What Do UX, UI, Visual, Interaction, and Product Designers Actually Do?
This article demystifies the many design titles—UX, UI, visual, interaction, product, and user‑research designers—explaining their core responsibilities, typical deliverables, essential tools, and how they differ across industries, helping readers navigate the confusing landscape of modern design roles.
Design is a broad and vague term; when someone says "I am a designer" it can be hard to know what they actually do.
UX Designer / Interaction Designer
UX (User Experience) designers focus on users' feelings about a product, ensuring logical flows run smoothly and creatively. They conduct user research such as observations, usability tests, and interviews, then explore solutions through brainstorming, storyboards, and prototyping to create the best experience.
Design outputs: flowcharts, site maps, storyboards, wireframes, UI specs, interaction guidelines
Tools: Axure, OmniGraffle, Visio, Sketch, Illustrator, Fireworks, InVision, PowerPoint, Keynote, Photoshop
UI Designer / GUI Designer
UI (User Interface) designers are responsible for the visual aspects of the interface—icons, colors, layout—ensuring the product’s visual presentation aligns with the overall experience. In many companies UI and UX roles overlap, especially in startups.
Design outputs: visual mockups, style guides, UI specifications, high‑fidelity assets
Tools: Photoshop, Sketch, Illustrator, Fireworks, Markman
Visual Designer
Visual designers focus on pixel‑perfect graphics, icons, buttons, and typography, often working at high zoom levels to fine‑tune details that impact the overall aesthetic.
Interaction Designer (Motion Designer)
Interaction designers (often called motion designers) translate concepts into dynamic, animated experiences—such as smooth transitions, menu animations, and interactive feedback—adding visual impact to user actions.
Design outputs: animated GIFs, videos, interactive prototypes
Tools: After Effects, Quartz Composer, Flash, Origami
Product Designer
Product designers are responsible for the overall design of a product, combining user research, interaction design, and visual design to create high‑fidelity prototypes for web and mobile applications.
User Research Engineer (User Research Specialist)
User researchers defend user needs by conducting interviews, surveys, usability tests, and data analysis, producing insights that guide design decisions and A/B testing.
Design outputs: user personas, A/B test reports, usability reports, expert evaluations, focus‑group reports, interview reports, data analysis reports
Tools: Mic, Paper, Docs, PowerPoint, Keynote, Excel, SPSS
*This article was adapted and translated by two contributors, with significant modifications from the original.
Suning Design
Suning Design is the official platform of Suning UED, dedicated to promoting exchange and knowledge sharing in the user experience industry. Here you'll find valuable insights from 200+ UX designers across Suning's eight major businesses: e-commerce, logistics, finance, technology, sports, cultural and creative, real estate, and investment.
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