In the UX/UI industry, user experience (UX) architects play a role in establishing processes and systems for software products. If you want to become one, refer to the following guide on how to become a UX architect!
In this role, you can help create quality software products and earn attractive income. Let’s check the steps to meet the job requirements!
Overview of UX Architects
The following details will give you an overview of UX architects, including roles, tasks, requirements, and working environment.
Who Is A UX Architect?
A UX architect is responsible for making digital solutions (websites, apps, and software) easy and enjoyable. Their job isn’t just about design. They set up the rules and steps for creating the final product.
These architects know a lot about making their products user-friendly and have special tools for different parts of the job:
- Designing
- Testing
- Organizing data
- Tracking how well the product is doing
In simple terms, UX architects are a bridge between users and developers. They ensure that what gets made is easy to use and meets people’s needs.
What Do UX Architects Do?
As a UX architect, my job is to craft digital experiences that focus on user satisfaction, accessibility, and effectiveness. Specific tasks are as follows:
- Figure out what people want by talking to them and studying how they use things.
- Organize the information and make plans so everything is easy to use.
- Create simple designs for products.
- Try out these ideas with real users to see if they like it or if it’s too confusing.
- Define user personas to represent different user groups, helping design tailored experiences.
- Work with designers and developers to align project goals and priorities.
- Analyze user testing data to inform design decisions and refine the UX.
- Follow trends.
- Explain work to stakeholders.
- Provide post-launch support.
Job Requirements
To be a UX architect, you need the right education, design, tech skills, and some experience.
- Education: You should have a Bachelor’s degree in UX design, graphic design, or HCI. Some have higher degrees, but not always.
- Design skills: You should be good at using design programs like Adobe XD, Sketch, or Figma to make drawings and designs.
- Basic tech knowledge: Knowing a bit about HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can help you work better with the people who build websites and apps.
- Previous experience: You should have worked as a website or graphic designer to have a solid foundation for these tasks.
Work Environment
UX architects usually work in offices. They spend most of their time sitting at a desk and in front of a computer.
Their work hours are typically from 9 am to 5 pm, like a regular office job. They team up with design and tech teams to ensure everything works well.
How to Become a UX Architect
The following roadmap includes the necessary steps you need to go through to get this job. I’ll dive into how having the educational background and required skills will help you stand out!
1. Complete Your 10+2
The journey to becoming a UX architect begins with your educational background. To lay a strong foundation, you typically need to complete your 10+2 education, which is the equivalent of high school in many countries.
This stage is crucial because it shapes your education qualifications and readiness for more specialized studies in the field.
To complete your 10+2 education, you need to focus on certain subjects. These subjects often include math, chemistry, physics, or CS. These subjects provide a solid background in logical thinking skills, which are highly valuable in this field.
In this step, maintaining a minimum of 50% mark in your 10+2 education is a prerequisite. This mark reflects your ability to perform adequately in academic settings and suggests your potential to excel in higher studies.
2. Gather Up Crucial Skills
Becoming a proficient UX architect involves acquiring a diverse set of skills spanning various aspects of the field.
Interaction Design
Interaction design is about figuring out how people will use digital products like websites and apps. To be good at this, you need to learn the basics and get familiar with:
- Affordances (how users perceive actions)
- Feedback (how systems respond to user actions)
Also, learn to make simple models of websites or apps that people can click on to see how they would work. You need to understand how to plan how people will move through a website or app, like what buttons they’ll click.
UI Design
UI design focuses on the visual elements of a digital product, ensuring that it is aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly. Key skills include:
- Visual design (colors, fonts, and layouts)
- Consistency
- Responsive design (make things work well on both big computer screens and small phone screens)
User Research
User research means finding out what people want and need from digital things. To hone this skill, you need to conduct user interviews and watch people use websites or apps to gather insights about user goals and pain points.
Coding Languages
While not everyone needs to be a coder, knowing a bit about coding can be helpful:
- HTML/CSS: Get a basic knowledge of these web languages to know what’s possible and how websites work.
- JavaScript: Learn some JavaScript to talk to developers and make simple interactive prototypes.
- Front-end frameworks: Explore tools like Bootstrap or React that help make websites look and work better.
Soft Skills
Besides technical skills, soft skills are vital because you will talk and work with different people, like designers, developers, and clients. Some include teamwork, problem-solving, and empathy.
3. Pass Required Examinations
After having a 10+2 education, you’ll often need to take entrance exams to get into the right college or university programs. These exams help colleges choose their students. Here are some well-known exams:
- JEE Main: This exam is for students who want to study engineering. While it doesn’t focus on UX architecture, some colleges offer related courses.
- JEE Advanced: It is a more advanced version of JEE Main and can get you into prestigious engineering colleges.
- BIT SAT: BIT SAT is for admission to BITS Pilani, a well-known university. It’s mainly for engineering, but it has UX-related programs.
- VITEEE: This test is for VIT University, which offers engineering programs. Some of these programs include UX.
- WBJEE: If you plan to study in West Bengal, WBJEE is your test. Some West Bengal colleges have UX courses.
- SRMJEEE: It is for the SRM Institute of Science and Technology. They offer various engineering programs, and some relate to UX.
- UPCET: It helps you get into colleges in Uttar Pradesh.
- KEAM: If you want to study in Kerala, KEAM is your exam.
Remember, these exams are often for engineering or technology programs but not specifically for UX. Yet, they still offer UX-related classes because the field of UX design is growing.
4. Get A Bachelor’s Degree In A Related Area
If you do not pass the above exams, you can still pursue this career by getting a Bachelor’s degree in related fields. Here are some options:
- Computer Science & Engineering: You will learn the basics of computer science and engineering. You will understand technology and how it works is crucial for UX design.
- Electronics & Communication Engineering: You will learn electronics and technology with some CS. This degree is helpful if you’re interested in tech-heavy UX design.
- Computer Science: You will learn software, algorithms, and data structures. These are the building blocks of technology and UX design.
- Computer & Information Science: You will learn computer systems, software, and info tech. This program gives you knowledge about how computers and software work.
- Information technology: You will learn to use technology to solve real-world problems. This degree offers practical skills for UX design.
These degrees give you a foundation in tech, which is vital for UX architects. Your job is to make technology user-friendly, so knowing how it works is an advantage.
5. Take Courses And Training
Besides college programs, you should look for advanced courses and certifications to learn more about the principles, methods, and tools essential for creating digital products.
Many organizations offer UX certification programs that provide formal recognition of your expertise. Some well-known options include:
- Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) UX Certification: A globally recognized certification that covers various aspects of UX design.
- UX Design Institute Professional Diploma in UX Design: A comprehensive program that provides practical skills and knowledge in UX design.
- Google UX Design Professional Certificate: Offered on Coursera, this program covers essential UX skills and is backed by Google.
These can boost your credibility, making you a more attractive candidate to employers. They also provide valuable insights into industry best practices and trends.
As a result, they enhance your skills and help you stay competitive in this ever-evolving field.
6. Choose Your Career Path
The next step is to figure out what aspects of UX design you like the most. Do you enjoy understanding how people use things and why? Or are you more into making things look and feel great?
Knowing your interests will help you pick the right specialization. In UX design, there are different areas you can focus on:
- User research: If you like studying how people behave and what they want, consider specializing in user research. You’ll do surveys, interviews, and studies to learn about users.
- Interaction design: You will make sure digital things are easy to use. You will create buttons, menus, etc., which people click or tap on.
- Information architecture: This area is about organizing and structuring data in digital things so users can find what they need.
- Usability testing: You will watch people use software products to see if they can use them easily. You will find problems and suggest fixes.
If you find this step challenging, I recommend talking to experienced UX architects and pros you know. They can tell you about their specializations, share their experiences, and help you decide what’s best for you.
The great thing about UX design is that it’s flexible. So you can switch or combine areas as you gain experience and discover what you love most.
7. Search for a Job
Searching for a job as a UX architect is the final step in launching your career. First, you need to gather your best UX design projects into a portfolio.
Then, make a resume highlighting your skills and experiences related to UX. Now, you can look for UX architect jobs on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed. Also, I recommend using specialized UX job websites you know.
If full-time jobs are hard to find, consider freelance or contract work. It’s a way to build experience and connections.
When you get a job offer, don’t hesitate to negotiate your pay and benefits. You should research what’s standard in the industry and highlight your skills in the interviews.
Remember, the job search can be competitive, but with a strong portfolio and determination, you can find a great UX architect position. So, stay patient and adaptable throughout the process!
FAQs
Is There A Difference Between A UX Architect And A UX Designer?
The answer is yes. A UX architect focuses on the digital product’s overall structure and navigation. Meanwhile, a UX designer concentrates on designing individual screens and interactions in detail, creating user interfaces.
How Much Do UX Architects Make?
The salary range for UX architects can vary, but it typically falls between $131,000 to $209,000/year (in 2023). The salary can vary based on experience and location.
What Is The Minimum Qualification For Becoming A UX Architect?
While there’s no strict minimum qualification, most UX architects hold a Bachelor’s degree in related fields.
Also, they often have several years of experience in UX design or related roles and may hold certifications in UX design or architecture.
Conclusion
Becoming a UX architect boils down to seven simple steps. You need to understand the job and get an education and skills. Then, consider specializing in a specific UX architecture area.
By following the above guide, you can meet the requirements and succeed as a UX architect.
Hopefully, you will get this job and create digital experiences people love to use!