More and more designers have started adding “UX” to their profile and their skill set. Recently, it’s become a prevalent trending term, especially since there is a high demand for user experience designers.
I thought that the “UX Designer” title started being overused. I was even a little upset when I saw another self-proclaimed UX designer who does nothing more than visual design. Then I thought a little deeper about it and realized that actually, we might all be UX designers.
By saying “all”, of course, I mean all of us who build anything for users. And by “anything”, I really mean anything. It can be a website, mobile app, window, bicycle, or even a spoon. Basically anything that has a function and a user also has an experience in using it.
When it comes to digital products, most people mix up the user interface with the user experience, but the fact is that the visual design is only a small cog in this machine.
It doesn’t really matter if you’re a system administrator, web developer, UI designer, copywriter, or a customer success specialist. We all build a user experience piece by piece.
System administrators are UX designers because they are responsible for how fast and reliable their servers are. If your website or app is slow or has an outage, then you create a bad experience for your users.
Web developers are UX designers because they are responsible for the entire code architecture and how well the features are coded. You can code a search algorithm to find information faster while being more accurate or you can code your website to be adaptive, responsive or more accessible. These are all pieces of a good user experience.
UI designers are UX designers because they create a visual interface that communicates directly with users. You can design typography that is readable or a layout that is clean and organized. The visual part very often plays the main role in the entire user experience, and that’s why most people confuse UI and UX terms.
Copywriters are UX designers because you can evoke certain emotions with words. You can set a funny tone with your copy and make your users simply enjoy reading it. Also, you can use a simpler language and provide more information or instructions in a digestible format.
Customer support is a part of UX as well. You can make it easily accessible, fast, responsive and focused on helping customers to solve their problem. A bad customer support experience can cast a shadow on the entire product design user experience.
Of course, this list should go on and on. When you really think about it, you may find almost everyone in your company playing at least a tiny role in the overall user experience for your products.
So, I was wrong by thinking that too many designers call themselves UX designers. We can all add it to our profile and it wouldn’t be a lie.
Let’s just not forget that user experience is not a feature. You can’t put it on your to-do list and cross it off when it’s done. It’s an ongoing effort from the beginning of the project to the end and even beyond that. Let’s all get involved in providing a good experience for our users!
Good post… thanks Rafal. It was Donald Norman, an Apple designer who first coined the term user experience in the 90’s. He said “I invented the term because I thought human interface and usability were too narrow. I wanted to cover all aspects of the person’s experience with the system including industrial design graphics, the interface, the physical interaction and the manual. Since then the term has spread widely, so much so that it is starting to lose its meaning.”
I think he would agree with you!
Hey Stephen,
Thanks for sharing it! Yeah, it starts losing its meaning and it’s hard to define.
UX Design is a fill-in position for designers who can’t design and code websites/apps. Yes, before UX became a popular term every web designer was doing UX. But the design industry has become more segmented so positions like UX Designer popped up.
I have to disagree with you a bit there. Some designers that append the “UX” to their title have decided to focus more of their time in research, testing and mapping to metrics. Many other designers will devote more time to microinteractions, animations colour theory and interaction models. A choice in focus does not mean they “can’t” do something. It means that’s not the way they’re going to spend most of their time.
The industry did get segmented, but it didn’t come from inability. It came from a lack of focus in validating design decisions, leading to better product design.
I do agree that this segmentation has gone a bit too far. Now, everyone leaves “the UX guy” to question and make decisions, leading to more uninformed/uninvolved developers and UI designers.
I am a UX Designer who can code. I moved towards the UX field because it seemed to embrace what I thought was the purpose of design. I understand that in a way, we are all “UX Designers,”but if it is true, I need another title to describe myself, since I oversee the design from conception to finished project (and beyond). Rafal, you mention that this person may be called a “Lead UX Designer,” but then we’ll need another title for the position who oversees and sets design standards for other Lead UX Designers. A “lead lead UX Designer?” Perhaps the mess could all be avoided by calling a UI Designer a UI Designer with the understanding that, like everyone else in the organization, they ought to put user needs before their own.
Grant,
I just wanted to point out that user experience is not just one person’s responsibility in the company. We should all (not just designers) have a basic understanding of what makes a good experience for users.
By mentioning a “Lead UX Designer”, I just meant that it would be perfect to have someone in the company who oversees the user experience. I think it should be someone who can both code and design, so have a good understanding of both worlds. Of course, the company may call that person whatever they want. It can be “UX designer” if that’s the only person who does it.
I see UX as a skillset. No matter if you’re a designer, developer, copywriter or even a system administrator, you can apply some best UX practices to your work. It’s very valuable for the company if they hire people who understand principles of a good user experience.
Now, there can be a position called “Lead UX Designer”. It’s someone who coordinates the user experience across the entire platform and makes sure that all the people who work on the product share the same values and that everything they do creates a positive experience for users.
I can’t agree that it’s just a fill-in position for someone who can’t code and design. It’s actually a very important role and lead UX designer should know a bit of everything from design to copy and even marketing and business.
Spot on with this article …
UX-design is experience and common sense… So yes I added this free to my CV! 🙂
Great post. Jesse James Garrett said the same thing in 2009. Check it out https://vimeo.com/4304573
Regards.
You have to be an IT jack of all trades fornUX Design
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