How to Get Ahead in the World of UX Design (2024)

UX design is a highly competitive field, and being a first-class UXer requires you to wear many hats. As well as mastering a whole host of technical skills, you’ll also need to become an expert in human empathy.

What’s more, the UX landscape is constantly evolving — and the demands on designers can change from one day to the next.

It’s a jungle out there — but fear not: We’ve got five key strategies to help you get ahead. Here’s how to stay relevant and boost your competitive edge as a budding UX designer.

It sounds obvious, but it’s absolutely crucial — and often overlooked. If you want to make it big in the world of UX, a CV just isn’t enough. As a designer, you need to show, not tell. No matter what stage you’re at in your career, make sure your portfolio is up to scratch.

So how can you get your portfolio dressed to impress?

Where possible, tailor your portfolio to each specific opportunity. A very small team might value a diverse skill set, whereas a larger company may only be interested in one specialist area. Depending on the employer’s needs, you can showcase versatility or choose to focus purely on your UX work. Either way, make sure it’s your best work: you need to be able to talk about it with enthusiasm and pride.

Secondly, keep your portfolio up-to-date! Add to it as you go along while the details are still fresh. This is especially important for case studies: employers don’t just want to see the finished product — they want to know how you got there. Include details of how you approached each problem and the processes involved.

For more help preparing your portfolio, take a look at these tips from 20 UX designers:

When it comes to UX design, some skills are necessary and some are nice to have — although the line is becoming increasingly blurred. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already nailed the essentials; wireframing, prototyping, user empathy…the list goes on.

One way to stand out from other designers is to acquire some of the nice-to-haves. Learning key frontend development skills, for example, will make it easier to communicate your designs to the development team. Likewise, understanding the technicalities of UI may help you to visualize the final product.

You don’t need to become a Jack or Jill of all trades — but there’s a lot to be said for all-rounders within the UX field. Up-skilling gives you an extra unique selling point to highlight at interviews, and can also make you a better team player. Win-win!

We’re all familiar with that age-old adage: It’s not what you know, but who. Having friends in high places will not make you a successful UX designer — but, as with any industry, networking is key.

Networking is beneficial for a number of reasons. Making connections within your industry will expose you to new opportunities, and may open doors you never even knew existed. But there are other advantages, too.

If done properly, networking can be a form of mentorship. Attend industry meetups and learn from your fellow UXers. Discuss the biggest challenges in the industry right now and find out how others are tackling them. Networking gives you access to fresh perspectives and industry wisdom — so be sure to tap into it at every opportunity.

At the end of the day, UX is all about understanding the user, so becoming a “people” person is a must. You can get the ball rolling by reaching out to fellow UXers on LinkedIn and joining relevant social media discussions — but try to take it offline too. Look for local meetups in your area, or consider starting your own. If you’re new to the whole networking thing, you can find some good pointers here.

To create inspirational designs, you need to be inspired — and this requires you to seek out new perspectives. Even the most experienced UX designers get stuck in a rut sometimes, so it’s important to keep your creative juices flowing.

Think of yourself as an artist: if you’re constantly surrounded by the same things, the inspiration well will soon run dry. Try to curate an inspiration library: a list of go-to resources that get you thinking outside the box.

Inspiration is something of a personal matter, but design blogs and portfolios are a good place to start:

However, inspiration needn’t be strictly UX-focused. Travelling to new places, picking up a creative hobby or getting together with friends for a brainstorming session are all highly effective strategies for boosting creativity and stumbling across fresh ideas.

Last but not least, it’s essential to stay ahead of the curve. Especially in such a fast-paced field like UX, your ability to move with the times may make the difference between success and failure.

A good UX designer understands the factors that drive UX — both now and in the future. From innovations in tech to changing user expectations, you need to be on top of the latest industry trends and buzzwords.

Don’t worry — we’re not asking you to predict the future. In fact, this is an easy one. Thanks to the likes of Twitter and the ever-expanding blogosphere, this information is only ever a click or two away. Start by following the likes of Patrick Neeman, Steve Krug and Laura Klein on Twitter:

And check places like Smashing Magazine and Noupe for all the latest and greatest UX news as it happens.

Get into the habit of reading up on industry news and advances, and you’ll soon be an expert.

About the author:

Emily Stevens. Originally from England, Emily moved to Berlin after studying French and German at university. When she’s not writing for CareerFoundry, she can be found travelling, hula-hooping or reading a good book.