The Hunt For UI Designers Is On - Why Is There A Shortage Of User Interface Designers?
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With more clients relying on digital services now more than ever, the demand for skilled freelancers to help build their web presence has continued to grow. From digital design, SEO, software development and copywriting, the core digital skills clients look for continue to evolve but what happens when the demand overtakes the number of talented freelancers?
This is exactly what’s happened with user-interface designers, also known as UI Designers, who work closely with clients to help improve their website appearance and performance.
As of Q1 in 2022, the bookings on our platform for designers are already 63% higher than Q1 of 2021- well over double the demand in just a year. And it’s not just our freelance platform that’s seeing this surge in popularity, as LinkedIn shared their own insights on the top 15 most in-demand jobs in 2021, of which user-led designers came out at 13.
We explore what exactly UI designers do, why the shortage has been created and what clients can do to help bridge the digital skills gap.
UI vs UX Designer: What Do UI Designers Do?
User-interface designers work closely with their clients reviewing and redesigning any parts of a website, app or digital journey users interact with. It looks at how users move from A to B using touchscreens, sounds and anything users need to interact with a digital product or service.
Unlike UX designers who focus on the user experience, UI designers look at the elements that users are using to interact with a website or digital platform, whereas UX designers look at the whole experience for users and what they take away from using a website or platform.
So, why would clients need both a UI and UX designer when working on their digital presence?
Great UI increases user engagement, reduces any problems or difficulties and helps create a bond between client and users. In an ever-evolving digital landscape, this particular skill set is becoming even more valuable to clients than ever before.
Why is there a digital skills gap for UI designers?
With more emphasis on digital assets in all forms, businesses of all sizes are revamping and redesigning their digital assets. This surge in demand from clients has meant UI designers are in much greater demand but expanding on the talented workforce simply hasn’t caught up.
As the digital needs of the average workplace evolve, learning these new skills typically happens at work instead of at school or college level as businesses train their existing staff. The second issue is the general lack of people graduating or developing digital skills at a younger age and joining the UK workforce with the right experience needed.
UI impacts a business at all angles- not just customer-facing websites but internal digital systems and other tools that employees use too. This only creates more demand in general for good UI designers and this has made them rather scarce!
So, how can clients find good UI designers?
How to Find Great UI Designers
If you’re looking to work with a great UI designer or line someone up to help, try one of the following tips;
- Use YunoJuno’s freelance marketplaces who have hundreds of designers with just the skills you’ll need to work on your internal web projects or customer-facing digital experiences. Here at YunoJuno, we’ll share their credentials and availability directly on their profile, we will create a shortlist for you within a couple of hours.
- Referrals from other freelancers or people in your team is a great way to hire someone trusted with the right skills you’re looking for. It’s quite likely your existing teams will know someone who can help, even easier, you can add them to a directory on YunoJuno and create a compliant contract in minutes
- Put a call out on social media (Direct sourcing) either on your private profile or ask the social media team to share something on your company profile. Let your networks share, like and hopefully refer. Using social media is another great way to find the right UI designer to help who’s trusted by someone you know - and it’s free!
Let us do the heavy lifting in your search to find a great UI designer to meet your digital needs, get in touch with our team at YunoJuno today. We’ll work to pair you with some of the best, most talented designers in the freelance market today, ending the hunt for your next UI designer!
| Old rule (2021 Independent Contractor Rule) | New Rule (Effective March 11, 2024) | |
|---|---|---|
| Basis of classification | Relied on a simpler, more straightforward approach that may not fully capture the complexity of modern work relationships. | Restores a multifactor "economic reality" test that considers a wider range of factors to determine employment status. |
| Legal consistency | Criticised for deviating from established legal precedent and potentially leading to more misclassifications. | Aims to align closely with longstanding legal precedent, offering more clarity and consistency in classification decisions. |
| Impact on workers | Concerns were raised that it might make it easier to classify workers as independent contractors, potentially denying them employment benefits. | Seeks to reduce the risk of misclassification, ensuring workers who should be classified as employees receive the benefits and protections that they're entitled to receive. |
| Guidance for employers | Provide a simpler framework for employers to classify workers, which could lead to broader interpretations and confusion. | Offers detailed guidance through the economic reality test, aiming to provide a clearer path for proper classification and reduce misclassifications. |
