Market mantra - Design experiences

User experience (UX) is the feeling you are left with after using a product or service. The feeling is based on reality, perception, expectation, utility and beauty. UX designers try to influence it. The field has transitioned from being a cosmetic feature to an important driver in software development.
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
As UX design moves from the fringes to the mainstream, there is understandably a huge surge in the demand for talent.Currently, there might be 50,000 people with any kind of serious capability in the field globally.So, professionals who have demonstrable and recognised UX skills are in demand. While multinational companies such as Infosys, SAP, Yahoo, Oracle, Capgemini and Accenture make up a large part of the Indian UX ecosystem, today, global UX consulting companies, too, have a sizeable UX footprint in India. In addition, the presence of user and design research companies and the scattered groups of freelancers and UX consultants has expanded the UX ecosystem significantly to make it one of the large ones in Asia.
GROWTH AREAS
UX will continue to become an even stronger business value driver. We, in India, would be required to benchmark user experiences globally.The ratio of UX professionals in organisations will steadily go up. These professionals would be accepted and aligned with the overall organisation structure. The bar will continue to rise in terms of skills and expertise in this field, via formal and informal education.
Great user experiences are yet to emerge from India. A jump in domestic demand for Indian software and UX skills will be the key to addressing this challenge along with showcasing the business value of UX and creating a culture of innovation. We will see the emergence of UX knowledge relevant to the Indian consumer market, using research and field methods that are indigenous or adapted from the West, where the field originated.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Job profiles for a UX professional can vary depending on the company they join. Some companies prefer a more granular breakdown of UX roles while others prefer a combination. In general, practitioners need to be able perform one or a combination of the following roles: z A researcher: connects with end users and understands their needs z An analyst: derives insights and communicates findings z A designer: creates design solutions that are efficient, easy to use, build trust, are persuasive and motivate people
SKILL SET
Professionals should have con siderable expertise in gathering systematic information about human experience. They must be able to connect with end users.
“Earlier I was just dealing with people, now I am dealing with dogs as well, so it requires a lot of energy and effort but it is more rewarding,“ says Balar. Dealing with and understanding an animal gives unpar alleled job satisfaction, she adds.