How do your users experience your product? Do they easily navigate through your website, finding exactly what they need? Are they finding value and efficiency in the experience you’ve created for them? All of these questions and more are what motivate UX Designers as they crunch data, gain insights on human behavior, organize info, and create experiences that attract users and build consistent brand loyalty.
UX Designers spend much of their time concluding what users need and how the product feels. Often, they’ll find that there isn’t one correct answer to a problem and will explore the full range of solutions, finding those with the strongest outcome. A constant cycle of testing, evaluating data, applying changes, and observing outcomes help the UX Designer to observe user behavior, ultimately refining to create the best user experience.
When hiring a UX Designer, it is crucial to find a candidate that is a master researcher. They thrive when working with data and are proficient in turning analytics into strategy. They’ll also have a creative side that enjoys designing for usability. Visual expression and communication are their strong suits with a knack for discovering just what the user needs to see to engage with your product again and again. Read on to learn more about the skills and proficiencies your next UX designer needs.
What Skills Does a UX Designer Need?
A UX Designer needs to be able to independently conduct user research and testing, develop wireframes and task flows based on user needs, and collaborate with designers and developers to create the most user-friendly software.
This requires an analytical and creative mind that can understand user needs and build the best solutions. Ultimately, this is a role focused on discovering the most user-friendly and intuitive design across an organization’s website and applications.
Key skills for this position include:
- Proven ability to develop wireframes of screens, storyboards, and sitemaps specifically around user needs
- Familiarity with interaction design and information architecture
- Analytical thinking with a passion for data
- Knowledge of usability testing principles
- Strong research techniques
- Mastery of information organization and design
- Project management experience
- A knack for technical writing
- Knowledge of user modeling
What Software Proficiency is Necessary?
In order to accurately analyze user psychology and develop strategic designs to attract and retain users, specific software experience is necessary. UX Designers should be proficient in the following:
- Adobe Suite including Photoshop and Illustrator
- Presentation resources like PowerPoint and Keynote
- Sketch
- InVision
- Javascript, HTML, and CSS3 coding languages
- GUI development tools
- Fireworks
- OmniGraffle
- Viso
Ready to Hire a UX Designer?
Bamboo Crowd specializes in finding unique, competitive talent with a passion for innovation. We have a pool of talented UX Designers ready to find their next long-term role, and we’d be happy to pair you with the right fit for your company. Click here to begin your hiring process today.
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