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A day in the life
- Interview and observe users
- Sketch wireframes and prototypes
- Run usability tests and analyse results
- Work with developers and product managers
- Present design decisions to stakeholders
Your career roadmap
Every milestone from school to senior. Track progress as you complete each stage.
- 1Usually 2 years at school; adult courses vary
GCSEs / school qualifications
educationBuild communication, numeracy and creative skills through school qualifications, with subjects such as art, computing or design where available.
- 2Usually 2 years; Access courses often 1 year
A levels / equivalent
educationTake Level 3 qualifications that prepare you for UX, design or human-computer interaction study, developing creative, analytical and communication skills.
- 3Usually 2 years for an HND or 3 years for a degree; some degrees take longer
UX / design / HCI study
qualificationStudy UX, interaction design, digital design or human-computer interaction, practising user research, prototyping, accessibility and usability testing.
- 4Usually developed throughout study and refined before applications
Portfolio and user research projects
experienceCreate UX case studies showing research questions, user insights, design decisions, prototypes and changes made after usability testing.
- 5Often 1–3 years before broader responsibility; varies
Junior UX Designer
roleSupport research, map user journeys and create prototypes under guidance, learning how UX work fits into product delivery.
- 6Often several years; progression depends on scope and evidence
UX Designer
roleOwn UX work for features or services, combining research, interaction design and testing with collaboration across product and engineering teams.
- 7Varies; usually follows several years of relevant delivery
Senior UX Designer
roleLead complex UX projects, mentor colleagues and influence product decisions while maintaining research quality, accessibility and coherent user experiences.
- 8Ongoing; progression varies by organisation
Lead / specialist design role
roleSet design direction across teams, manage designers or provide deep expertise in areas such as accessibility, interaction design or design systems.
Skills you'll build
- UX
- Product Design
- Graphic Design
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Digital Media
- Web Design
- Google UX Design Certificate
- NN/g UX Certification
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