User experience (UX) designer

Career path and progression

With experience you could move into a management job and supervise other designers.

You could also move into a development role if you've got experience of programming languages.

You could work freelance as a self-employed contractor for clients.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• design skills and knowledge
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• complex problem-solving skills
• persistence and determination
• analytical thinking skills
• to be flexible and open to change
• the ability to use your initiative
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Art and Design - UX designers create visual layouts, wireframes, and prototypes that need to be clear, attractive, and easy to use. Skills in composition, colour theory, typography, and visual hierarchy are essential for designing interfaces that guide users through a website or app.
• Computer Science - UX designers need to understand how software and digital systems work so they can design solutions that are technically feasible. They often use coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build interactive prototypes, and they work closely with developers to bring designs to life.
• Design and Technology - UX designers follow a structured design process – researching user needs, generating ideas, prototyping solutions, and testing them iteratively. This cycle of designing, making, and refining is central to Design and Technology and mirrors exactly how UX teams work in practice.
• Psychology - UX designers need to understand how people think, make decisions, and interact with digital products. Knowledge of cognitive psychology – such as how memory, attention, and perception work – helps them design interfaces that feel intuitive and reduce user frustration.

Also relevant

• Mathematics - UX designers use data and statistics to analyse user behaviour, interpret research findings, and measure whether design changes actually improve the experience. Understanding how to read metrics like task completion rates and A/B test results helps them make evidence-based design decisions.
• English Language - UX designers write clear specifications for developers, label buttons and menus, and explain design decisions to stakeholders who may not have a design background. The ability to communicate precisely – both in writing and verbally – is important for making sure everyone understands the intended user experience.
• Business - UX designers gather business requirements from project leaders and need to balance user needs with commercial goals. Understanding how businesses operate, what drives customer satisfaction, and how products generate value helps them design solutions that work for both users and the organisation.
• Sociology - UX designers research how different groups of people use technology, considering factors like age, culture, and digital literacy. Understanding social behaviour and diversity helps them design inclusive products that work well for a wide range of users, not just one narrow group.