase is representation. The role of a UX designer here is of understanding. It is because they get to know the client’s intentions more. It is because he sees the product. After that, he shows his opinion. UX designers not only present their structure to the stakeholders. Also, to the authoritative body. They also give advice or opinion. This comes from their extensive research. A good presentation shows all. How will the product be like? How can it become more interactive? To what extent it will improve the lives of the user? Then the management or users decide the change. If there is to make any. Afterward, the design becomes final. Yet, the design only becomes final when the actual client makes passes it.

Other roles of a UX designer

The role of a UX designer doesn’t end here. They cannot just wind it up and leave. They wait to see even after the delivery. One makes sure by testing it again and again.  There is more. UX designers always search for new trends. Make a design simple, quick, and easy. Not just this, UX designers are a liaison in different teams. They need to know coding languages as well. HTML, CSS, JS, and many more. It is to make the design more user-friendly.

Conclusion

The role of a UX designer is a complex one. It is due to many aspects. They face challenges in every step. Not just once but in all the steps.  Also, because it needs hard work, the thing that counts as a basic need is patience. Upper management suggests some changes. UX designer has to amend it. Sometimes stakeholders change their minds. Hence, the strategy and design changes. Whatever the change, three things remain constant.

• A Good navigation
• Quick response
• Satisfaction of client

A UX design ensures these things. So, for the ones choosing a career in it. You have to develop an ‘always ready to learn’ approach. Other than that, UX designing is a fascinating path. The role of a UX designer is a very dynamic one.  It takes you in many ways and brings new skills. Click here and explore How to Become a Great UI Designer?