Design and Product

Learn more about the skills and certifications you need for a career in UX/UI, graphic design, virtual reality, the metaverse, and more.

[Featured image] A UX designer wearing eyeglasses and a blue shirt draws a wireframe on a whiteboard.

What Does a UX Designer Do? Key Responsibilities and Skills

Learn what user experience (UX) design entails, the essential skills needed, and the tasks of a UX designer. This article provides a comprehensive guide to a career in UX design, highlighting popular roles and offering steps to build a strong foundation.

December 11, 2020

Article

What Does a UX Designer Do? Key Responsibilities and Skills

December 11, 2020

Article

Explore popular design and product courses

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California Institute of the Arts

Graphic Design

Skills you'll gain: Typography, Design Elements And Principles, Graphic Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Design, Visual Design, Photography, Logo Design, Digital Design, Graphic and Visual Design, Color Theory, Photo Editing, Adobe InDesign, Image Quality, Style Guides, Branding, Art History, Computer Graphic Techniques, Layout Design, Design Research

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Adobe

Design Fundamentals with AI

Skills you'll gain: Adobe Express, Typography, Logo Design, Responsible AI, Digital Design, Layout Design, Creative Design, Visual Design, Graphic and Visual Design Software, Graphic Design, Adobe Firefly, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Color Theory, Content Creation, Generative AI Agents

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Status: AI skills

Google

Google UX Design

Skills you'll gain: Responsive Web Design, Storyboarding, Wireframing, User Experience Design, UI/UX Research, User Experience, Usability Testing, Information Architecture, Presentations, Web Design, User Research, Design Thinking, Figma (Design Software), Design Reviews, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Mobile Development, User Story, Persona (User Experience), Interviewing Skills, Applicant Tracking Systems

Design and product cover a wide variety of skills and careers, from user experience (UX) design to product design to virtual reality and the metaverse. With so many options and opportunities available, it can be tricky to know where to start. On Coursera, you'll find expert resources to support your goals, whether you're just starting out or are ready to take the next step in your career. Explore design and product topics, including:

Interested in UX/UI Design? Find out more about UX and UI design and their differences, as well as what a UX designer does.

Interested in graphic design? Read about how to become a graphic designer, and explore the skills needed for a career in graphic design.

Interested in product design? Dive into what a product designer does and learn the difference between a UX designer and a product designer.

Ready to start learning? Explore our catalog of design, graphic design, and 3D design courses for beginners and experienced professionals.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

A UX designer usually focuses on a portion of the design process, making sure a product is optimally designed for user experience. A product designer might focus on the entirety of the process, including ensuring a product fits a company’s business needs. UX designers might also work more heavily in the initial design stage of the product, while product designers often work to improve existing products.

A product designer often works with UX designers and is generally expected to have a good understanding of UX principles. Plus, sometimes the two titles are used interchangeably, which can lead to understandable confusion.‎

It can be easy to confuse a digital designer with a graphic designer, but there are differences. The key distinguishing feature is digital design's interactivity. A digital designer employs movement, animation, audio, video, and other interactive elements for digital formats such as websites and apps. A graphic designer's output is more likely to be static and intended for a format like print. ‎

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)*, web development and digital design roles are projected to grow much faster than average. A 16 percent growth rate is estimated for these jobs between 2022 and 2032. The median pay in the US as of 2022 was $80,730 per year, according to the BLS.

*US Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Occupational Outlook Handbook: Web Developers and Digital Designers, www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm." Accessed January 26, 2024. ‎