Interim User Experience Designer / UX Designer
Are you looking to hire an Interim User Experience Designer / UX Designer or transition into the role yourself? These temporary but crucial positions ensure continuity in product design and development, driving innovation and seizing market opportunities. Whether you’re a client seeking talent or a professional exploring this sector, this guide covers key skills, responsibilities and contract considerations.
What is an Interim UX Designer?
An Interim User Experience (UX) Designer is a professional who is responsible for ensuring that a product or service is designed with the user in mind. They are responsible for designing the entire user experience, from the initial idea to the final product, with the aim of making the product easy to use, intuitive, and enjoyable for the end user.
Through research, wireframes, prototypes, and testing, an Interim UX Designer works to create a product that meets the needs and expectations of its users while also meeting the business goals of the company – usually on a part time or interim basis during a period of transition or growth.
Who does an Interim UX Designer report into?
An Interim User Experience Designer reports into a UX Manager or UX Lead.
What does an Interim UX Designer do?
The primary goal of an Interim UX Designer is to create a product that meets the needs and expectations of its users. To achieve this, an Interim UX Designer must have a deep understanding of the users and their behaviours, as well as the context in which the product will be used. They must also understand the business goals of the company they work for, as well as any technical constraints that may affect the design of the product.
An Interim User Experience Designer’s role typically starts by conducting research to understand the users and their needs. This research can take many forms, such as user interviews, surveys, or focus groups. The goal of this research is to gather information about the users, their behaviours, and their pain points. This information is then used to create user personas, which are fictional characters that represent the different types of users who will be using the product.
Once the user personas are created, the Interim UX Designer will move on to creating wireframes and prototypes. Wireframes are basic, low-fidelity representations of the product that show the layout, navigation, and functionality. Prototypes are more advanced versions of the product that are designed to mimic the final product as closely as possible. Both wireframes and prototypes are used to test the product with users, to get feedback on the design and to identify any usability issues.
The Interim User Experience Designer will then use the feedback from testing to refine the design of the product, making it more intuitive and user-friendly. This process of testing and refining continues until the product is ready for launch.
Discover ‘What is a UX Designer‘ or read our guide to UX Design principles, process and tools
Interim UX Designer v Interim UX Lead: the differences
The table below describes the specific distinctions between an Interim UX Designer and an Interim UX Lead – difference responsibilities, leadership roles, decision-making authority, stakeholder interactions, and different skill sets.
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Interim User Experience / UX Designer day rate
In today’s market, a typical Interim US Designer’s day rate would be in the region of £500-£600.
Interim UX Designer job description
A typical Interim User Experience Designer / UX Designer job description will read something like the below:
Job title: Interim User Experience Design
Location: Remote or on-site
Duration: 3-12 months
We are looking for an Interim UX Designer to design software and platforms that meet our customers needs. This role will require the candidate to combine interfaces and workflows to enhance the customer experience, using analytics to understand customer pain points and creativity to solve user problems.
The Interim User Experience Designer’s main responsibilities:
- Understand product specifications and guidelines
- Design and conduct user research to gather feedback to develop user personas and storyboards
- Conduct competitor analysis and provide learnings and recommendations for the rest of the UX team
- Determine information architecture and create sitemaps
- Use user personas to develop wireframes and prototypes that are fit for purpose and create user friendly and intuitive products that attract and retain users
- Make unique graphic designs including menus, tabs and widgets
- Make layout changes in line with user feedback including fonts, colours, images, style guidelines etc
- Track usability goals and prepare reports for senior management
- Coordinate with UI Design team on issues like navigation, page routing, product page design and any other issues
- Keep up to date with the competitive marketplace and industry trends and make changes to the UX strategy accordingly
To be successful in this Interim UX Designer role, you will:
- Have a background within project management and research
- Proven experience within another UX Designer or similar role
- An excellent portfolio of previous UX design for web and mobile platforms
- Have a BSc in computer science, engineering or a related field
- Knowledge of coding languages including HTML / CSS
- Excellent knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite and other software
- Be able to communicate with peers, senior members of the UX team, senior management and external stakeholders
- Have the ability to take initiative
UX Interview questions
View our guide to User Experience interview questions, with 47 example questions that employers normally ask at interview.
What is the Difference Between an Interim and Fractional User Experience Designer?
While both roles are temporary and bring senior-level design expertise, there are key differences:
- Interim User Experience Designer: Works full-time and is deeply embedded in the company, designing software and platforms to enhance the user experience for a defined period. They drive initiatives, align design with business goals and ensuring seamless collaboration across teams.
- Fractional User Experience Designer: Provides part-time support, often working with multiple companies simultaneously. They focus on high-level strategic guidance rather than day-to-day execution or management.
The right choice depends on your company’s needs. If your business requires hands-on, dedicated design leadership to manage teams, implement processes, and execute a design vision, an interim role is the better fit. For broader, advisory-level input without full-time commitment, a fractional role may be more suitable.
What makes a stand out Interim UX Designer candidate?
A standout Interim UX Designer candidate possesses a combination of technical skills, industry knowledge, and personal qualities that make them highly desirable to employers.
Strong design portfolio
A standout candidate will have a well-crafted and diverse design portfolio that showcases their ability to solve complex design problems and create intuitive and visually appealing user experiences. The portfolio should demonstrate their process, including research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design skills.
Solid UX design skills
Employers look for candidates with a strong foundation in UX design principles and methodologies. This includes expertise in user research, information architecture, interaction design, prototyping, usability testing, and data analysis. Proficiency in relevant tools such as Sketch, Adobe XD, Figma, or InVision is also valuable.
Continuous learning and adaptability
The field of UX design is constantly evolving, and standout candidates demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning. They stay up-to-date with the latest design trends, tools, and technologies. They are adaptable and open to feedback, willing to iterate on their designs, and embrace new approaches to problem-solving.
Business understanding
Employers value UX Designers who can balance user needs with business objectives. A standout candidate understands the broader context of the organisation they work for and can align design decisions with the company’s goals. They can effectively communicate the value of UX design and demonstrate how it contributes to business success.
Curiosity
A standout Interim UX Designer candidate exhibits a genuine passion for the field. They are curious about human behaviour, technology, and design trends. They actively seek opportunities to expand their knowledge, explore new ideas, and experiment with different design approaches. Their enthusiasm for UX design shines through in their work and interactions.
Interim User Experience Designer FAQs
- What does an Interim User Experience Designer do?
- An Interim UX Designer designs software and platforms that meet customers needs. This role requires knowledge and experience of combining interfaces and workflows to enhance the customer experience, using analytics to understand customer pain points and creativity to solve user problems.
- Is an Interim UX Designer highly paid?
- In today’s market, a day rate of £500 to £600 would be expected at a User Experience Designer level.
- What is the difference between an Interim UX Designer and an Interim UX Lead?
- An Interim UX Designer primarily focuses on executing design tasks such as wireframing and prototyping, collaborating closely with the team, while a Interim UX Lead takes on a strategic role, guiding projects, making high-level decisions, and mentoring the team to ensure alignment with business goals.
- Why hire an interim UX designer instead of a permanent one?
- To quickly fill a critical UX gap during hiring freezes, team transitions, parental leaves or peak project periods, ensuring design continuity without long-term commitment.
- How long does an interim UX designer usually stay?
- Typically 3 to 6 months, though contracts can range from a few weeks to a year, depending on project scope and hiring timelines.
- Does an Interim UX Designer need onboarding like a permanent employee?
- Yes, but the onboarding is typically lean and focused on quick immersion. They’re used to hitting the ground running.
