{"id":7712,"date":"2023-12-26T06:25:41","date_gmt":"2023-12-26T14:25:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/?p=7712"},"modified":"2024-02-07T04:42:26","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T12:42:26","slug":"ux-researcher-vs-ux-designer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/ux-researcher-vs-ux-designer\/","title":{"rendered":"UX Researcher vs. UX Designer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you search on Glassdoor for UX jobs, you\u2019ll find nearly 26,000 postings. UX is a growing, thriving field, and demand is at an all-time high. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">User experience is about making products, websites, apps, and other pieces of technology as easy to use as possible. While aesthetics is a component of a good website or product, it\u2019s not the primary goal of UX\u2014function is. More specifically: UX designers are concerned with ways to make the product function as easily as possible so the consumer will want to use it. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to make a consumer-friendly product, a UX designer must understand the customer. What do they want? What motivates them? What do they like, what do they dislike, and what will keep them coming back? This is where a UX research comes in. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to better understand the difference between a UX researcher vs. UX designer, let\u2019s take a look at what their primary roles and responsibilities are, what backgrounds are best suited for each, and what the salary range is for both.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UX Researcher vs. Designer: What\u2019s The Difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some companies (often smaller ones), the role of UX researcher and designer are performed by the same person. It\u2019s advisable, however, to have a seperate UX research team and if you\u2019re considering going into user experience or user research, it\u2019s important to know what you\u2019re getting yourself into. <\/span>UX design and user research are very different. <\/p>\n\n\n<style>.blog-cta-salsey-01 {\toverflow: hidden;\t}\t.blog-cta-salsey-01-img {\tmax-width: 160px !important;\t}\t@media (min-width: 768px) {\t.blog-cta-salsey-01-content {\tmax-width: calc(100% - 281px);\t}\t.blog-cta-salsey-01-img {\tposition: absolute;\tmax-width: 100% !important;\tright: -10px;\tbottom: -10px;\t}\t}<\/style><div class=\"blog-cta-salsey-01 bg-blue-50 p-3 my-5 position-relative\"><div class=\"d-block d-md-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"212\" height=\"232\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ui-ux-design-student.png\" alt=\"UI\/UX design student\" class=\"blog-cta-salsey-01-img mb-3 mb-md-0\" \/><div class=\"blog-cta-salsey-01-content\"><div class=\"d-flex align-items-center mb-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"pe-2\" width=\"86\" height=\"71\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/job-guarantee-heading-badge.png\" alt=\"Job Guarantee\" style=\"mix-blend-mode: multiply\"><h4 class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Become A UX Designer. Land a Job or Your Money Back.<\/h4><\/div><p>Master Adobe XD, Figma, and Sketch. Work 1:1 with an industry mentor. Build a portfolio. Land a job \u2014 or your money back.<\/p><p class=\"mb-sm-0\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary btn-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/courses\/ui-ux-design-career-track\/#job-guarantee\">Start designing<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are the key differences between a UX researcher vs. UX designer: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>UX Researcher: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before a UX designer can begin the design stage of a project, he must understand who he is designing for. Who is the target market? What motivates them? How will the product improve their lives? Without these insights, it\u2019s impossible to design a good product. Finding the answers to these questions is the role of a UX researcher<\/span> and UX research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you can infer from the job title, a UX researcher\u2019s main goal is research. A UX researcher analyzes consumer behavior and forms data-driven insights to address the needs of the consumers. Once they have these insights, they turn them over to the larger UX design team so they can create products that meet the needs of their audience. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>User experience (UX) research<\/strong> is the process of understanding users, what they need, what they value, their abilities, and their limitations. It is a critical part of the design process, helping to ensure that products and services are user-friendly and meet the needs of the target audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a variety of <strong>UX research methods<\/strong> that can be used, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>User interviews:<\/strong>&nbsp;One-on-one or group interviews with users to gather insights about their needs,&nbsp;wants,&nbsp;and pain points.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Usability testing:<\/strong>&nbsp;Evaluating how users interact with a product or service to identify any usability problems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Surveys:<\/strong>&nbsp;Gathering feedback from a large number of users through online or offline surveys.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Card sorting:<\/strong>&nbsp;Asking users to group related items together to understand how they organize information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tree testing:<\/strong>&nbsp;Asking users to navigate through a hierarchical structure to assess how easy it is to find the information they need.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A\/B testing:<\/strong>&nbsp;Testing two different versions of a product or service to see which one performs better.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Quantitative UX research<\/strong> focuses on collecting and analyzing numerical data to identify patterns and trends. This type of research can be used to understand user demographics, preferences, and behaviors. <strong>Qualitative UX research<\/strong>, on the other hand, focuses on collecting and analyzing non-numerical data, such as user feedback and observations. This type of research can be used to understand users&#8217; motivations, needs, and pain points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UX research<\/strong> is used throughout the design process, from understanding user needs to evaluating the final product or service. It is an essential tool for creating user-friendly and successful products and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some examples of how <strong>UX research<\/strong> is used in the design process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>User personas:<\/strong> During&nbsp;UX research, the researcher will create user personas to represent different types of users.&nbsp;User testing helps designers to understand the needs,&nbsp;wants,&nbsp;and pain points of each type of user (user behavior).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>User flows:<\/strong>&nbsp;UX research creates user flows to map out how users move through a product or service.&nbsp;This helps designers to identify potential usability problems and design for efficient user journeys, known as usability research. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Information architecture:<\/strong>&nbsp;UX researchers help to develop the information architecture of a product or service.&nbsp;This includes organizing and structuring the content in a way that is easy for users to understand and navigate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>User testing:<\/strong>&nbsp;During UX research, researchers conduct user tests to evaluate how users interact with a product or service.&nbsp;This helps designers to identify any usability problems and make improvements before the product or service is launched.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Final user interface testing:<\/strong>&nbsp;UX researchers conduct final user interface testing to evaluate the final version of a product or service to ensure that user interfaces are user-friendly and meets the needs of the target audience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>UX research<\/strong> is a critical part of the design process, helping to ensure that products and services are user-friendly and meet the needs of the target audience. Senior UX designers play a key role in leading and overseeing the UX research process. They work closely with other members of the design team, such as product designers, interaction design professionals, and information architecture professionals, to ensure that the UX research findings are incorporated into the design process. Different research methods may be deployed, including quantitative user research or analyzing existing quantitative data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/what-does-a-ux-designer-do\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5182\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UX Designer<\/a>: <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A UX designer\u2019s job is to design a user-friendly product that addresses the needs of the consumer. Only after a UX designer has a firm grasp on the target market can she begin the design process. The UX designer gains this awareness from the UX researcher\u2019s findings. <\/span><\/b>UX design methods may vary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Again, a UX researcher\u2019s primary goal is to understand what motivates the consumer. A UX designer\u2019s primary goal is to design a product that the customer will want to use based on insights provided by the UX researcher. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now let\u2019s look at how they do this. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UX Researcher vs. UX Designer: What They Do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re looking to break into a new field, it\u2019s imperative to know what you\u2019ll do day in and day out. Let\u2019s take a look at how a UX researcher&#8217;s typical day differs from a UX designer\u2019s. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does a UX Researcher Do?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UX researchers employ a mix of quantitative and qualitative research to get to know a target market. If you don\u2019t know the difference between qualitative and quantitative, you can think of quantitative research as measurable and qualitative as more subjective. For example, if you look at the bounce rate of your website (i.e., the percentage of people who leave your website after viewing just one page) you would be looking at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/quantitative-data\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/data-analytics\/quantitative-data\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">quantitative data<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you wanted to know why they left, this would fall under qualitative. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UX designers and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/becoming-a-ux-researcher\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/becoming-a-ux-researcher\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UX researchers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> employ a few methods for studying consumer behavior. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Observation: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They observe people interacting with a product and look for unspoken clues to understand what a person thinks about it. Do they find it easy to use? Did their behavior reflect what the UX designer intended them to do? <\/span>This market research can inform a lot of decisions. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Interviews:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> UX researchers conduct face-to-face Interviews, either one-on-one or via focus groups. They can ask specific questions, engage in conversation, or just observe the participants in their natural settings to see how they interact with the product<\/span> (usability testing). <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>User Surveys: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UX research can involve online user surveys to get people\u2019s thoughts on a product or website. <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Usability Testing: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once a UX designer has created a prototype of a product, the UX researcher can conduct <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">usability tests<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Researchers can share prototypes with a target audience to see how they interact with them. Usability testing can be done either in person or online, and the tester is encouraged to talk through their thought process as they navigate the product.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Does a UX Designer Do?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While a UX researcher\u2019s objective is to understand what motivates a customer, a UX designer is tasked with taking the UX researcher\u2019s customer insights and turning them into actionable, consumer-centric results that resonate with the audience. (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find out more about <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/what-is-ux-design\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4917\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UX design<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/how-to-become-a-ux-designer\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"5033\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">expert tips on becoming a UX designer<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once a UX designer has a solid understanding of the target market (thanks to the researcher\u2019s findings during user research, and user testing), she can begin the design process.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A UX designer typically starts by creating <\/span><b>sketches or wireframes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to show others how the product will function, and <\/span><b>mood boards<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to help others envision how the final product will look. Finally, he will create a prototype, which is a simulation of the final product.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The goal of a prototype is to test the flow of design and gather feedback from both internal and external parties before the final product is built. This is something the UX researcher can help with. Prototypes are fluid and can be edited based on user feedback. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><i><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you understand the ins and outs of a UX researcher and UX designer\u2019s day, let\u2019s take a look at what the roles require.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UX Researcher vs. UX Designer: Role Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to understand the difference in UX researcher vs. UX designer role requirements, we visited Glassdoor and looked at current job openings to see what companies are looking for in prospective employees.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Requirements for a UX Researcher?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You don\u2019t need a specific degree to be a UX researcher, but you should have experience with technology and an understanding of people\u2019s behavior. Common backgrounds include (but are not limited to) psychology, anthropology, sociology, marketing and communications, and information science<\/span><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of the job postings we looked at, common requirements include: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deep knowledge of an array of user research methodologies<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ability to frame key questions, create research plans to address those, conduct research, and synthesize the findings into meaningful, actionable insights<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Passion for defining and solving problems<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ability to design and conduct usability studies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">i.e., identify potential solution options for a stated user need and design experiments that help elicit the most viable solution for users<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experience managing communications with users and stakeholders<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experience integrating user research into product designs and design practices<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experience in survey design (i.e., qualtrics)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Working knowledge of statistics and experimental design<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong ability to generate and communicate compelling and actionable insights, both verbally and visually<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and presentation<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Requirements for a UX Designer?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similar to a researcher, you don\u2019t need a specific degree to become a UX designer. In fact, most UX designers are actually self-taught \u200b(to a certain degree) but share soft skills such as curiosity, passion, empathy, and time management. That being said, for those with college degrees, common fields are similar to those of a researcher and include psychology, computer science, anthropology, and information science. <\/span>UX design may require technical skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of the job postings we looked at, common requirements include: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3+ years of experience in UX design<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong understanding of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/ux-design-process\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3640\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UX process<\/a><\/span> and interaction design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mastery of design and prototyping tools such as Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision Axure, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Endless curiosity about people, technology, design, and life<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strong problem-solving skills<\/span> and understanding of market research<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experience interacting with clients and the ability to speak about your work with passion and data<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demonstrated skills in creating process flows, sitemaps, wireframes, prototypes, and other UX deliverables<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Produce clear, user-centric design across mobile, desktop, web, and hardware endpoints<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contribute to all aspects of design including requirement defining, user research, workflow diagramming, detailed design, development of use cases and scenarios, and engineering support<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Partner closely with developers, QA, and product managers to rapidly iterate on designs based on user feedback, tech constraints, and market dynamics<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"bg-leaf-50 p-4 my-3\"><h4 class=\"fw-bold text-center\">Get To Know Other\tDesign Students<\/h4><div class=\"row row-cols-1 row-cols-lg-3\"><div class=\"col\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/natalie-breuner\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1629203191\/Student%20Success\/Natalie_Breuner_125x125.png\" alt=\"Natalie Breuner\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Natalie Breuner<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">UX Designer And Researcher at Magoosh<\/p><\/div><div class=\"w-100 d-block d-md-none mt-3\"><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/natalie-breuner\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"col d-none d-md-block\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/bria-fauntleroy\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1659150297\/Student%20Success\/Bria_Fauntleroy.jpg\" alt=\"Bria Fauntleroy\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Bria Fauntleroy<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">Springboard X Blacks In Technology Fellow at Springboard<\/p><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/bria-fauntleroy\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"col d-none d-md-block\"><div class=\"card success-story-card h-100 d-flex justify-content-between mb-0\"><div class=\"flex-grow-1 text-center\"><a class=\"d-inline-block rounded-circle\" href=\"\/success\/bre-walker\" style=\"width:125px;height:125px;overflow:hidden\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/springboard-images\/image\/upload\/v1629203192\/Student%20Success\/Bre_Walker_125x125.png\" alt=\"Bre Walker\" style=\"object-fit:contain;max-width:170px;height:125px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"fw-bold mb-0\">Bre Walker<\/p><p class=\"text-muted lh-1\">UX Designer at KeyBank<\/p><\/div><p class=\"mb-0 mx-auto text-center\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary mx-auto\" href=\"\/success\/bre-walker\">Read Story<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Researcher vs. UX Designer: Role Responsibilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A researcher\u2019s primary job is to understand the target market so the UX designer can design a product they\u2019ll like. This is done through a variety of research techniques. We returned to those Glassdoor job postings to find some real-life examples:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Role Responsibilities for a UX Researcher?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/job-listing\/user-experience-researcher-google-JV_IC1132348_KO0,26_KE27,33.htm?jl=3062946418&amp;ctt=1560462278839\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google\u2019s<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> New York City office is currently hiring a UX researcher whose primary objective will be to \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reveal what our users need from our products by conducting primary research, exploring the behaviors and motivations of our users, and working with teams of designers, product managers, engineers, and others to develop new features.\u201d &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1012\" height=\"545\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image2-1.png\" alt=\"Google\u2019s NYC campus is currently hiring a UX researcher \" class=\"wp-image-7731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image2-1.png 1012w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image2-1-400x215.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image2-1-768x414.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image2-1-380x205.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image2-1-700x377.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image2-1-380x205.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1012px) 100vw, 1012px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The salary range is estimated by Glassdoor to be as high as $154,000.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">San Francisco-based <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/job-listing\/ux-researcher-gusto-JV_IC1147401_KO0,13_KE14,19.htm?jl=3112627532&amp;ctt=1560462521577\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gusto<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is looking to hire its first embedded UX researcher to help the company \u201cdeeply understand the goals and experiences of small business owners &amp; operators, so we can empower them with great systems for payroll, employee on-boarding, benefits, performance reviews, and more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1018\" height=\"336\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4.png\" alt=\"San Francisco-based Gusto is looking to hire its first embedded UX researcher\" class=\"wp-image-7732\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4.png 1018w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4-400x132.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4-768x253.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4-380x125.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4-700x231.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image4-380x125.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1018px) 100vw, 1018px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The salary range is estimated by Glassdoor to be slightly over $109,000.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/job-listing\/ux-researcher-grubhub-JV_IC1128808_KO0,13_KE14,21.htm?jl=3177020739&amp;ctt=1560462765543\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grubhub<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is seeking a UX researcher for its Chicago office who can \u201ctake our usability practice to the next level. This candidate will design and conduct usability tests frequently and efficiently. They will be responsible for designing test plans, recruiting users, moderating tests, analyzing results, and presenting insights.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"526\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image7.png\" alt=\"GrubHub is seeking a UX researcher for its Chicago office\" class=\"wp-image-7733\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image7.png 1016w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image7-400x207.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image7-768x398.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image7-380x197.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image7-700x362.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image7-380x197.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The salary range is estimated by Glassdoor to be approximately $76,000.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Are the Role Responsibilities for a UX Designer?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High-end&nbsp;jeweler <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/job-listing\/digital-ux-designer-tiffany-JV_IC1132348_KO0,19_KE20,27.htm?jl=3232315734&amp;ctt=1560877425017\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tiffany &amp; Co.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is currently hiring a UX designer for its New York City headquarters to \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">play a key role in supporting the UX team by producing assets and artifacts for marketing campaigns, e-commerce enhancements, new omnichannel initiatives, and contributing to the holistic digital strategy at Tiffany through a user-centric perspective.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The company breaks down the role into three key areas: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/digital-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/digital-design\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">digital design<\/a>, communication, and research:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1007\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image9.png\" alt=\"Tiffany &amp; Co. is currently hiring a UX designer\" class=\"wp-image-7734\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image9.png 1007w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image9-400x140.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image9-768x269.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image9-380x133.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image9-700x245.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image9-380x133.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1007px) 100vw, 1007px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(The salary range is estimated by Glassdoor to be as high as $88,000.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">San Francisco\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/job-listing\/ux-designer-shopstyle-JV_IC1147401_KO0,11_KE12,21.htm?jl=3268710580&amp;ctt=1560877650480\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ShopStyle<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> says prospective UX designers \u201cshould have <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">empathy for our users, be a creative problem solver, be able to articulate the reasons behind a design, and have the ability to manage multiple projects. The ideal candidate has experience across many design disciplines and is highly knowledgeable about the latest interaction and design standards.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Responsibilities include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"986\" height=\"246\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image5.png\" alt=\"San Francisco\u2019s ShopStyle is looking for UX designers\" class=\"wp-image-7735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image5.png 986w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image5-400x100.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image5-768x192.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image5-380x95.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image5-700x175.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image5-380x95.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 986px) 100vw, 986px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Glassdoor does not have an estimated salary for this position, but the average salary for a UX designer in the San Francisco area with around three years of experience is $97,000).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/job-listing\/ux-designer-ibm-JV_IC1128808_KO0,11_KE12,15.htm?jl=3261704082&amp;ctt=1560877983780\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IBM<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is currently seeking a UX designer for its Chicago office. Specifically, the company wants \u201c<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an experienced User Experience Designer with a proven record of delivering irresistible solutions which address our customers most challenging business problems and opportunities. The ideal candidate will have experience collaborating effectively with Product Management and engineering in agile and lean delivery methodologies.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1012\" height=\"365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-1.png\" alt=\"IBM is currently seeking a UX designer for its Chicago office\" class=\"wp-image-7736\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-1.png 1012w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-1-400x144.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-1-768x277.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-1-380x137.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-1-700x252.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image3-1-380x137.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1012px) 100vw, 1012px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Glassdoor does not have an estimated salary for this position, but the average salary for a UX designer in the Chicago area with around three years of experience is $74,000).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you have an idea of what real companies are looking for in a UX researcher vs. UX designer, let\u2019s move on to arguably the best part: salary.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UX Researcher vs. UX Designer: How Much Do They Earn?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UX researcher and UX designer salaries are fairly comparable from a national standpoint but can vary greatly based on location. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Does a UX Researcher Make?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"669\" height=\"403\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image6.png\" alt=\"UX researcher salaries\" class=\"wp-image-7737\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image6.png 669w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image6-400x241.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image6-380x229.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image6-380x229.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 669px) 100vw, 669px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/Salaries\/ux-researcher-salary-SRCH_KO0,13.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Glassdoor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the national average base salary for a UX researcher is $93,152. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziprecruiter.com\/Salaries\/User-Experience-Researcher-Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ZipRecruiter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lists an annual salary of $107,400.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In order to get a better idea of regional differences, we looked at the average base pay for UX researchers in a few key markets with thriving tech sectors (we were very surprised by Chicago): <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">San Francisco: $111,781 (+20% national average)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New York: $97,775 (+5% national average)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chicago: $74,350 (-20% national average)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boston: $85,733 (-5% national average)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seattle: $96,660 (+4% national average)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now let\u2019s take a look at the national averages for UX designers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Does a UX Designer Make?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like UX research, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/highest-paying-ux-careers\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/highest-paying-ux-careers\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UX design roles pay pretty well<\/a>\u2014for entry-level, mid-level, and senior levels. It\u2019s worth noting, however, that the \u201cuser experience designer\u201d category is a broad one, and that has an impact on average salaries.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/Salaries\/ux-designer-salary-SRCH_KO0,11.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Glassdoor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the national average base salary for a UX designer is $90,067. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ziprecruiter.com\/Salaries\/User-Experience-Designer-Salary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ZipRecruiter<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lists an annual salary of $97,789.)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"988\" height=\"388\" src=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-1.png\" alt=\"UX designer salaries\" class=\"wp-image-7738\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-1.png 988w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-1-400x157.png 400w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-1-768x302.png 768w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-1-380x149.png 380w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-1-700x275.png 700w, https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/image1-1-380x149.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 988px) 100vw, 988px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We wanted to see how the average UX designer salary fared in the aforementioned key cities, so we went back to Glassdoor:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">San Francisco: $109,062 (+20% national average)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New York: $94,253 (+4% national average)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chicago: $83,090 (-8% national average)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boston: $88,623 (-2% national average)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seattle: $98,775 (+9% national average)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you can see from the above, the salaries are fairly comparable by market, even in cities where they\u2019re well below the national average.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Related<\/strong>:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/ux-designer-salary-guide\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/design\/ux-designer-salary-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The State of UX Salaries in 2019<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Exploring the Intersection of UX Design and UX Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The ever-evolving world of user experience (UX) thrives on two crucial pillars: UX designers who craft the visual landscapes, and UX researchers who delve into the minds and hearts of users, uncovering their needs and desires. We\u2019ve spoken a lot about the differences between these two fields, but in reality the two roles share a synergistic relationship, each contributing invaluable insights to ensure a seamless and satisfying user experience. They have a lot in common and you may end up working in either (or both) UX design and UX research:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shared Mission, Different Methods<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Both UX designers and UX researchers are united by a shared mission: to create exceptional user experiences. However, their approaches differ. UX researchers wield the tools of research methods like surveys, interviews, and usability testing to gather valuable insights into user behavior, motivations, and pain points. They act as detectives, uncovering hidden truths and illuminating the path for UX designers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UX designers, armed with this valuable knowledge, translate abstract user needs into tangible solutions. They are the artists and architects, weaving visual design, information architecture, and interaction design into a cohesive tapestry that guides users effortlessly through their journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Ground, Specialized Skillsets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While their specific skillsets diverge, UX designers and UX researchers share common ground in several areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Empathy: Both must possess a deep understanding of human psychology and user behavior.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communication: Strong communication skills are vital for collaboration, both within the UX team and with other stakeholders like developers, product managers, and marketing teams.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Problem-solving: Both roles are dedicated to identifying and solving user-centered problems, ultimately contributing to a better user experience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Specialties within the Fold<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Both UX design and UX research offer avenues for specialization. Within UX design, specializations might include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visual Designer: Masters of aesthetics, they focus on the visual elements of the interface, utilizing skills like typography, color theory, and layout.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interaction Designer: They craft the flow and interactivity of the interface, ensuring smooth and intuitive user interactions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Product Designer: Taking a holistic approach, they oversee the entire product design process, encompassing both visual and interactive design.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, UX research offers specializations like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>User Research Specialist: Skilled in conducting research studies and analyzing data to uncover user insights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Information Architect: Focuses on organizing and structuring content in a way that is easy for users to find and understand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content Strategist: Creates and curates content that aligns with user needs and business goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Breaking Down the Wall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Many companies, especially smaller ones, might not have the luxury of a separate UX research team. In such cases, UX designers often wear both hats, conducting their own research alongside their design work. While this requires an expanded skillset, it also fosters a deeper understanding of the user and how their needs translate into design solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Importance of Collaboration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite their differences, UX designers and UX researchers rely heavily on each other. UX researchers provide the foundation of user understanding, ensuring designers work with the right information in hand. In turn, designers deliver tangible solutions that researchers can test and refine, creating a continuous feedback loop for better user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding the difference between UX and UI allows you to place your skills and aspirations in the right place. Whether you prefer the artistry of UX design or the investigative work of UX research, both contribute significantly to the success of any product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, which path suits you best? Take a closer look at the specific tasks, educational backgrounds, and job titles associated with each role. Consider your strengths, interests, and desired UX career trajectory. Remember, there are many ways to contribute to a successful product, and both UX research and UX design offer rewarding paths to a fulfilling career in the ever-evolving world of user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately, the most successful products are born from the shared passion and expertise of both UX designers and UX researchers. By working in tandem, they create experiences that not only look good but also feel intuitive, engaging, and truly resonate with users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is just a brief overview of the complex and dynamic relationship between UX designers and UX researchers. As the field continues to evolve, their roles will likely become even more integrated and crucial to shaping the future of user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We hope this helps clear up the difference between UX researcher vs. UX designer and can help guide you down the right path. As you can see, salary shouldn\u2019t be a determining factor, as the roles pay pretty comparable salaries. What should be the deciding factor is what you enjoy. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What Are the Differences Between UX Designers and UX Researchers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UX design and UX research are closely related, but very different &#8211; and so are the duties of UX designers and UX researchers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UX researchers act as the detectives of the UX field, conducting qualitative and quantitative research to understand user needs, user behavior, and motivations. This involves activities like usability research, creating user journey maps, and gaining a deep understanding of their target users\u2019 goals through various UX research methods. During the initial stage they may begin by analyzing data related to the user\u2019s experience, e.g. customer feedback received through the CRM system, customer surveys, and other research methods.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UX research forms the foundation for UX design decisions. UX researchers provide recommendations and data-driven evidence to guide how the product should be designed and function. UX researchers work closely with UX designers, product managers, and developers to ensure user needs are prioritized throughout the design and product development process. UX research and usability researchers help create a positive user experience. The UX field is vast, and UX researchers are incredibly important.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UX designers insights gleaned from user research and transform them into tangible solutions. This involves activities like organizing the content and functionality of the user interface in a logical and user-friendly way. UX designers don\u2019t conduct user research, but they may act as visual designers to create rough and detailed mockups of the interface to use in research. They also work in graphic design &#8211; choosing colors, fonts, and layouts to create an aesthetically pleasing and intuitive interface is all part of their job description.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UX designers constantly test and refine their designs based on user feedback, ensuring the final product is user-friendly and meets user needs.They use their visual design skills to communicate the product&#8217;s value proposition and functionality to users in a clear and engaging way. UX designing forms an important part of the design-thinking process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you love conducting research and learning what makes people tick, then perhaps you\u2019d be better suited as a UX researcher. If you prefer that someone else conduct the research so you can focus more on the design process to deliver a product that consumers will enjoy, then maybe you\u2019d be better suited as a UX designer.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoy both? Consider finding a small company where the UX designer does the work of the UX researcher, too.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#efeff6\"><strong>Since you&#8217;re here&#8230;<br><\/strong>Interested in a career in UX design? Rise to the top of the CV pile when you enroll in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/courses\/ux-career-track\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UX Bootcamp<\/a>. Or, take a look at our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/reviews\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">student reviews<\/a> and test out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/resources\/learning-paths\/user-experience-design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free UX course<\/a> to get a feel for our style and results. TL;DR: average starting salaries for our students = $85,440. Let\u2019s do this.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you search on Glassdoor for UX jobs, you\u2019ll find nearly 26,000 postings. UX is a growing, thriving field, and demand is at an all-time high. User experience is about making products, websites, apps, and other pieces of technology as easy to use as possible. While aesthetics is a component of a good website or [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":7739,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","_eb_data_table":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[123],"tags":[],"marketing_tags":[1466],"class_list":{"0":"post-7712","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-design"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7712"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/49"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7712"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53450,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7712\/revisions\/53450"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7712"},{"taxonomy":"marketing_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/marketing_tags?post=7712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}