UX Designer

Overview

UX designers (user experience designers) design websites, apps and software that are easy to use. Their role is to understand users’ needs in order to create simple, intuitive and enjoyable interfaces, while improving the browsing experience.

What is a UX designer?

UX designers are user experience specialists. Their role is to understand users’ needs and expectations in order to design digital interfaces that are easy to use and enjoyable to navigate.

They analyse user behaviour, identify areas for improvement and propose solutions to make a website or an app more efficient and intuitive to use.

Responsibilities

• Gathering the expectations and needs of end users (surveys, creative workshops, etc.).
• Analysing the data collected.
• Translating a concept or a script into a visual representation.
• Designing the layout and enhancing the document (adding text and images, proofreading, etc.) in line with typographic rules and the brand guidelines.
• Drawing up the specification of functional requirements ahead of going into production.
• Defining how graphic elements are put together (wireframes, prototypes, mock-ups, etc.).
• Making the user journey seamless (website structure, ease of navigation).
• Checking that a project has been delivered as specified.
• Determining corrective actions.

Skills & qualities required

To work as a UX designer, you need to be both creative and attentive to users. UX designers have to be able to imagine simple, effective solutions that improve the experience on a website, an app or any other digital medium.

They also need a firm grasp of digital tools and design software. Curiosity is essential, as technologies, trends and user habits are constantly changing. UX designers therefore have to keep up to date and carry on learning throughout their career.

They also need strong analytical skills in order to understand users’ needs and to propose appropriate solutions. Finally, as they often work with developers, graphic designers and project managers, they need to be rigorous, adaptable, attentive and a good team player.

Career progression and salary

There are plenty of opportunities for UX designers to progress. With experience, they can become a senior UX designer, a digital project manager or a UX manager, or specialise in areas such as user research or interface design. They can work in companies, in communication agencies, in digital specialist firms or as freelancers.

At the start of their career, a UX designer generally earns around €2,500 gross per month. With experience and greater responsibility, this can rise to €3,000 gross per month or more. Job opportunities are plentiful, particularly in large companies, digital agencies and IT services firms, right across France.

How do you become a UX designer?

To become a UX designer, it is advisable to study in the fields of digital media, multimedia, design or IT. Several routes are open to you after the baccalaureate. At ESDAC we offer the Bachelor en Design Graphique, which is a perfect match for what this profession requires. You can then go on to a Master's at ESDAC to develop your professional expertise further, as many recruiters favour a Bac+5 level of study.

Beyond the qualification itself, it is important to build skills in interface design, in analysing user needs and in the use of digital tools, through practical projects and work placements.