{"id":14728,"date":"2020-07-08T11:11:49","date_gmt":"2020-07-08T18:11:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/?p=14728"},"modified":"2023-08-18T08:53:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-18T15:53:16","slug":"austin-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/austin-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a UX\/UI designer in Austin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Austin, TX has earned the nickname the \u201cSilicon Hills” because of the cluster of technology companies that have made the city their home. In addition to being something of a mini Silicon Valley given the number of major tech companies that have built outposts in Austin (Facebook, Google, Apple, Amazon, PayPal, IBM, and Oracle to name a few), it has both homegrown legacy businesses like Dell and Whole Foods, and startups like Convey, BigCommerce, and Bungalo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of November 2020, 35 companies have relocated<\/a> to or opened new facilities in the Austin area, and the city continues to draw talent from around the country thanks to its job opportunities, the lower cost of living compared to tech hub likes the San Francisco Bay Area, and its arts and culture scene, with festivals like South by Southwest and the Austin Film Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The growing presence of tech companies and startups in the area has upped the demand for UX\/UI designers across the board, making Austin one of the top eight cities<\/a> in the U.S. for UX designers when it comes to job openings and compensation. Even the city\u2019s other dominant industries such as higher education, clean technology, advanced manufacturing, and space technology have caught on to the importance of UX\/UI designers<\/a>, which means there\u2019s an increasingly diverse range of opportunities for UX\/UI design experts, more competitive salaries, and greater job security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UX designers and UI designers are in high demand, enjoy generous salaries, and get to solve complex and impactful problems. Read on to learn more about how to get a job as a UX\/UI designer in Austin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to become a UX\/UI designer in Austin<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\n\n<\/div>\n\n
    \n
  1. \n

    Design skills.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  2. \n

    Practice, practice, practice.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  3. \n

    Show that you think about the user.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n
  4. \n

    Get ready to network.<\/p>\n

    <\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s no set path to becoming a UX\/UI designer in Austin, but below are some proven tips to get you closer to that dream UX\/UI design job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Design skills.<\/strong> Regardless of the city or industry in which you choose to work, if you want a career in UX\/UI design<\/a>, you\u2019ll need to equip yourself with some foundational skills such as creating wireframes, user flows, site maps, and high fidelity prototypes; incorporating user research and feedback into graphic design, visual design, and interaction design; performing user testing and being an advocate for the user; proficiency with design tools such as Figma and Photoshop; and collaborating with stakeholders such as product managers and a larger design team. While many of these skills can be self-taught, introductory design courses<\/a> and in-depth UX design bootcamps<\/a> are a great way to fast-track your learning, get you up to speed on design process best practices, and help you build a job-scoring portfolio.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Practice, practice, practice.<\/strong> Find opportunities to apply user-centric design principles to projects. UX\/UI design is a visual field, so create your own sketches, mockups, and storyboards for how a website, platform, or app can be improved; identify usability problems that can be resolved through UX research and brainstorm possible solutions using design thinking. Even if you have to create your own opportunities through personal projects or unsolicited redesigns, this will give you the chance to practice your skills and show a potential hiring manager your passion and enthusiasm for the craft.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Show that you think about the user.<\/strong> Austin has become a tech hub in its own right, but it\u2019s still home to a range of industries that each have different needs when it comes to UX\/UI design. This means that when you\u2019re applying to user experience designer jobs, you\u2019ll need to consider the specific experiences and needs of users and the goals of the product or service. Show that you have curiosity and a creative mindset and are willing to embrace user research insights. Demonstrate domain expertise, what innovation looks like in the company\u2019s field, and that you understand both the company\u2019s mission and how to advocate for the end-user.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Get ready to network.<\/strong> Although Austin has many job openings for UX\/UI designers, competition is fierce for those roles because many of them are at people\u2019s \u201cdream\u201d companies (Google, Apple, Atlassian, Adobe), and there\u2019s a large pool of qualified applicants from the surrounding area\u2019s universities. This means that being skilled, earning a bachelor\u2019s degree or equivalent, and having a few years of experience in UX\/UI design isn\u2019t always enough. Networking is an important part of getting a foot in the door in Austin\u2014many recruiters<\/a> have talked about the significance of making industry connections by attending meetups, proactively reaching out to companies and hiring managers to inquire about opportunities, and attending career fairs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      What kind of UX\/UI design jobs are available in Austin?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Austin\u2019s mix of corporate tech companies, venture-funded startups, and legacy institutions means that there are opportunities for UX\/UI designers at any stage in their career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Companies such as Google, Facebook, and Apple\u2014known for their comprehensive internships and willingness to take on recent graduates\u2014can be an ideal starting point for someone looking for a supportive design team in which to grow; startups hiring their first UX designers can offer opportunities for more experienced designers to take the reins and build out their own team; and institutions such as universities, local and state governments, and energy providers can give UX designers a way of making an impactful difference through design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Companies currently hiring UX\/UI designers in Austin have posted positions that span the experience spectrum. For example, B.well Connected Health, IBM, and Athena health all recently posted job listings for junior UX designers (1-3 years of experience), while companies such as Dell, Amazon, and Indeed sought UX designers with at least 5+ years of experience.<\/p>\n\n\n

      Get To Know Other\tDesign Students<\/h4>
      \"Dominick<\/a>

      Dominick Andre<\/p>

      UX Designer at Fidelity Investments<\/p><\/div>

      <\/div>

      Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>

      \"Sinem<\/a>

      Sinem Ozkaya<\/p>

      UX Designer at Microsoft<\/p><\/div>

      Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div>

      \"Yipeng<\/a>

      Yipeng Wang<\/p>

      UX Researcher at Google<\/p><\/div>

      Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

      What companies are hiring UX\/UI designers in Austin?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Some Austin-based companies (or companies with Austin outposts) that are hiring UX\/UI designers include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n