Three Evolving Definitions of a UX Designer: Beyond Beautiful Interfaces to Mastering Business Relationships

What does a UX designer do? What competencies do you need to develop to be considered a good UX design expert? Everyone wants to excel in their field, and UX design is no different. Understanding the 'why,' 'what,' and 'how' of achieving excellence can offer crucial direction for your career. In my journey, I've experienced two significant shifts in how I define UX design.

Here's a brief outline:

1. Designing a website/app beautifully

2. A comprehensive thinking process that solves problems using design tools

3. Negotiating people or organization's interests to achieve a great design outcome.

The first competency focuses on crafting visually appealing and stylish websites or apps. This is usually where entry-level designers start, honing their visual design skills using tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe. Although essential, mastering this competency takes time and experience. Inspirational design platforms like Dribbble and Behance often showcase this aspect of UX design.

Dribble UX Design

The second competency requires a deeper insight into solving user or business problems through a thorough design thinking process. Techniques like the 'double diamond method' or 'Stanford design thinking' play a crucial role here. Unfortunately, even seasoned designers often lack deeper problem-solving skills, making this a highly sought-after capability in the industry.

Double Diamond - Design Thinking Tool

Once you step into a real-world business environment, you'll realize that these skills, though essential, are just part of your UX design toolkit. Addressing interests among various stakeholders becomes equally important.

In high school, we learned to evaluate our competitiveness based on grades, so we naturally learned that being smart means being superior to others. However, in the professional world, success isn't solely determined by intelligence or grades. Instead, it's about how effectively you can navigate the complex web of human relationships, organizational dynamics, and strategic decision-making. This realization can be quite a paradigm shift.

In the field of UX design particularly, your ability to work well with others, understand their needs and perspectives, and make informed decisions becomes far more critical than theoretical knowledge or technical proficiency alone. You might find that your role involves mediating between team members, advocating for user needs, and balancing the often competing priorities of stakeholders.

This is something that university doesn’t tell us, so when many designers join the tech industry, just like I did, they define their job through the lens of the first or second definitions. The truth is, doing the design is just part of a UX designer’s job. The remaining, and often more significant, part involves navigating the complex web of interpersonal dynamics and organizational politics.

A competent UX designer goes beyond creating visually appealing interfaces or solving user problems. They master the art of balancing the diverse interests of stakeholders, clients, and team members to achieve the best design outcomes possible. Success in this aspect of UX design demands a deep understanding of human behavior, power structures within the organization, and effective communication.

To excel in these areas, you need to:

• Understand the sources of power within your organization. This begins with shedding the notion that office politics is inherently negative. In reality, design work within an organization is about reconciling varying interests to produce optimal results. Accepting this will allow you to see the coordination of these interests as an essential aspect of your role.

• Know how to engage in small talk. Small talk helps establish a rapport and makes collaboration smoother, even if the conversations are superficial. For introverts, sharing specific details or simply being an attentive listener can make others feel more comfortable and valued.

• Set clear boundaries. Clearly defining what is acceptable in terms of time, information sharing, and the extent of your influence is crucial. This helps in ensuring you're respected and not overburdened. Knowing how to say "no" assertively yet calmly is a critical skill.

• Show genuine interest in colleagues and managers. A little kindness goes a long way. Expressing sincere concern can build goodwill, which can be invaluable during challenging times. However, it’s important to distinguish between professional relationships and friendships to avoid unnecessary complications.
  

It's important to marry your design skills with strong interpersonal skills. When your designs can reflect a keen understanding of human behavior and organizational context, you're not merely solving design problems but transforming the user experience in a meaningful way.

Embracing this broader view of your role as a UX designer is not about diminishing the importance of technical skills—far from it. Instead, it's about recognizing that the value you bring extends beyond pixels and wireframes. It's about fostering collaboration, driving consensus, and ultimately creating designs that serve both users and business objectives.