# UX Design Function

{% hint style="info" %}
A role is not a person! [Learn more about Function vs. Commitment vs. Person here.](https://guide.techfleet.org/team-portal/new-teammate-handbook/expectations-for-teammates/commitment-vs.-job-function-vs.-people-on-teams)
{% endhint %}

## How to Train for the UX Design Function

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-cover data-type="files"></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><a href="../../../../../agile-training-portal/agile-handbook"><strong>Read The Agile Handbook</strong></a></td><td><a href="https://2497269768-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FaLipvRvacoLEyzC54aBy%2Fuploads%2FdMTLYk97iD8bOOsxVkBE%2Fpyramid_of_strong_agile_teams.png?alt=media&#x26;token=126fe82d-02bb-4ea6-8a00-99b95cfa4d4e">pyramid_of_strong_agile_teams.png</a></td><td><a href="../../../../../agile-training-portal/agile-handbook">agile-handbook</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="broken-reference"><strong>Read the Service Leadership Handbook</strong></a></td><td><a href="https://2497269768-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FaLipvRvacoLEyzC54aBy%2Fuploads%2FMX1xTDirpwnoZU7ztwVM%2Foriginal-1607db67a9cd3bb892c249dee7a31dc6.webp?alt=media&#x26;token=8b20c5d1-4af7-4002-89b0-5919ee514539">original-1607db67a9cd3bb892c249dee7a31dc6.webp</a></td><td><a href="broken-reference">Broken link</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings"><strong>Take the Servant Leadership Masterclass</strong></a></td><td><a href="https://2497269768-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FaLipvRvacoLEyzC54aBy%2Fuploads%2F54F5aXTKvQcyZjLeLhHa%2Fheart.webp?alt=media&#x26;token=863879d9-b8d7-4b6e-a87c-409927aec177">heart.webp</a></td><td><a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings">masterclass-openings</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings"><strong>Take the</strong></a> <a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings"><strong>Agile UX Masterclass</strong></a></td><td><a href="https://2497269768-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FaLipvRvacoLEyzC54aBy%2Fuploads%2FnO6pxeaHqqaHDUqmySk7%2Fgoogle_design_sprint.png?alt=media&#x26;token=58dbebe7-cb48-4635-950f-fe6c1415837d">google_design_sprint.png</a></td><td><a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings">masterclass-openings</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings"><strong>Take the Prototype Testing and Usability Testing Masterclass</strong></a></td><td><a href="https://2497269768-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FaLipvRvacoLEyzC54aBy%2Fuploads%2Fyy7o5shdQUHv3IFBR9Us%2Fdiscovery_process.png?alt=media&#x26;token=4a5d0806-10f4-44b9-afcd-7e15f6972b43">discovery_process.png</a></td><td><a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings">masterclass-openings</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings"><strong>Take the Brain Psychology and UI Design Masterclass</strong></a></td><td><a href="https://2497269768-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FaLipvRvacoLEyzC54aBy%2Fuploads%2Fm9KVx1NcF3ljoKoDI9CT%2Fbrain.webp?alt=media&#x26;token=fd83f5f7-83c1-4a58-be16-7c46184eabc1">brain.webp</a></td><td><a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings">masterclass-openings</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings"><strong>Take the Product Requirements Masterclass</strong></a></td><td><a href="https://2497269768-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FaLipvRvacoLEyzC54aBy%2Fuploads%2FI4IqC75tVMEfQbDtXuM7%2Ffine.webp?alt=media&#x26;token=6feeb7d7-e9b4-4b6c-9299-d5eb339a04ff">fine.webp</a></td><td><a href="../../../../../training-openings/current-and-upcoming-program-openings/masterclass-openings">masterclass-openings</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

## What is it?&#x20;

UX Design is the study of how humans interact with the world. It involves problem-solving to ensure that products and services deliver the best experiences for users and for the business.&#x20;

## UX Design Function in Tech Fleet vs. Other Companies

Who "Wears the Hats" at companies for UX design functions? It depends!

Here's a visual breakdown of commitments:&#x20;

<figure><img src="https://2497269768-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FaLipvRvacoLEyzC54aBy%2Fuploads%2FdbksUZzUDDEPzdKbaiCT%2Fux-design-functions.png?alt=media&#x26;token=193158fe-c2e3-4fac-a655-52406963e716" alt=""><figcaption><p>UX functions look different at different companies. Credit: Tech Fleet.</p></figcaption></figure>

1. Some companies have three separate people dedicated to specific functions: one only doing UX design, one only doing UX research, and one doing only UX writing.&#x20;
2. Some companies have one UX writing person, and one person who handles both UX design and UX writing.&#x20;
3. Some companies have one person who handles all functions: UX design, UX researh, and UX writing.&#x20;
4. Some companies have one person who handles UX design and UX research, one person who handles UX research, and one person who handles UX writing with UX research. This is the most Agile cross-functional setup there is.&#x20;

In Tech Fleet project training, there is a function that handles UX design and UX research, a function who handles UX research, and one function who handles UX writing with UX research. This is the most Agile cross-functional setup possible because everyone is contributing to success of UX outcomes. No silos.

## Daily Responsibilities

{% hint style="info" %}
[Here's a Tech Fleet Figjam template anyone can use showing cross-functional Agile team responsibilities](https://www.figma.com/community/file/1475625041866413630).
{% endhint %}

The Product Strategy Position typically owns a combination of 4 [commitments](https://guide.techfleet.org/team-portal/new-teammate-handbook/expectations-for-teammates/commitment-vs.-job-function-vs.-people-on-teams):

1. UX design commitments
2. UX research commitments

### What They Own

1. Collaboration with UX research
2. User personas
3. User journey maps
4. Customer experience diagrams
5. Design annotations
6. Development specifications for design
7. Design systems
8. UI kits
9. Low-fidelity prototypes
10. High-fidelity prototypes

### Daily Tasks

* Strategizing about how to turn research into usable solutions
* Creating and maintaining prototypes
* Creating and maintaining design systems
* Creating and maintaining UI kits
* Turning requirements into reality
* Creating and maintaining personas and journey maps
* Leading design thinking activities
* Leading rapid ideation sessions

### Breakdown of Responsibilities

Here are some RACI charts depicting the daily tasks that a UX design  function is responsible for, and how they work with other teams:&#x20;

#### RACI for UX operations

<figure><img src="https://2497269768-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FaLipvRvacoLEyzC54aBy%2Fuploads%2FNFkQxygObY9oYk38zF4b%2FRACI%20Chart%20for%20UX%20Design%20and%20Writing%20Activities.png?alt=media&#x26;token=2ade36ba-62fa-4c6a-8944-b19558b41c08" alt=""><figcaption><p>A RACI chart showing how UX design functions work on a team. Credit: Tech Fleet.</p></figcaption></figure>

## You might be a UX Designer if&#x20;

1. You like defining the "big picture"&#x20;
2. You like systems thinking
3. You enjoy creative problem-solving

## Cross-functional Collaboration

1. **With the Client** - take feedback from the client about the work being produced
2. **With UX Research** - drive the priorities of research based on the UX design needs, and produce research in collaboration with research teams
3. **With Product Strategy -** drive the priorities of requirements and collaborate with product ownership functions to refine requirements
4. **With the Project Management** - provide information about the progress of the project from the UX design standpoint
5. **With UX Writing** -  drive the priorities of writing based on the UX design needs, and produce UX writing in collaboration with UX writing teams
6. **With Development** - drive the priorities and requirements of development based on the UX design

## Role Expectations

* Problem-solve end-user experiences
* Collaborate with UX writing and UX research teams in design and research work&#x20;
* Iterate on Interaction designs for flows based on agreed upon priorities
* Create high fidelity, pixel-perfect designs based on product requirements that the product strategy team creates&#x20;
* Work in collaboration with the product strategy team to refine requirements and plan upcoming sprint work

## Common Deliverables

1. Prototypes
2. Design systems
3. UI kits
4. Design annotations
5. Personas
6. Journey maps
7. UX Audits

## Head to the Next Lesson
