How to Make User Experience Work as a Freelancer

Clients rarely ask for “user experience”. They ask for a website, an app, or a redesign. The UX work is something you bring with you, so it has to fit into the budget they have.

Make research small, not optional

Three short calls with real customers beat a week of guessing. I put them in every proposal as a fixed line item, so they never get cut at the last minute.

Prototype before you polish

A grey-box prototype answers most questions in a day. Clients understand clickable screens far better than wireframes on a slide.

Leave something behind

Every project ends with a small design system: colours, type, spacing and the components we used. It is the best way to make sure the experience survives after I leave.