UX research: what to know
UX researchers focus on understanding user needs through interviews, usability testing and quantitative studies.
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Typical tasks
The day-to-day includes planning and running studies, analyzing results, and presenting findings clearly to product and design teams. A background in psychology, sociology or a related field is common here, though not required.
Alongside classic interviews, surveys, card sorting and analyzing usage data are all part of the toolkit. Good UX researchers turn complex findings into clear, actionable recommendations instead of just piles of data.
The job market right now
Atlas currently lists 3 open roles in ux research for designers, posted by 3 employers.
Most openings are currently in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.
Employers hiring now
- Levio1 role
- Steinberg1 role
- Sungrow Emea1 role
Related specialties
What product designers actually do
The day-to-day includes user research, sketching and testing solutions, building prototypes, and maintaining a design system that stays consistent across features. A large part of the job is collaboration: with product on prioritization, with engineering on feasibility.
UX researchers focus more on the research side, brand and visual designers more on a product's look and brand language. In small teams the split is rarely clean, one person often does research, design and design-system upkeep all at once.
How AI is changing design work
AI tools speed up prototyping enormously, a rough idea becomes a clickable draft in a short time. That takes over some of the pure execution work and shifts a designer's value toward judgment: which solution actually solves a user's problem.
At the same time, expectations around speed go up, when a draft takes hours instead of days, the ability to quickly tell a good option from a mediocre one matters more.
Getting in: a portfolio beats a degree
A design or art degree helps but is rarely a requirement. What almost always decides it is a portfolio with two or three projects that show your own process: from the problem through research to the final solution, including the decisions made along the way.
Many designers get in from graphic design, frontend development, or through an internship that turns into a junior role.
Pay and equity
Pay is negotiated individually and depends on experience, specialty and company size. Equity in the form of VSOP is a common add-on for design roles too at startups and scale-ups. At large companies and bigger scale-ups, a higher fixed salary without equity is more common instead.
Applying: portfolio review and design challenge
The centerpiece is almost always a portfolio review, where you walk through two or three projects in detail and explain your decisions. Some companies add a small design challenge on top, either live or as a take-home, where you solve a concrete task.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a design degree to become a product designer?
No, a degree helps but isn't a requirement. What matters is a portfolio that shows your design process across two or three projects.
What's the difference between UX research and product design?
UX researchers focus on understanding user needs through interviews, testing and studies, product designers turn those findings into concrete interfaces. At smaller companies, one person often does both.
How is AI changing the work of a designer?
AI tools massively speed up prototyping and simple execution, which makes judgment more important: picking the solution that solves a real user problem rather than just looking good.
What should you show in a portfolio review?
The process matters most: how you understood a problem, weighed multiple options, and landed on a solution. The finished interface alone rarely tells that story.
Conclusion
People who understand user problems, test drafts quickly, and use AI tools for speed rather than as a substitute for their own judgment have strong odds in this role right now.
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