Why UX/UI Design Is the Career for Artists

It’s an unlikely pairing: art and tech. And yet we see it seemingly everywhere we look, from digital art to films with animation or special effects.

Not only are artists discovering the power and advantages of leveraging technology in their work, but they’re also realizing their place in the broader tech world. After all, what makes many of the tools and software we use today so lovely to look at is the creative minds that mold it alongside engineers, product managers, data scientists, and other so-called “techies.”

Many of those creatives hold the specific title of UX/UI designer. Below, we’ll explore what a job in UX/UI design entails, as well as the perks it can provide aspiring and even veteran artists.

What is UX/UI design, anyway?

The buttons you push, the pages you navigate, the layout of websites, the images, videos, and text you see — all of this is ideated and organized by a UX and/or UI designer. 

Both roles specialize in prototyping, conducting user testing, and collaborating across tech teams to ensure a great final product. But they also differ slightly in other ways.

A user interface designer is generally focused on the overall appearance of a service or product — typography, color, aesthetic, style, and other visuals that make a webpage both attractive and unique to the brand or audience. 

A user experience designer, on the other hand, cares more about the journey a customer or client takes, such as the pages they end up on based on where they click. Their job is to map out pathways and predict user behavior so that whoever interacts with the technology can easily and successfully get what they need.

This isn’t to say that a UI designer doesn’t care about the user experience. How they decide on visual elements is highly dependent on where the company wants people to gravitate or the kind of thoughts or emotions they want to evoke in consumers. And UX designers take as much care in visuals as UI designers because that’s the best way to get users to continue on the suggested path — hence why the two expertises need to work closely together, and why designers might train up in both niches to stay competitive.

Why UX/UI design is the ideal profession for artists

Maybe you hear the words “prototyping” or “user experience” and clam up, convinced the job is way too technical for your background. On the contrary, as an artist, you’re in the perfect position to land a job in UX/UI design — here’s why:

1. You’ve got that creative vision down pat

Not many people in this world can look at a canvas, or a wall, or a pile of clay, and see its potential to be something greater. Similarly, not many people can take mundane text or a jumble of code and turn it into a stunning piece of software.

Sure, you’ve never done it before — but you have an unteachable eye for beauty and a confidence many creatives in the corporate world lack when it comes to visual representations.

2. You’re probably already trained up on the necessary tools and skills

Some artists work solely in the physical — sculpting, drawing, painting, playing instruments, building. But many nowadays, even as they specialize or prefer physical tools, also know how to use digital tools like the Adobe Suite or devices like an iPad and stylus.

If that’s you, you’re already halfway there to becoming a UX/UI designer. Even if the tools you’re familiar with aren’t a tech company’s primary focus, you still know how to work within certain frameworks. Plus, having some exposure to tech makes you that much better and faster at adopting new software and hardware.

Most importantly, you can prove to employers that you see the value of technology and are open and willing to learn more about the latest innovations — a mindset they tend to care about more often than technical expertise.

3. You have the empathy and ability to make a real impact

Many artists don’t just want to create something that’s pretty, fun, or entertaining — they also want to provoke a feeling, project an idea or opinion, or empower individuals to take action.

As a UX/UI designer, you’ll often have the power and influence to make real change in the world, depending on the company you work for and the mission they represent. Consider the nonprofits that could reach more people with the right online presence, or the small businesses who struggle to promote useful products because their checkout experience is a drag. Taking a job in tech doesn’t mean you have to “sell your soul,” or even work for the generic “tech company”_{What Is a Technical Job, and What Does “Working in Tech” Really Mean?} — there are so many employers out there doing good things that could benefit from your creative mind and unique perspective.

Bonus benefit: It pays well — if not better than other art and design jobs

UX/UI design allows you to do all the stuff you love, while also getting paid_{How Artists Can Unlock Financial Freedom} what you’re truly worth. 

According to the latest data from salary platform Glassdoor, UX/UI designers can make up to $160,000 a year, with the average annual income for this job landing at around $85,000. Where you're located can bump this median up — in California, for example, UX/UI designers_{Demystifying UX/UI Design: The Power of User Experience} make around $95,000 a year thanks to the state’s large pool of tech employers, while in Washington that number is even higher at $100,000 a year.

See if UX/UI design is the path for you

Making the leap from musician or writer to UX/UI designer can start today with our free, two-minute tech career quiz. In it, we’ll help you parse through your skill set and interests to uncover whether design is really the career for you. 

Once completed, you can explore our bootcamp offerings — tailored to beginners from all fields — speak with one of our career advisors, or read how our students took their tech ambitions to the next level.