Junior, mid or senior UX/UI designer: how the correct classification shapes a successful team
"Dude, do you know what happened to Marko last time? He was already at the final interview for the responsible job position as a Senior UX/UI designer, where they were already talking about signing a contract, and when they started talking about salary, they offered him under 2k €... Can you imagine???“
Such stories are unfortunately all too common, as they reveal how a misunderstanding of status and the valuation of knowledge in companies leads to false expectations on both sides. Companies want a senior, but at a salary that is suitable for a junior. Designers who accept such an “opportunity” often end up disappointed or even burned out.
Therefore, it is important to know what it actually means to be "junior", "mid", or "senior", what responsibilities each status carries, what their market value is, and why misplacement harms both employees and the company.
Let's start with the correct naming: status or role?
“Junior,” “mid,” and “senior” are statuses, not specific roles. They indicate the level of experience, knowledge, and responsibility of an individual in a specific role, such as UX/UI designer. A role, on the other hand, defines what an individual does or contributes to a team (UX/UI designer, UX planner, product manager). Status therefore indicates the level of expertise and maturity in a specific role.
Junior UX/UI designer (m/f)
Role
- Focused on learning and performing concrete tasks under the mentorship of experienced team members.
- Often contributes to smaller tasks such as the design of individual components, prototyping, or research.
Market value
- The first level to enter the industry. The salary is usually lower as the candidate is still building on productivity.
- Wanted for positions where mentorship and growth opportunities are a priority.
Responsibility in the team
- Low level of accountability, focused on execution. Mistakes are expected and part of the learning process.
- Contributes to projects with clear guidelines and predetermined goals.
Responsibility for communication with the development team
- It is limited to the basic coordination of their specific tasks related to their design responsibilities.
- Communicates under the guidance of more experienced team members (mid or senior).
- Attends meetings with programmers to learn processes and technical and financial constraints.
Level of knowledge
- Basic knowledge of UX/UI principles, tools (currently Figma and in some cases Sketch preferred) and the basics of research methods.
- Limited practical experience, but a strong desire to learn and develop.
Time to next level
- On average, 1 to 3 years with regular work on projects and good mentoring.
Mid-Level UX/UI designer (m/f)
Role
- He independently manages smaller projects and participates in the design of larger projects.
- Connects research findings to design, tests solutions, and actively participates in process improvements.
Market value
- High, because a mid-level designer combines technical knowledge and partial strategic thinking.
- It is an important part of the design team also because of the balance between efficiency and investment.
Responsibility in the team
- Medium level of responsibility. Already transferring knowledge to “juniors,” communicating with development teams, and contributing to strategy.
- Often already responsible for the quality of implemented solutions and meeting deadlines.
Responsibility for communication with the development team
- He is a communicator between juniors and seniors and the development team.
- Participates in technical discussions, translates user needs into technical requirements, and helps clarify technical limitations.
- Able to independently coordinate between design and development work, with occasional support from seniors.
Level of knowledge
- Solid technical knowledge, understanding of user experience and user interface.
- Understanding business goals and the ability to align them with user needs.
Time to next level
- On average 3 to 7 years, depending on the complexity of the projects and the breadth of experience gained.
Senior UX/UI designer (m/f)
Role
- A strategist and leader who designs a holistic user experience.
- Mentor the team, shape processes, and set standards for UX/UI design.
Market value
- Very high, as senior designers bring strategic value that goes beyond design.
- They are crucial in making business decisions and often indispensable in innovation.
Responsibility in the team
- High. A senior UX/UI designer leads larger projects, represents the UX/UI field at the management level, and ensures team coordination.
- Their decisions have a strong impact on the success of projects and user satisfaction.
Responsibility for communication with the development team
- Leading role in communicating with the development team, especially for strategic and complex decisions.
- It ensures understandable and structured transfer of information between designers and programmers.
- Can negotiate trade-offs between design requirements and technical constraints, while maintaining and considering business and user goals.
- He often mentors mid and junior designers in technical communication.
Level of knowledge
- Deep understanding of user behavior, psychology, business strategy and technologies.
- Mastering a wide range of tools, research methods and prototyping, and leading multidisciplinary teams.
Time to reach the level
- Average 7 to 15 years of intensive experience. Requires breadth of knowledge, work on complex projects, and often mentoring or leadership experience.
Conclusion
Each level of knowledge brings unique advantages and contributions that are crucial to the progress of projects and organizations.
Too much responsibility on the shoulders of a “junior” can cause delays, while a “senior” on tasks that do not require his level of knowledge means inefficient use of resources. Poor team dynamics lead to lower quality or even poor results, user disappointment and ultimately even negatively affect the ratio between input (investment), earnings and the company.
Therefore, it is important to plan recruitment and assigning responsibilities in the team thoughtfully and with a long-term perspective. Only in this way will each individual contribute their maximum value, projects will run smoothly, and the team will be filled with positive energy and motivation for growth.
