What Does a UI/UX Designer Actually Do?

A UI/UX designer makes apps and websites easy and pleasant to use. The UX (user experience) side figures out what people need and how a product should work, through research, user flows, wireframes and testing. The UI (user interface) side designs what people actually see and tap, like layouts, buttons, colors and type. In a typical week, a UI/UX designer talks to users, sketches and prototypes in a tool like Figma, tests ideas with real people, and works with developers to build the final product.

A quick note from CourseCareers: We've retired our UI/UX Design course, so we don't sell training for this career anymore. We kept this article up because people still search for it, and straight answers beat a dead end. If you'd like to look at related careers we do teach, jump to the section near the end.

Key takeaways

• UX is about how a product works. UI is about how it looks and feels. Many entry-level roles ask for both.
• The work moves through research, wireframes, prototypes, testing and handoff to developers.
• BLS reports a median wage of $104,000 for web and digital interface designers in May 2025.
• Breaking in is competitive. Your portfolio of case studies matters more than any certificate.

What's the Difference Between UI and UX?

UX design answers "does this make sense?" It covers research, the steps a person takes to finish a task, and how information is organized. UI design answers "does this look right and feel easy?" It covers visual layout, spacing, color, typography and the small details of buttons and forms. At large companies these can be separate jobs. At smaller companies, one designer often does both, which is why so many job titles say UI/UX.

What Does a UI/UX Designer Do Day to Day?

Most of the work follows a loop: learn, design, test, improve. A normal week might include:

• Research. Interviewing users, reading support tickets or reviewing analytics to find where people get stuck.
• Mapping. Drawing user flows that show each step someone takes to finish a task.
• Wireframing. Sketching simple layouts to agree on structure before any visual polish.
• Prototyping. Building clickable mockups in a tool like Figma so people can try the design.
• Usability testing. Watching real people use the prototype and noting where they hesitate.
• Handoff. Preparing specs and assets so developers can build the design accurately.

A lot of the job is communication. Designers explain their choices to product managers, developers and leaders, and they change course when testing shows an idea doesn't work.

What Tools Do UI/UX Designers Use?

Figma is the most common design and prototyping tool. Teams also use whiteboard tools like FigJam or Miro for workshops, and research tools to run surveys and tests. Designers who understand accessibility standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) build products more people can use.

What Job Titles Do UI/UX Designers Have?

The same work shows up under different names. Common titles include UX designer, UI designer, product designer, interaction designer and UX researcher. Product designer has become a common title at tech companies for someone who handles both UX and UI. Junior or associate versions of these titles are the usual entry points.

Who Do They Work With?

UI/UX designers usually sit between the people deciding what to build and the people building it. They work closely with product managers on priorities, with developers on what's possible, and with marketing or support teams who hear directly from customers. At a startup, a designer may be the only one on the team. At a large company, they may work in a design team with researchers and other designers.

How Much Do UI/UX Designers Make?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $104,000 for web and digital interface designers in May 2025. Pay varies a lot by location, company size and experience, and beginners usually start below the median.

How Hard Is It to Break In?

It's competitive. BLS projects about 13,600 openings a year for web developers and digital designers combined, and it notes that better tools and AI may soften growth for these workers. Many people want design jobs, so hiring managers lean heavily on portfolios. The candidates who stand out usually have two or three detailed case studies that show their research, the problem they solved and how they tested it, plus some related experience like graphic design, front-end coding, customer support or product work.

Related Careers You Can Still Train for With CourseCareers

We stopped offering UI/UX design because we only want to sell courses where we're confident our students can land a job. If you're drawn to design, these careers use some of the same strengths and are still part of our catalog.

• Architectural drafting. If you like precise visual work in design software, drafters turn ideas into detailed drawings that builders use. Read What Does a CAD Drafter Actually Do? or see the CourseCareers Architectural Drafting course.
• Data analytics. If the research side of UX is what pulls you in (finding patterns in how people behave), data analytics builds on that. Start with What Does a Data Analyst Actually Do? or the CourseCareers Data Analytics course.

Not sure which direction fits? The free Career Potential Test shows employers your reading, writing, math and critical thinking skills, and our AI Career Counselor can suggest careers based on what you like. Every CourseCareers course also lets you start for free before you pay anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a degree to become a UI/UX designer?
Not always. BLS says education for web developers and digital designers ranges from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree. Without a degree, a strong portfolio carries more weight.

Do UI/UX designers need to code?
Usually not, but knowing basic HTML and CSS helps you design things developers can build and makes handoff smoother.

What does a junior UI/UX designer work on?
Junior designers often handle smaller features, update existing screens, help with research and testing, and learn the team's design system from senior designers.

Is UI/UX design a good career?
It can be rewarding and well paid, but entry-level hiring is competitive. Read our full take in Is UI/UX Design a Good Career?

Weighing your options? Read Is UI/UX Design a Good Career? or explore the CourseCareers courses we still offer.