The Morning
The morning often starts in Figma — the design tool that most teams have standardised on. A designer might be refining a component library, iterating on a user flow, or preparing screens for a design review with the product team. User research days start differently: reviewing interview scripts, analysing survey data, or planning a usability test session.
Core Daily Tasks
- Designing user interfaces in Figma
- Conducting user research (interviews, surveys, usability tests)
- Creating wireframes, prototypes, and user flows
- Building and maintaining design systems
- Collaborating with developers on implementation
- Running usability testing sessions
- Presenting design decisions to stakeholders
The Afternoon
Afternoons are collaborative. Design reviews with other designers provide feedback on work-in-progress. Meetings with developers ensure that designs are technically feasible and properly implemented. Usability testing sessions — watching real users interact with a prototype — provide the insights that drive design improvements. The best designers are comfortable having their work critiqued and iterating based on evidence rather than personal preference.
“We redesigned the checkout flow for an e-commerce client. Conversion rate increased by 23%. That's the power of UX — small design changes that have massive business impact.”
— UX Designer, Digital Agency, Brighton
Skills You Need
The Real Challenges
Designers often face tension between user needs and business goals. The 'best' design for the user might not align with revenue targets or technical constraints. Navigating these trade-offs requires diplomacy and the ability to advocate for users with data, not just opinion. There's also the challenge of designing for accessibility — ensuring products work for everyone, including users with disabilities, which requires technical knowledge beyond visual design.
Is This Role for You?
This role suits empathetic, visual thinkers who enjoy solving problems for other people. You don't need to be an artist — UX design is about structure, logic, and user behaviour more than aesthetics. Many successful designers come from teaching, psychology, or customer-facing roles where understanding people was central to their work.
Career Progression
Junior UX Designer → UX/UI Designer → Senior Designer → Lead Designer → Head of Design / Design Director. Specialisations include UX research, interaction design, design systems, and accessibility.
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