Working as a UX designer is a rewarding career, and with average salaries reaching more than $110,000, it’s a well-paid one as well. But where do UX designers work, and what kind of work do they do?
In this article, we are going to explore the working role of UX designers. We’ll look at typical working environments, the types of company they work for and the kind of work they carry out.
So if you are looking for a career in UX design, the information in this article will help you understand the role in more detail and allow you to make a more informed decision about the type of UX designer you want to be.
Where do UX designers work?
UX designers can work anywhere, but most designers find themselves working for one of the following four types of organization:
Small design studios
Most UX designers start their careers working for a small design studio. Here they hone their skills working as an integral part of a small design team where they are often responsible for UX and UI design.
Small design studios are often short on resources, however. So UX designers working in this environment should be prepared to roll their sleeves up and get involved in all aspects of the project, including graphic design, information architecture and more.
This can be both a benefit or a distraction, depending on your personality. Some people love the diversity of work in this environment because no two days are the same. While others dislike being pulled from pillar to post.
But one thing is for sure if you are looking to build experience as a UX designer, working for a small agency is a great place to start. You’ll be exposed to many projects early on, which help you stay ahead in progressing through your career.
Enterprise companies
Large enterprise companies employ UX designers to help improve existing products. In this type of company, you’ll find yourself working as part of a large multi-disciplined design department alongside other designers and content creators.
Here you’ll focus on the role of UX design and rarely venture into other design disciplines. You will also typically work on a single product at once. This can be both an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on your point of view.
Some people like that they are working on a single product because it gives them time to refine their results. In comparison, others find working on a single project tedious and would rather jump from project to project to keep things interesting.
However, one advantage to working in an enterprise environment is that the hours are regular, and the pay is good. That makes enterprise roles popular with older, more experienced UX designers with family and mortgage commitments.
Freelance
Working freelance gives UX designers the freedom to choose the type of work they do and the clients they work with. Working freelance isn’t’ for everyone though, the hours are long, and you’ll spend as much of your time pitching for work as doing UX design.
Freelancers, therefore, need to be proactive and self-motivated. They also need to be adept at running their own business and be happy to carry out administrative tasks such as accounting, estimates and drawing up contracts.
However, one of the main advantages of working freelance is that you’ll be working from home. This makes it ideal for UX designers located in rural areas who don’t want to relocate to the city.
To find out more about how UX freelancers can find new clients, check out our guide to finding remote UX work. This will show you where to find high paying clients and how to pitch for their business successfully.
Startup/Entrepreneur
Some UX designers want to create their products. For them, becoming an entrepreneur or working for a startup provides the best opportunity to exercise their creative muscles.
To excel in a startup, UX designers need to be extremely driven and self-motivated. Many ups and downs are running a startup, and the pressure can be high. So this route is best preserved for designers that enjoy working in a high-stakes environment.
But the rewards are great for people with enough stamina to see it through. Just imagine, if your idea proves to be a hit, you could end up owning a share of a company worth several million dollars.
UX designer working environment
When answering the question, where do UX designers work? We should also cover the environment they work in because UX design jobs come with working either remotely or in office environments.
Working remotely
Most of the UX designers choosing this option work freelance. However, many UX roles, even office-based ones, offer the choice of working remotely, at least some of the time.
Remote working offers the best work-life balance, but it’s not the right option for everyone. UX designers working from home need to be self-motivated, work on their own initiative and be good at managing their time.
You will also be working on your own most of the time, so you will need to be happy in your own company. The nature of the work also means you’ll need a reliable broadband connection.
Working in-office
UX designers working in agency or enterprise environments will be spending the vast majority of the working day in the office. While this may not sound as appealing as working from home, it has several advantages.
You’ll work regular office hours and lead a more structured day. You’ll also get to work with other designers, including UX designers, allowing you to learn on the job. The close working environment will also allow better collaboration with other content creators.
Working in the office will also enable you to participate in client meetings, allowing you to take a more prominent role in the project because good UX design starts with a good understanding of customer behaviour.
Would you like to learn UX design?
Has this article inspired you to become a UX designer? Then take a look at our UX design course at The UX Philosophy.
Our UX design courses are unique because they not only teach you the fundamentals of UX design. They also allow you to work on real-life UX design projects from the very beginning.
This will allow you to build a portfolio or real-life projects to showcase your skills to prospective employers. And once your portfolio is complete, our Design Launch course will help you develop the skills you need to land your dream UX job.
