4 reasons to get into UX in 2022
UX is one of the fastest-growing industries in 2021, coming into 2022, the average salary of a UX designer is quickly exceeding the 6 digit mark. Although this career used to be considered an added benefit to a corporation that only big tech companies dabbled in, even startups are starting to hire UX designers, recognizing their value. Now, all types of companies and industries are looking for UX designers for a variety of roles from restaurant software to construction automation, as a result, the demand for UX designers has shot up.
- UX has a high salary ceiling and more growth potential than other positions
UX professionals are starting to see the same demand as software engineers and companies are beginning to recognize the potential that UX designers have towards the improvement of their brand and products. According to a survey by adobe, 87% of hiring managers prioritize UX designers for hire. Additionally, UX design as an industry is growing, especially with the advent of the pandemic. People tend to use mobile devices waiting in lines or while taking transit to work. The duration of each session is usually quite short so if someone thinks that they would not be able to complete their intended goal in the allotted time that they have, then they are likely to abandon their shopping cart and start scrolling social media instead. This has been compounded during the pandemic since people are now spoiled for choice. With a variety of products and competitors vying for the same spot on your mobile device, what sets apart the profitable companies are the UX of their websites and apps.
- UX can be easily picked up from other fields and industries
UX designers primarily focus on design tools and the behavior of users. As a result, the stereotype of programming knowledge necessary for this field is simply a myth. Now, junior UX designers oftentimes find that they already possess the qualifications for higher-level positions simply due to the similarities that UX design has had with their previous job or education. An example is an ex-schoolteacher who decided to enter the UX field. They have been tasked with redesigning an internal interface within a company. The ex-schoolteacher can draw from their experience and recognize the same issues that existed within their grading system at their old job. Ultimately, UX design is recognizing an intuitive workflow and knowing where people would naturally gravitate towards in your interface when looking to achieve a certain task.
- UX is naturally interdisciplinary
Continuing on from the previous point, UX design is commonly associated with consumer tech and e-commerce for large industries. However, a quick search on Indeed or Linkedin will tell you that there are roles for UX professionals in finance, education, gaming, manufacturing, and a multitude of other fields. Startups are also seeing a massive increase in demand for UX professionals. All industries are entering a technologically dominant stage in their lifetime and good UX design is the key to the prolonged success of their company.
- Small learning curve and natural transition into the tech industry
UX design careers offer a lot of room for growth. With many UX professionals now transitioning into senior and C-level positions, it has become clear that UX is here to stay. However, a background in UX design can be a good beginning step in a different direction entirely. Many design positions are starting to add requirements for basic web development in their hiring searches. As a result, UX designers have taken their eye for design and research into the field of web development, oftentimes working as a bit of a hybrid between a web developer and a UX designer, or, more elegantly, a web designer. Speaking from personal experience, I have been learning web development skills in parallel with UX design. The similarities between the 2 disciplines have always interested me and consequently, I have also started exploring careers in web development. If you want to read more about my experiences with coding, check out this article I wrote about the subject.
