Have you ever rage-quit an app because you couldn’t find the checkout button? Or have you seen your parents struggle with an app that they asked you for help with?
What you’ve just experienced bad UX design.
UX (short for user experience) design combines problem-solving and visual design to make digital products feel intuitive and rewarding to use.
Basically, it revolves around our behaviours and building apps or websites that are useful, and ideally, enjoyable to use.
UX design is, well, about design but Tanvi Pisal became a UX designer by chance.She wanted to “explore something that bridged the gap between design and software.”
“And then, I accidentally stumbled upon UX design,” says the master’s graduate from San José State University.
What exactly does a UX designer do?
Unlike the stereotype of designers simply “making things pretty,” UX designers like Pisal spend their time understanding users, solving problems, and thinking about how digital products work from start to finish.
Or as Pisal puts it: “UX is what you feel.”
However, a UX designer’s day is rarely spent just moving buttons around. It actually involves a surprising amount of strategy, communication, and problem-solving.
Pisal explains that her day-to-day work included meeting stakeholders, gathering product requirements, conducting user research, testing designs, and collaborating with developers and product managers.
“Designing a screen is only one tiny part of the process,” she says. “The most important thing is system-level thinking.”
That means UX designers are often asking questions like:
- Does this feature solve an actual problem?
- What frustrations might users face?
- How does this design convince users to click the checkout button?
- Does this website support business goals?
Wait, but what’s the difference between UX and UI?
A simple answer: They’re often bundled together, but they’re not the same thing.
According to Pisal, UX focuses on how people interact with a product, while UI (user interface design) is the visual layer users see on screen.
Think of it this way: if an app were a restaurant, UX would be the entire dining experience — how easy it is to book a table, read the menu, and pay the bill. UI would be the decor, lighting, and plating on the food.
TL;DR: A beautiful app with confusing navigation = Great UI but terrible UX.
Pisal graduated with a First Class with Distinction for her Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Savitribai Phule Pune University. Source: Tanvi Pisal
Everything you need to become a UX designer
If you’re interested to follow the same career path as Pisal, here’s some good news: there is no single “correct” path into UX design.
“There’s no specific degree for UX, “ she explains. “Unlike medicine and law, UX is still a relatively young industry. Many designers stumble into it accidentally, including me.”
Pisal pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from the Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master of Science in Human Computer Interaction from San José State University.
Again, there’s not much to do with design in both degrees.
But she found a way to break into the industry.
Networking
You’ll probably hear this a lot in other jobs, but Pisal notes that it is key.
When she first explored the field six years ago, there were far fewer UX professionals online. She reached out to designers directly, attended boot camps, and spoke to people already working in the industry.
“That’s the best place to start,” she says. “Talk to people in the design industry and learn about their experiences.”
Pisal was actually laid off twice in less than three months, and rather than just applying blindly for jobs, she first turned to her connections to ask if there were any job opportunities — and there were. She even got advice from those around her.
A strong portfolio
In UX, your portfolio is everything.
Pisal shares that employers are less interested in where you studied and more interested in how you think.
“You have to tell user stories and product stories,” she explains. “A really good project in your portfolio shows how experienced you are.”
Strong portfolios usually include:
- Real design problems
- Research and testing processes
- Clear explanations behind design decisions
- Evidence of strategic thinking
And yes, recruiters can tell when a project was thrown together overnight.
Do you really need a degree? Not really, but you should still get one
A degree can help, but it isn’t exactly the golden ticket many people assume it is.
Pisal believes degrees provide structure, networking, opportunities, and credibility, but she emphasises that practical skills matter more.
“What matters most is how you build your portfolio and whether you can solve problems with empathy,” she says.
It’s a realistic warning about the current job market.
UX roles are often more competitive than software engineering jobs, particularly for graduates and international students.
“If a tech company has 10 people in a team,” Pisal explains. “Eight might be software engineers, one product manager, and one a UX designer.”
The salary gap is another reality worth acknowledging. Despite being a competitive field, you won’t get paid more than a software engineer.
