Market update: How much do UX designers earn in Australia in 2022?

What skills are needed for UX Design?

In addition to being proficient with industry software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign and having experience with HTML, CSS and Javascript, a combination of what are referred to as ‘applied’ and ‘soft’ skills are paramount to being an in-demand UX designer.

While there are a wide range of both applied and soft skills, we’ve rounded up the top three in each category as a starting point. 

Soft skills needed in UX Design

• Communication

You will be working with a wide range of stakeholders on any given project and the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently is vital. It’s also important to note that you will need to be able to share your ideas, findings and approaches in an easily understandable way. Remember, the audience you are presenting to or meeting with will not necessarily be technically minded.

• Curiosity

Being forever curious will take you a long way in this industry and enable you to engage meaningfully with all aspects of the role and the people you will work with. As the industry is constantly changing, curiosity will help you to stay open to these changes and continue to learn and grow as a designer. Curious thinking also leads to insight and can support active listening – all amazing attributes for a UX Designer.

• Collaboration 

UX Designers are continually weaving the ideas and findings of various teams together – from IT developers to client feedback and research outcomes. This process is ongoing and requires high levels of collaboration. 

Tech skills needed in UX Design

• Wireframing

Wireframes provide a visual template of how a screen will be laid out and help others to see and understand how an app or site will work. They include all of the various elements on each part of the project and show the interactions users will have at each stage of their journey using the interface. While not a final visual design, the wireframe is a literal framework, showing all of the components in grayscale. Knowing how to create and work with wireframes is a must-have skill for your UX toolkit.

• Visual communication

Many UX Designers also have a graphic design background (although not mandatory, it can be helpful). As a UX Designer you will be working with visual elements, so it’s very important that you have a comprehensive understanding and applied knowledge of visual communication concepts, including colour scheme, typography, icons, images and general design layout.

• Prototyping

A prototype is a ‘draft’ version of the product and gives the UX Designer the opportunity to run tests to see if the product is functioning optimally. Knowing how to create prototypes will enable you to test, tweak, re-test and so on, until your product function is aligning with the needs and objectives of the client and their user goals. Prototypes will often be tested with user groups to identify any glitches and further improve the product. Being able to create prototypes quickly is a fundamental skill in your role as a UX Designer.