10 Essential Web Skills Every UX Designer Needs to Master in 2025

As we approach 2025, the field of user experience (UX) design continues to evolve at a rapid pace. To stay competitive and deliver exceptional user experiences, UX designers must continually expand their skill set. This article explores ten essential web skills that every UX designer should master to excel in their career, providing in-depth insights and practical advice for each.

1. Proficiency in design tools

In the fast-paced world of UX design, mastery of industry-standard tools is essential. Two tools stand out: Figma and Adobe XD.

Mastering Figma

Figma has revolutionised the design process with its collaborative features and browser-based accessibility. Its real-time collaboration capabilities allow multiple team members to work on a project simultaneously, making it an excellent choice for remote teams and large organisations.

Key features to master in Figma:

  • Auto layout for responsive design: This feature allows designers to create flexible layouts that adapt to different screen sizes automatically.
  • Component creation and management: Understanding how to create, use and update components efficiently can significantly speed up the design process and ensure consistency across projects.
  • Collaborative editing and commenting: Mastering Figma's collaboration tools enables seamless communication with team members and stakeholders.
  • Version history and design handoff: Knowing how to use version history for design iterations and how to prepare designs for developer handoff is crucial for smooth project progression.

Mastering Adobe XD

Adobe XD, part of the Creative Cloud suite, offers seamless integration with other Adobe products. It excels in creating micro-animations and prototypes, bringing web designs to life through features such as auto-animate and voice triggers.

Key features to master in Adobe XD:

  • Responsive resize for multi-device designs: This feature allows designers to create layouts that adapt to different screen sizes with minimal effort.
  • Repeat Grid for quick duplication of elements: Mastering this tool can significantly speed up the creation of lists, galleries and other repetitive elements.
  • Voice prototyping: As voice interfaces become more prevalent, the ability to prototype voice interactions is increasingly valuable.
  • Integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps: Understanding how to this integration works can streamline workflows, especially when working with complex graphics or animations.

While proficiency in at least one of these tools is very useful, familiarity with both can significantly enhance a UX designer's versatility. The choice between them often depends on team preferences and project requirements, so being adaptable is key.

Related Training Courses

Useful Resources

  • Nielsen Norman GroupWorld-renowned UX research firm offering evidence-based insights on user experience and usability.
  • A List ApartLong-standing web design publication exploring design, development, and web content with a focus on best practices and emerging techniques.
  • Smashing MagazineRespected online magazine for web designers and developers, known for in-depth articles and tutorials on cutting-edge web technologies.
  • UX BoothA publication by and for the user experience community, offering articles on various aspects of UX design and research.
  • Interaction Design FoundationNon-profit educational organization offering comprehensive resources and courses on UX design and related fields.
  • UX MattersAn independent web magazine that provides insights on user experience design, usability, and user research.
  • Adobe XD IdeasAdobe's official blog for UX/UI design trends, best practices, and tutorials, often featuring industry experts.
  • UX PlanetA Medium-based publication featuring a wide range of UX design articles from various contributors in the field.
  • Boxes and ArrowsPeer-written journal dedicated to the practice, innovation, and discussion of design, including information architecture and user experience.
  • UsabilityGeekWebsite offering practical and useful insights into usability, user experience, and related fields, with a focus on actionable advice.