A company uses UX to enhance the experience and interaction of users. And the one who takes care of this task is the UX architect. So, you can imagine how important this role is, right? But what do they do exactly?
Today, I will reveal a day in the life of a UX architect. All you need to do is to keep scrolling down and exploring. Let’s get started!
Overview
A UX (User Experience) architect is in charge of creating intuitive flows for products. To achieve this goal, they interview and survey users. The data they collect can help develop wireframes and prototypes for the products.
UX is a crucial design process, allowing companies to get insightful data. Then, they can develop software that is easy to use and attract users at first sight.
The UX architect is a UX expert. They perform these tasks to support the UX design:
- Conducting stakeholder and user research
- Creating prototypes and wireframes
- Designing with user feedback
- Preparing UX documentation and maintaining artifacts
- Delivering UX strategies
I’m working as a full-time UX architect. Here is what I do every day to ensure the best prototypes and wireframes for my company’s products.
Go to the Office
I often wake up at 7 am. After having breakfast, I go to the office by subway. I also drop by a nearby coffee shop for a cup of Americano to charge the battery for the day ahead.
Review the Current Sprint
I don’t start working on the new wireframes immediately. Instead, I take time to review the current sprint.
A UX sprint is a process for brainstorming, prototyping, and testing. It also requires solutions for unexpected problems. To ensure its success, I have to work on business and technical insights. So, this task demands a lot of time. But I don’t mind it because it will surely help me avoid complex issues in the future.
A sprint usually takes five days, and I have to go through these steps for it:
- Learning: First, I expect possible problems and choose one area to work on.
- Ideating: After that, I sketch viable solutions.
- Deciding: I choose the ideal options before turning them into hypotheses.
- Prototyping: It’s time to develop a real prototype.
- Testing: Once the prototype is done, I test it with target clients and receive feedback. If there is any room for improvement, I will work on it.
After checking the current sprint, I think about what to do with the next one. As a UX architect, I must prepare everything to help the developers handle their job.
Meet With the Development Team
I work with Android developers, iOS developers, test managers, and QA. We need constant discussions to ensure everyone is on the same page and we can identify potential problems soon.
During the meeting, we talk about every feature of the wireframes and prototypes. Because we are all technical experts, we can have deep conversations to guarantee that our products will perform well as planned.
Work on Designs
After daily meetings, I iterate on the designs and push pixels. For this task, I often work with other UX designers and UI experts.
I didn’t expect this role before. But it’s cool to practice and dig deeper into UX designs. I can also learn a lot from my colleagues.
Lunchtime
Lunchtime is one of the best moments of the day! I head to the canteen as quickly as I can and enjoy my favorite dishes there.
Lunchtime is also precious because I can relax after a busy morning. Plus, giving my eyes some rest from the computer screen is important.
Communicate With Clients
In the afternoon, I spend about 2 hours talking with my clients. I show them my new UX ideas and gather feedback from them. I can then freely discuss the design decision and make adjustments if needed.
Communicate With Team Members
After discussing with clients, I join another meeting with the designers. Right here, we look at the whole process, which may include:
- What is happening?
- How has our team performed?
- What challenges do we come across?
- What can we learn from the hard time?
During the meeting, we also share our UX designs and get feedback. There are many things to do, right? But we don’t skip any step because they help us avoid misunderstandings and ensure smooth collaboration.
Implement Improvements
The problems are clear once the meetings are over. Then, I work on the improvements. If there is any change in the design, I send emails or discuss it with my teammates directly in the next meeting.
Work on Daily Report
I often leave the office at six after submitting everything to my team and clients. I also email my boss so he can follow the progress easily.
But that’s not all! As a UX architect, I have to report about my research and UX design. Then, designers have a better understanding of the project.
Work on Personal Projects
UX can be a freelance job. Thus, I have my own projects to earn extra income. After completing my official work, I work on them. I also have a social page about UX where I can post interesting things to share my knowledge and interact with other UX architects.
Besides, I like to spend time on my hobbies. I love watching TV and reading newspapers about the latest technology in the industry. This way, I can stay updated and improve my skills.
I also take online courses. Because I aim to climb up my career, I have to enhance my knowledge. Once you’ve got qualifications, I can apply for a higher position.
Conclusion
I have shown you everything about a day in the life of a UX architect. There are many tasks to cover, so I have to work hard to ensure the best UX design for my company. But it doesn’t matter because I’m doing what I love.
Hopefully, you will find this article helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for reading!
