Back in 2019, when I (Eventus Offiong Okon) started learning web design, one question confused almost everyone around me:
“Is UI/UX design really an IT job?”
Some people said yes. Others said it was graphics design. A few even said it had to do with coding.
Today, after years of building websites, improving user experiences, and helping clients understand how users behave online, I can confidently give you the real answer — not the surface-level explanation people repeat online.
So… Is UI/UX Design an IT Job?
Yes, UI/UX design is an IT job — but not in the way people usually think of “tech jobs.”
UI/UX design sits at the intersection of:
- Technology (because it deals with digital platforms)
- User psychology (because it studies how humans behave online)
- Design (because interfaces must be visually clear and usable)
This means UI/UX designers work in tech, but they don’t necessarily write code or build software.
Instead, they focus on how users interact with digital products like:
- Websites
- Mobile apps
- Web applications
- Software dashboards
So yes — it’s an IT job. But it’s one of the few IT careers where your ability to understand people matters more than your ability to write code.
Why People Confuse UI/UX Design with “Just Graphics Design”
In Nigeria especially, many beginners think UI/UX is just another branch of graphics design — like designing flyers, posters, or social media banners.
But UX is not about making things fine; it’s about making things work.
Graphics design is about beauty.
UX design is about usability.
UI design is about structure and clarity.
That alone puts UI/UX directly under the tech industry.
What Makes UI/UX an IT Field?
Here are the clear reasons why UI/UX is part of the tech ecosystem:
1. You Work on Digital Products
If you design experiences for websites, apps, dashboards, or platforms — you are already in tech.
Even when I was using Canva in my early days to try out layouts, the goal was still digital usability, not graphics decoration.
2. You Solve Technical Problems
Tech is all about solving problems.
UX designers solve problems like:
- Why users leave a website without taking action
- Why buttons are ignored
- Why customers get confused and drop off
- Why a signup process is frustrating
These are technical challenges — and solving them makes you part of the IT process.
3. You Work With Developers (Even If You Don’t Code)
UI/UX designers often collaborate with:
- Frontend developers
- Backend developers
- Product managers
- Software engineers
Your job is to create the experience; their job is to build it.
That collaboration places UI/UX in the IT workflow.
4. UX Uses Digital Tools, Not Art Tools
Tools like:
- Figma
- Adobe XD
- Sketch
- Canva (for beginners)
These tools are product-design tools, not graphics design tools.
The output is functional — not artistic.
Do UI/UX Designers Need Coding?
No — not in this AI era.
Coding is no longer the barrier it used to be.
In fact, many big tech companies hire UI/UX designers who have zero coding knowledge.
Your job is to create the experience.
Developers will convert that design into code.
However, having a basic understanding of how websites or apps work can make you collaborate better.
Is UI/UX Good for Beginners Who Want to Enter IT?
Yes. It’s one of the best entry points into tech.
Why?
- You don’t need coding
- You don’t need a tech background
- You don’t need advanced software skills
- You don’t need to be good at drawing
You only need consistency and a willingness to understand users.
My Experience: How UX Helped My Web Design Career
When I started learning web design in 2019, UX was the biggest thing I didn’t understand.
I used to build websites based on what “looked fine” — not what users needed.
But when I started studying user behavior, everything changed:
- My designs became cleaner
- Clients started converting more
- I could predict user behavior easily
- My websites became more strategic than decorative
That’s when I realized:
UX is the invisible power behind every successful website.
Final Answer
So, is UI/UX an IT job?
Yes — absolutely.
It’s one of the most important and fastest-growing fields in tech.
But unlike coding-heavy tech jobs, UI/UX focuses more on people, behavior, experience, and problem-solving.
If you understand how users think, and you stay consistent, you can build a strong career in UI/UX — even without writing a single line of code.