UX (user experience) design involves a range of roles that focus on creating useful, usable, and delightful digital experiences. The main roles in UX design include:

• UX Designers shape the overall user experience by researching user needs and crafting intuitive interfaces. They create wireframes and prototypes, ensuring smooth and logical user interactions. They also organize content and navigation so users can find what they need easily.

• UI Designers focus on the look and feel, choosing colors, typography, and visual layout.

• UX Researchers gather data about user behaviors and needs through interviews, surveys, and usability tests.

• UX Writers craft microcopy and interface text that guides and supports users.

• Product Designers often blend UX, UI, and strategy to align user needs with business goals.

These roles frequently overlap in practice, especially in small teams or small organizations. Each plays a vital part in shaping engaging, user-centered digital products.

Watch this revealing video about important points to bear in mind when deciding on which UX role to go for:

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Interaction designers fit into UX teams by focusing on the behavior of digital products—how users move through a system and how interfaces respond. They ensure interactions are intuitive, efficient, and aligned with user goals. While UX designers often handle a broader scope (including user research and overall experience), interaction designers dive deep into the details of usability and flow.

In many UX teams, especially smaller or cross-functional ones, a UX designer may perform interaction design tasks. In larger teams, interaction designers often work alongside visual designers, UX researchers, and developers, turning insights and wireframes into interactive prototypes or behavior specs.

Their role bridges design and development: they help translate user needs and design intentions into interactions that feel natural. Interaction designers improve how users engage with digital products, often shaping whether those experiences feel seamless or frustrating.

Watch to learn some important points about what an interaction designer does:

Take the Build a Standout UX/UI Portfolio: Land Your Dream Job course with Morgane Peng: Designer, speaker, mentor, and writer who serves as Director and Head of Design at Societe Generale CIB.

Yes; switching from graphic design to UX design is not only possible—it’s common, too. Graphic designers already have a solid foundation in visual communication, layout, and branding, all of which carry over directly into UI and UX work. What you'll need to add are skills in user research, interaction design, usability principles, and prototyping.

Many graphic designers start by learning UX fundamentals through courses or hands-on projects. They often pivot into UI design roles first and then expand into broader UX responsibilities. Your eye for detail, creative problem-solving, and ability to design visually appealing interfaces already give you a head start.

To ease the transition, build a UX-focused portfolio with case studies that highlight your design thinking, not just aesthetics. Focus on user flows, problem statements, and testing outcomes.

Explore more insights in our piece about this subject: How to Change Your Career from Graphic Design to UX Design.

Explore the rich tapestry of elements that make up UX design in this video:

Yes; there is a difference between a service designer and a UX designer—but they often collaborate and their work overlaps.

A UX designer typically focuses on digital experiences: how users interact with a website, app, or system. They optimize usability, flow, and interaction within that digital context.

A service designer, on the other hand, maps and improves the entire service journey—across digital and physical touchpoints. This could include call centers, in-store experiences, logistics, and backend operations. Service designers look at the full ecosystem, not just the screen.

The key difference lies in scope. UX design usually focuses on digital product interactions. Service design zooms out to orchestrate how all components—tech, people, spaces, and policies—work together to deliver a seamless service.

In practice, many UX designers apply service design principles, especially in complex or omnichannel environments. After all, “users” and “experience” feature as vital focal points in both UX design and service design.

Watch as CEO of Experience Dynamics, Frank Spillers discusses service design:

Enjoy our Master Class Going from UX to Service Design with Frank Spillers.

No; you don’t need a degree to work in a UX role. Most UX hiring managers focus more on your portfolio, skills, and thinking than on formal education. Many successful UX professionals come from non-traditional backgrounds—graphic design, psychology, coding, writing, even architecture.

What matters most is that you understand user-centered design principles, can conduct or interpret research, and know how to design and test usable interfaces. You’ll also need to communicate design decisions clearly and collaborate well with developers and stakeholders.

You can build these skills through online UX courses, bootcamps, or self-study—and then apply them in personal projects, freelance work, or internships. A strong, well-documented portfolio often carries more weight than a degree, especially if it shows your process and problem-solving.

Explore the journey from one trade to UX design in our piece How to Change Your Career from Marketing to UX Design.

Follow another journey into UX design in our piece, I’m a business manager. How do I become a UX designer? for valuable insights.

UX roles collaborate closely with developers and product managers to ensure products are both user-friendly and feasible to build. UX designers bring user insights and prototypes to the table. Product managers define business goals and priorities. Developers evaluate what’s technically possible and help bring designs to life.

Together, they form a cross-functional team that balances usability, business needs, and engineering constraints. UX designers often join product discovery early, shaping feature ideas based on user research. Throughout development, they refine designs with developer input and test usability. Testing is essential from early prototypes to final design solutions.

Effective collaboration hinges on clear communication. UX designers must explain design decisions with user evidence, while adapting to tech realities. Shared tools like design systems, user stories, and agile rituals (like sprint planning and retros) keep everyone aligned.

Yes; UX is a strong, future-resilient career. Demand for UX professionals remains high because businesses now understand that thoughtful design drives user satisfaction, loyalty, and growth. UX roles consistently rank well for job satisfaction, pay, and career opportunities.

However, with AI reshaping how professionals work, the nature of UX work will evolve. AI may handle routine tasks like layout generation, A/B test analysis, or user data clustering. What it won’t replace is the human side—empathy, storytelling, ethics, and strategic thinking. UX designers who focus on those skills will stay essential.

As technology grows more complex, companies need designers who can make it feel seamless and human. That is why UX careers span every industry, from fintech and health tech to education and government. UX also offers room to grow into roles in leadership, research, content, or service design.

Explore the journey from one trade to UX design in our piece I’m a business manager. How do I become a UX designer? for valuable insights.

Discover more insights in another journey into UX design in our piece How to Change Your Career from Marketing to UX Design.

A UX strategist defines the long-term user experience vision and aligns it with business goals. While UX designers focus on the “how”—creating screens, flows, and interactions—UX strategists focus on the “why” behind product decisions. They connect user needs, brand values, and market trends to guide design efforts at a strategic level.

Their work involves user research, competitive analysis, stakeholder interviews, and aligning cross-functional teams around a shared UX roadmap. They help prioritize features that add value, shape KPIs for user experience, and influence the overall product direction.

In short, UX strategists ensure the product delivers real value, not just a polished interface. Their role is critical in large-scale projects, design transformations, or early-stage startups looking to build the right thing from the start.

Explore more insights in our piece What Does a UX Strategist Do?

Watch CEO of Experience Dynamics, Frank Spillers discuss UX strategy:

To become a UX lead or UX manager, you need more than design skills; you need leadership, strategy, and collaboration skills. Strong UX leads excel in communication, stakeholder management, and guiding design teams. They set the vision, mentor designers, and ensure projects align with both user needs and business goals.

Key skills include:

• UX design expertise: Wireframing, prototyping, usability, and research must be second nature.

• Team leadership: Delegating, giving feedback, and nurturing talent are core to the role.

• Strategic thinking: You must align UX outcomes with product strategy and KPIs.

• Cross-functional collaboration: You’ll bridge product, dev, and business teams.

• Communication: Leading design critiques and presenting to execs requires confidence and clarity.

Most UX leads evolve into the role after years of hands-on design work and by consistently driving impact at a team level.

Discover a wealth of valuable insights in UX Management: Strategy and Tactics, and watch as Frank Spillers explains key points about the course:

In a UX team, UX researchers or UX designers typically lead user testing, depending on the team’s size and structure. In larger teams, UX researchers plan and run usability tests—choosing methods, recruiting users, and analyzing results. In smaller teams, UX designers often take the lead, using lightweight tools like moderated interviews or remote testing platforms.

Still, everyone shares a stake in user testing, and effective user testing is non-negotiable. Product managers help define what needs validating. Developers join sessions to observe pain points. Stakeholders use findings to guide decisions. It’s a collaborative effort with UX roles driving the process.

Effective teams don’t treat user testing as a phase; they embed it throughout the design cycle. This helps them catch issues early, validate ideas quickly, and build products users enjoy using.

Take our course Conducting Usability Testing.

Discover important insights in our piece 4 Common Pitfalls in Usability Testing and How to Avoid Them to Get More Honest Feedback.

Lebson, C. (2021). The UX Careers Handbook (2nd ed.). CRC Press.

The UX Careers Handbook by Cory Lebson serves as a comprehensive guide for individuals pursuing or advancing a career in user experience (UX). The second edition updates the original content with insights into critical soft skills, expanded discussions on UX leadership, and introduces a 17th UX career pathway. Lebson offers practical advice on personal branding, networking, resume and portfolio development, and strategies for securing UX positions. The book includes real-world stories from industry professionals, activities, and worksheets to aid career planning. It's an essential resource for students, career changers, hiring managers, and recruiters aiming to understand and navigate the diverse landscape of UX professions.

Buley, L. (2023). The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide (2nd ed.). Rosenfeld Media.

Leah Buley’s The User Experience Team of One is an essential resource for UX professionals working solo or in small teams. The second edition expands on the original’s practical tools and methodologies for conducting user research, ideation, and design without extensive resources. Buley emphasizes lean and adaptable processes, making UX work feasible even in organizations with limited support. The book offers step-by-step guidance on integrating UX into product development, advocating for user needs, and driving UX maturity. Its relevance has only grown as UX becomes a broader discipline embraced by startups and cross-functional teams alike, making it a must-read for independent and embedded UX practitioners.