Where a user interface designer can go next
12 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a user interface designer already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.
User interface designers are in charge of designing user interfaces for applications and systems. They perform layout, graphics and dialogues design activities as well as adaptation activities.
Also known as UI designer, accessibility designer, user interface designers.
Professionals 95 skills on file 12 career moves 3 above 60% overlap Closest: numerical tool and process control programmer, 66%
- 70% and above · short step
- 50 to 70% · real move
- Below 50% · substantial retraining
Table 2 · A bigger jump
Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.
- digital games designer 60% covered · difficulty 55.7
- user interface developer 59% covered · difficulty 55.7
- software architect 53% covered · difficulty 59.7
- 3D modeller 51% covered · difficulty 60.1
- digital media designer 50% covered · difficulty 63.9
- computer science lecturer 48% covered · difficulty 69.4
- software analyst 47% covered · difficulty 66.1
- knowledge engineer 47% covered · difficulty 65.6
- ICT system architect 46% covered · difficulty 66.8
- embedded system designer 45% covered · difficulty 65.6
Table 3 · What the job itself asks for
A user interface designer needs 27 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.
- software UI design patterns information and communication technologies (icts)
- test system accessibility for users with special needs information skills
- use methodologies for user-centered design communication, collaboration and creativity
- assess users' interaction with ICT applications management skills
- create website wireframe working with computers
- ICT accessibility standards information and communication technologies (icts)
- software interaction design information and communication technologies (icts)
- human-computer interaction information and communication technologies (icts)
- interact with users to gather requirements communication, collaboration and creativity
- application usability information and communication technologies (icts)
Table 4 · Jobs that lead here
The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a user interface designer does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.
Look up another occupation
User interface designer is filed under Professionals, ISCO major group 2. The full index lists all ten groups.
How these figures were compiled
Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a user interface designer’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.