Interaction Designer Career Path

Starting a career as an interaction designer requires understanding the key steps, skills, and experiences needed for success.

In this article, we will outline the typical journey for interaction designers, covering educational requirements, entry-level positions, potential advancements, and long-term opportunities.

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

TL;DR

An interaction designer focuses on creating intuitive and engaging product interfaces that enhance user experiences. They optimize user flows, develop interactive prototypes, and collaborate with UX designers, developers, and product managers to ensure cohesive design implementation.
According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for an interaction designer in the United States is $143,836 per year. This includes an average base pay of $96,397 per year and additional pay of $47,439 per year, which could consist of cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit sharing. The total pay range for this role is $109,000 to $192,000 per year.
An interaction designer’s career path involves progressing through various roles that build on experience, skills, and leadership capabilities:
- Junior interaction designer
- Interaction designer
- Senior interaction designer
- Lead interaction designer
- Design director
To become an interaction designer, start by pursuing a relevant educational background, such as a bachelor’s degree in interaction design, UX design, or a related field. Coursework in graphic design, psychology, computer science, and user experience principles is beneficial. Additionally, learning design tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD is essential.
Alongside design tools, here are some other tools that every interaction designer should consider:
- Best tool for user onboarding and feedback – Userpilot
- Best tool for project management – Monday
- Best tool for team collaboration – Jira
- Best tool for documentation and knowledge sharing – Confluence
- Best tool for customer support – Zendesk
- Best tool for customer success management – ChurnZero
Looking into tools for interaction designers? Userpilot is an all-in-one product platform with engagement features and powerful analytics capabilities. Book a demo to see it in action!

What is an interaction designer?

An interaction designer focuses on creating intuitive and engaging product interfaces that enhance user experiences. They optimize user flows, develop interactive prototypes, and collaborate with UX designers, developers, and product managers to ensure cohesive design implementation.

What does an interaction designer do?

An interaction designer is responsible for shaping how users interact with digital products, ensuring the experience is smooth and engaging. They design the interactive elements of interfaces, such as buttons, menus, and transitions, to make them intuitive and user-friendly.

By conducting user research and testing, they gather feedback to refine and improve the user experience. Interaction designers also collaborate closely with other teams to ensure design practices meet both user needs and business goals.

Interaction designer’s main responsibilities

An interaction designer is responsible for creating engaging and intuitive user experiences for digital products, particularly in the SaaS industry. They focus on designing interactive elements that enhance user satisfaction and usability.

Here are their main responsibilities:

Design interactive elements: Create buttons, menus, and other user interface components that are intuitive and user-friendly.
Optimize user flows: Develop seamless user journeys to improve engagement and retention.
Prototype development: Build interactive prototypes to test and refine designs before implementation.
Conduct user research: Gather and analyze user feedback to inform design decisions and improve the user experience.
Usability testing: Plan and execute usability tests to identify and resolve interaction issues.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams: Work closely with UX designers, developers, and product managers to ensure cohesive design implementation.
Maintain design systems: Contribute to and update design systems to ensure consistency across all products.
Stay updated with industry trends: Keep abreast of the latest design trends, tools, and technologies to continually improve design practices.
Document design processes: Create detailed documentation of design processes, guidelines, and standards for team use.
Support product development: Collaborate with product teams to align design work with business goals and user needs.
Facilitate design reviews: Lead design review sessions to gather feedback and make iterative improvements.

Interaction designer salary

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for an interaction designer in the United States is $143,836 per year. This includes an average base pay of $96,397 per year and additional pay of $47,439 per year, which could consist of cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit sharing. The total pay range for this role is $109,000 to $192,000 per year.

Interaction designer salary.

Experience level significantly impacts an interaction designer’s salary:

0-1 year: $89,000 – $164,000 per year
1-3 years: $101,000 – $180,000 per year
4-6 years: $119,000 – $204,000 per year
7-9 years: $132,000 – $222,000 per year
10-14 years: $150,000 – $254,000 per year
15+ years: $169,000 – $290,000 per year

Industries with high salaries for interaction designers include:

Financial Services: $165,000 – $247,000 per year
Information Technology: $137,000 – $224,000 per year
Retail & Wholesale: $140,000 – $214,000 per year
Telecommunications: $135,000 – $203,000 per year
Hotels & Travel Accommodation: $123,000 – $193,000 per year

These figures highlight the significant influence of experience and industry on the earning potential of interaction designers.

An interaction designer’s career path involves progressing through various roles that build on experience, skills, and leadership capabilities.

Typical interaction designer roles.

Junior interaction designer: Starting as a junior interaction designer, your primary focus is to assist senior designers with various tasks, including conducting user research, creating wireframes and prototypes, and supporting the development of design projects.
Interaction designer: As you progress to an interaction designer, you begin to take on more responsibility by leading smaller projects and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including developers and product managers. Your duties expand to include conducting usability testing, refining user interfaces based on feedback, and ensuring that design solutions are both user-friendly and aligned with business goals.
Senior interaction designer: With several years of experience, you advance to a senior interaction designer. In this position, you lead major design projects, mentor junior designers, and play a key role in developing design strategies. Your responsibilities include overseeing the creation of detailed design specifications, ensuring consistency across all user interfaces, and driving the overall user experience vision. This role demands a deep understanding of user behavior, advanced problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage and inspire a design team.
Lead interaction designer: As a lead interaction designer, you take on a leadership role within the design team. You are responsible for setting design standards and guidelines, driving innovation in design practices, and aligning the design work with the company’s strategic objectives. Your duties include overseeing the work of senior and junior designers, managing design systems, and ensuring that all design projects meet high-quality standards.
Design director: At the pinnacle of your career, you become a design director. In this role, you manage multiple design teams and drive the overall design vision for the company. Your role involves strategic decision-making at the executive level, integrating design thinking into the broader business strategy. You oversee the professional development of your design staff, foster a culture of creativity and innovation, and represent the design function in executive meetings.

How to become an interaction designer

To become an interaction designer, start by pursuing a relevant educational background, such as a bachelor’s degree in interaction design, UX design, or a related field. Coursework in graphic design, psychology, computer science, and user experience principles is beneficial.

Gaining practical experience through internships or entry-level positions is crucial; these opportunities allow you to work on real projects, build a portfolio, and develop your skills.

Additionally, learning design tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD is essential. Networking with professionals in the field, continuously updating your knowledge through workshops and online courses, and staying current with industry trends can also help you advance in this career.

Best resources for interaction designers

To excel as an interaction designer, it’s essential to stay updated with the latest trends, techniques, and best practices. Here are some valuable resources, including books, webinars, podcasts, and blogs, that can help you enhance your skills and knowledge.

Best books for interaction designers

Here are the top books we recommend for interaction designers:

Don’t Make Me Think by Steve Krug – This practical guide to web usability and user-centered design simplifies complex concepts and provides clear, actionable insights for creating intuitive digital experiences. It’s a must-read for anyone involved in web design and usability.
The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman – A classic in the field of design, this book explores the principles of human-centered design through everyday objects, offering timeless insights into creating products that are both functional and user-friendly.
About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design by Alan Cooper – This comprehensive guide covers interaction design principles and techniques, providing detailed methodologies for creating effective and engaging user interfaces.
Lean UX by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden – Integrating UX with Agile methodologies, this book offers practical advice on collaborative and iterative design processes, making it essential for teams working in fast-paced environments.
Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products by Nir Eyal – Offering insights into the psychology behind user engagement, this book provides a framework for creating products that encourage repeat use and form user habits.

Best webinars for interaction designers

If you’re an interaction designer, we recommend watching the below webinars:

Userpilot webinars – Userpilot offers regular webinars focusing on user onboarding, product adoption, and UX design, providing actionable insights and strategies from industry experts.
NN/g webinars – The Nielsen Norman Group’s webinars cover a variety of UX and interaction design topics, offering research-based insights and best practices from leading experts in the field.
UXPA webinars – The UXPA hosts webinars that dive into UX best practices and emerging trends, helping designers stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in user experience.
Interaction Design Foundation webinars – These webinars offer in-depth knowledge on a wide range of interaction design topics, presented by experts and accessible to both beginners and experienced professionals.
Adobe XD webinars – Adobe offers webinars focusing on designing with Adobe XD and other Adobe tools, showcasing practical techniques and tips for creating high-quality user interfaces.

Best blogs for interaction designers

Here are the top blogs we recommend for interaction designers:

Userpilot blog – The Userpilot blog offers articles on user onboarding, product adoption, and UX design, providing practical advice and insights to help designers create more engaging user experiences.
Nielsen Norman Group blog – This blog features research-based articles on UX and interaction design, offering valuable insights and best practices from one of the leading authorities in the field.
Smashing Magazine – A comprehensive resource on web design and development, Smashing Magazine includes articles on UX topics, practical tutorials, and industry trends, making it an essential reading for designers.
UX Design.cc – Curated content on UX design, research, and strategy, this blog offers a wide range of articles that cover the latest trends, tools, and best practices in the UX field.
A List Apart – Focused on web design, development, and user experience, A List Apart publishes in-depth articles that explore the intricacies of designing for the web, offering practical advice and innovative ideas.

Best podcasts for interaction designers

Here are the top podcasts we recommend for interaction designers:

Userpilot Product Heros – This podcast discusses product adoption strategies and UX design, featuring practical tips for enhancing user engagement.
The UX Podcast – Covering a wide range of UX and interaction design topics, this podcast offers insights from leading designers and thought leaders, making it a valuable resource for continuous learning.
Design Matters – Hosted by Debbie Millman, this podcast features conversations with designers, artists, and creative thinkers about their craft, career paths, and personal stories, providing inspiration and practical advice.
UI Breakfast – This podcast features interviews with industry experts on UI/UX design and product strategy, offering actionable insights and tips for improving design practices and product development.
The NN/g UX podcast – Produced by Nielsen Norman Group, this podcast provides research-based insights and interviews with UX professionals, focusing on improving user experience and design processes.

Best tools for interaction designers

To excel as an interaction designer, it’s essential to utilize the right tools that enhance your design process and improve user experiences. Here are 10 top tools that every interaction designer should consider:

Best tool for user onboarding and feedback – Userpilot: Userpilot helps design and optimize user onboarding experiences and collect in-app user feedback to improve product engagement.
Best tool for project management – Monday: Monday offers a highly visual and customizable platform for managing projects, tracking progress, and collaborating with team members efficiently.
Best tool for team collaboration – Jira: Jira is a powerful tool for tracking tasks, managing agile workflows, and ensuring seamless collaboration among design and development teams.
Best tool for documentation and knowledge sharing – Confluence: Confluence provides a centralized space for creating, organizing, and sharing project documentation, design guidelines, and collaborative notes.
Best tool for customer support – Zendesk: Zendesk is a comprehensive customer service tool that enables interaction designers to understand user issues, gather feedback, and improve the user experience based on support data.
Best tool for customer success management – ChurnZero: ChurnZero helps monitor customer health, engagement, and satisfaction, providing valuable insights for designing better user experiences.
Best tool for UI/UX design – Figma: Figma offers real-time collaboration, vector editing, and prototyping capabilities, making it a versatile tool for creating and refining interactive designs.
Best tool for vector graphics and interface design – Sketch: Sketch is a widely-used design tool known for its powerful vector graphics editing and prototyping features, ideal for creating detailed UI designs.
Best tool for prototyping and animations – InVision Studio: InVision Studio provides robust prototyping and animation tools, allowing designers to create high-fidelity interactive prototypes and user interfaces.
Best tool for data visualization and analytics – Tableau: Tableau is a leading data analytics tool that enables designers to visualize user data, derive insights, and make data-driven design decisions.

Conclusion

We hope our article has given you a good overview of the career path for interaction designers.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance, the key is to stay curious, keep learning, and remain open to new opportunities along the way.

Looking into tools for interaction designers? Userpilot is an all-in-one product platform with engagement features and powerful analytics capabilities. Book a demo to see it in action!