Illustration inspired by Upperhand Niceshit Studio

UX Isn’t Just for Designers — It’s for Everyone

July 28th, 2025 · 5 min read

When people ask what I do, and I say “I’m a UX Designer,” I usually get a polite smile… followed by: “So… what exactly is that?”

It’s a fair question. UX—or User Experience—can sound vague if you’re not in the world of design. It doesn’t immediately bring to mind a clear job description, like “doctor” or “lawyer” or “software engineer.”

But here’s what I’ve come to realise: UX exists in every field. It’s just that most people don’t know to call it that.

A Simple Definition

User Experience (UX) is the practice of making things easier, clearer, and more efficient for the people who use them.

That might mean designing a digital platform that’s intuitive to use. But it can also mean reworking a hospital check-in process so it’s less overwhelming.

Or helping a logistics company cut errors by making their warehouse software easier for staff to use. Or simplifying a financial form so that everyday people actually understand what they’re signing.

If there’s a system that real people interact with—and if it causes confusion, frustration, mistakes, or delays—UX design is what helps fix it.

An Analogy That Works

Let’s say there’s a hospital where:

The signs are confusing.
The patient intake process takes 30 minutes.
Nurses don’t know where equipment is stored.
Family members can’t figure out where to wait.

Everything technically exists—but the experience is chaotic.

A UX designer steps in—not to treat the patient, but to redesign the flow of care so everyone’s job is easier and the patient’s experience improves.

That might mean redesigning signage, simplifying forms, clarifying roles, or creating a clearer app for communication.

That’s UX. It’s the invisible logic that supports good experiences.

UX Designers Are Problem Solvers

Let’s say there’s a hospital where:

The signs are confusing.
The patient intake process takes 30 minutes.
Nurses don’t know where equipment is stored.
Family members can’t figure out where to wait.

Everything technically exists—but the experience is chaotic.

A UX designer steps in—not to treat the patient, but to redesign the flow of care so everyone’s job is easier and the patient’s experience improves.

That might mean redesigning signage, simplifying forms, clarifying roles, or creating a clearer app for communication.

That’s UX. It’s the invisible logic that supports good experiences.

Let’s say there’s a hospital where:

The signs are confusing.
The patient intake process takes 30 minutes.
Nurses don’t know where equipment is stored.
Family members can’t figure out where to wait.

Everything technically exists—but the experience is chaotic.

A UX designer steps in—not to treat the patient, but to redesign the flow of care so everyone’s job is easier and the patient’s experience improves.

That might mean redesigning signage, simplifying forms, clarifying roles, or creating a clearer app for communication.

That’s UX. It’s the invisible logic that supports good experiences.

Let’s say there’s a hospital where:

The signs are confusing.
The patient intake process takes 30 minutes.
Nurses don’t know where equipment is stored.
Family members can’t figure out where to wait.

Everything technically exists—but the experience is chaotic.

A UX designer steps in—not to treat the patient, but to redesign the flow of care so everyone’s job is easier and the patient’s experience improves.

That might mean redesigning signage, simplifying forms, clarifying roles, or creating a clearer app for communication.

That’s UX. It’s the invisible logic that supports good experiences.

My Journey Into UX

I didn’t start out knowing any of this.

In my second year of university, I chose to study Interaction Design. I thought I’d be learning how to design apps or websites. And I did—but I also learned something more important:

Design is not about screens. It’s about systems. It’s about people.

One of my first projects involved improving services for international students arriving in a new country. We didn’t start with an app. We started with conversations—trying to understand where students felt overwhelmed, unsupported, or confused. Only then did we create solutions that helped them settle in more confidently.

That’s UX.

What Skills Does UX Involve?

People often ask, “What skills do UX designers actually use?”

It’s a mix of technical and human skills:

Technical skills:

User research: Observing people, asking the right questions, gathering insights
Problem framing: Identifying root causes of issues in workflows or systems
Wireframing & prototyping: Sketching or digitally building testable solutions
Testing & iteration: Seeing how people actually use the design—and refining it

Human skills:

Empathy: Understanding how others feel in a situation and designing with care
Communication: Explaining complex ideas clearly, often to non-designers
Collaboration: Working with diverse teams—engineers, clients, users
Critical thinking: Balancing user needs with technical and business constraints

UX is part psychology, part design, part strategy—and all about connecting people with better ways to do what they’re already trying to do.

People often ask, “What skills do UX designers actually use?”

It’s a mix of technical and human skills:

Technical skills:

User research: Observing people, asking the right questions, gathering insights
Problem framing: Identifying root causes of issues in workflows or systems
Wireframing & prototyping: Sketching or digitally building testable solutions
Testing & iteration: Seeing how people actually use the design—and refining it

Human skills:

Empathy: Understanding how others feel in a situation and designing with care
Communication: Explaining complex ideas clearly, often to non-designers
Collaboration: Working with diverse teams—engineers, clients, users
Critical thinking: Balancing user needs with technical and business constraints

UX is part psychology, part design, part strategy—and all about connecting people with better ways to do what they’re already trying to do.

People often ask, “What skills do UX designers actually use?”
It’s a mix of technical and human skills:

Technical skills:

User research: Observing people, asking the right questions, gathering insights
Problem framing: Identifying root causes of issues in workflows or systems
Wireframing & prototyping: Sketching or digitally building testable solutions
Testing & iteration: Seeing how people actually use the design—and refining it

Human skills:

Empathy: Understanding how others feel in a situation and designing with care
Communication: Explaining complex ideas clearly, often to non-designers
Collaboration: Working with diverse teams—engineers, clients, users
Critical thinking: Balancing user needs with technical and business constraints

UX is part psychology, part design, part strategy—and all about connecting people with better ways to do what they’re already trying to do.

Still Learning, Still Curious

I’ll be one of the many to admit: I’m still learning.

The tools we use change constantly. The industries we work in vary widely. And no two projects are ever the same. But the mindset stays consistent: listen first, design second.

That’s why I believe UX designers have a place in every field—because whether you're in healthcare, finance, education, logistics, or public service, there are always systems that could work better for the people who use them.

And if you’ve ever had a moment where you thought, “Why is this so hard to use?”—that’s the kind of problem we try to solve.

UX Is a Team Effort

One thing that some misunderstand is that UX designers work alone. That’s far from true.

We work with the people experiencing the problem. We work with the people building the system. We work with stakeholders who understand the constraints.

We don’t just design for people—we design with them.

Whether it’s a teacher trying to run a class with better tools, or a manager trying to streamline onboarding, or a nurse navigating a new charting system—UX design is what helps make those processes clearer, calmer, and more connected.

A Final Thought

So, if you’re still wondering what UX really is, here’s the simplest way I can put it:

UX is the invisible glue that holds good systems together. It’s what helps people do their jobs better, access services faster, and feel less overwhelmed in the process.

You may not be a designer. But if you care about systems working better for people, you’re already thinking like one.