Design and product cover a wide variety of skills and careers, from user experience (UX) design to product design to virtual reality and the metaverse. With so many options and opportunities available, it can be tricky to know where to start. On Coursera, you'll find expert resources to support your goals, whether you're just starting out or are ready to take the next step in your career. Explore design and product topics, including:
A UX designer usually focuses on a portion of the design process, making sure a product is optimally designed for user experience. A product designer might focus on the entirety of the process, including ensuring a product fits a company’s business needs. UX designers might also work more heavily in the initial design stage of the product, while product designers often work to improve existing products.
A product designer often works with UX designers and is generally expected to have a good understanding of UX principles. Plus, sometimes the two titles are used interchangeably, which can lead to understandable confusion.
It can be easy to confuse a digital designer with a graphic designer, but there are differences. The key distinguishing feature is digital design's interactivity. A digital designer employs movement, animation, audio, video, and other interactive elements for digital formats such as websites and apps. A graphic designer's output is more likely to be static and intended for a format like print.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)*, web development and digital design roles are projected to grow much faster than average. A 16 percent growth rate is estimated for these jobs between 2022 and 2032. The median pay in the US as of 2022 was $80,730 per year, according to the BLS.
![[Featured image] A person in a wheelchair draws elements of a user journey map for a team of colleagues](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3WaTus0NXRo4tDa3cLz8jB/8bdf8b7010b5888baa5c0413d6d4cfb8/User_journey_mapping.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A UI designer with glasses on sits in front of a computer while sketching on a piece of paper.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/3nQReI51i13lVVnlcVAISa/3236258429830aaa976a23de56c96956/UI_designer.jpg?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
![[Featured image] A UX designer wearing eyeglasses and a blue shirt draws a wireframe on a whiteboard.](https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/585Wul8GGcz8X4duQ8ifmz/813766bae0ad07e41a7e82ecbe2439b8/ux-designer.JPG?w=330&h=216&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive)
