A creative eye and any kind of design work go hand in hand. Being a UX designer is no exception to that rule, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to make masterpieces on paper to get ahead in a UX design career. If you’re wondering, ‘Do UX designers need to draw?’, as well as what other skills and talents are required to help you grow as a UX designer, learn UX design or even help you land that dream job, we’ve covered all you need to know below.
What is a UX designer?
When you hear the word ‘designer’, you likely think of jobs on the creative side. From graphic designers to interior designers, a particular skill in creativity is a must to get the job done. While UX designers do need to have design skills, the job isn’t quite as artistically focused as you might think. While UX has some creative elements, you don’t need to be a master artist to make it happen.
A UX designer is someone that works to create a great user experience on a website or platform. Instead of solely focusing on how pretty something looks, their job is to create something on-brand, functional, and enjoyable for use. UX designers generally work alongside a UI specialist, leading to a platform that’s easy to use, nice to look at, and accessible for all.
Do UX designers need to draw?
That important question: do UX designers need to draw to be good at their job? The answer is yes and no. You need to understand design concepts and how to translate that into a digital format, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can create on paper what you could on the screen. Here’s how drawing is used throughout the UX design process:
Creating sketches
Most UX designs start out either on a tablet or with pen and paper, drafting a rough layout and looking to decide where things should go. If you know how to write, draw boxes and create stick figures, you have all you need to create a functional UX design that can translate to the screen.
Formalising concepts
Once you like the look of a concept, the next step is digitising it. Usually, you’ll use specialised software to create the wireframe of your design. Unlike drawing freehand, these UX tools allow you to create shapes, boxes, and layouts quickly and effectively. If you have an eye for design but no skill in drawing, this makes creating concepts a far more straightforward process.
Submitting designs
Before you hand over your design, you likely want it to have all the necessary polish to impress your client. Again, drawing isn’t needed here. Provided you’re using the right tools, you can create a functional UX design. Any elements that need drawing or creating can be done with the support of a specialist graphic designer, while a developer would carry out all coding for a wireframe.
Do you need artistic skill to be a UX designer?
While you don’t need to draw to be a great UX designer, it helps to have an eye for design and aesthetics. But beyond being able to make something good, UX is all about providing a great user experience. You’ll need to follow the rules and guidelines you’ll want to apply to ensure your website or app design is as functional as it is nice to look at.
In reality, it all depends on the types of clients you get. Being artistic and creative can be excellent if you’re working with similarly out-the-box industries. Are you creating websites for accountants or applications for finance companies? Their user experience and design priorities will likely be entirely different compared to a local art museum or up-and-coming clothing brand. Drawing isn’t the only way to get into UX, and having other skills can be far more valuable in the long run.
What kinds of UX design tools do you need?
While being able to draw isn’t a must for a UX designer, creating cohesive and attractive designs is. Using the right software and tools for the job can ensure your ideas translate to digital paper, and the best resources can make that happen. Adobe XD, Figma and Sketch are all standard options for creating wireframes and designs effectively. For the initial mapping out of a platform, Overflow or FlowMapp can offer a way to get your ideas out if you prefer not to put pen to paper.
Does an artistic background help with UX design?
If you have a background in graphic design or you’re an artist in your own time, you can put those skills to great use as a UX designer. But while natural talent is an excellent place to start, you’ll also need to know more about the technical side of UX. UX is far more than just how a website looks, from doing your research to creating viable sitemaps and testing. A lot is going on behind the scenes that you need to know, and there is plenty of practical information you’ll need to learn to create platforms that are user friendly and provide the best experience.
What other skills does a UX designer need?
Beyond being able to draw, what other skills can benefit you as a UX designer? An eye for detail is an excellent place to start. An empathetic understanding of your audience is also instrumental in creating a functional and suitable platform for your demographic. Technical skills in software and in gathering research are also invaluable in completing the UX process properly. A well-rounded UX designer has all the skills necessary to do the best work possible for their clients.
