A Day in My Life as a UX/UI Designer

Hi, I’m Sara, a UX/UI designer, and I thought it would be fun to share what a typical workday looks like for me. My days are a mix of planning, designing, collaborating, and refining. And yes, expect a design joke or two along the way, because a little humor always makes the UI a bit more friendly. 

I usually start my mornings with a quick planning session. Before diving into work, I check my to-do list, look at upcoming deadlines, and figure out what’s most important for the day. Breaking bigger projects into smaller steps helps me keep things manageable, and it feels terrific to check those boxes one by one.

Once I’ve got my plan, I like to tackle the simpler tasks first—things like reviewing designs, making tweaks, or clearing out small feedback items. Knocking those out early gives me a sense of momentum and frees up my headspace for the bigger, more complex design work later in the day. Most mornings also include meetings-catch-ups with the team, project updates, or conversations with stakeholders. They’re a big part of making sure we’re all aligned and moving in the same direction. Afterward, I usually spend some time on emails, sending over designs, confirming details, or following up on action items. It’s a bit of back-and-forth, but it keeps everything flowing smoothly. 

(And since we’re on the topic of collaboration: Why did the designer break up with the developer? Because they just didn’t sync well together.) 

With the smaller tasks and meetings out of the way, I dive into the heavy lifting: designing. This is when I focus on wireframes, prototypes, or refining interfaces. It’s the part of the day where I get into deep focus mode, balancing creativity with problem-solving. My goal is always the same: to create designs that are intuitive, functional, and a little delightful to use. 

Design work is never really “finished,” so I spend a lot of time iterating, adjusting based on feedback, collaborating with developers to make sure everything works technically, and fine-tuning layouts. It’s a process of constant improvement, and honestly, that’s what makes it exciting. 

At the end of the day, I take a few minutes to wrap up, checking off what I’ve finished and making notes on what needs attention tomorrow. It helps me close the workday with a clear head and keeps me from carrying that mental clutter into the evening. 

One last joke before I go:

After work, I like to recharge by switching gears completely. That could mean reading, watching a series, painting, or just catching up with friends and family. Having that downtime is important, it keeps me inspired and ready to take on the next day’s challenges. 

So that’s a peek into my day: a balance of structure and creativity, teamwork and focus, with a little humor along the way. It’s not always easy, but the reward of seeing a design come to life and knowing it’ll make someone’s experience better is what makes it all worth it.