First of all, what is UI and UX? UI is user interface, it is what the user sees on a website, app, software, etc. User experience is the feel of how the user interacts with the system.
As the high speed internet is much more widely available than it was 15 - 20 years ago, websites are more than just plain white backgrounds, a few paragraphs of texts and a handful of images. Websites now endeavour to capture the attention of users, and for websites selling products or services, this is essential for conversions.
As a result, this has sparked the need for UI and UX designers. As UI and UX design does not necessarily require deep technical knowledge of coding, the inner workings of a computer or other advanced computing skills, it is a career path in the domain that is accessible to many more people. Rather than traditional computing skills being strictly required for UI UX positions, other skills such as graphics design, visual communication and information architecture are rather sought after.
Is it oversaturated?
Well, there isn’t a straightforward answer, and it differs between locations, industries, etc. As mentioned, due to UI UX design not requiring in depth technical skills, many people from a diverse range of different domains are going into this field. Now, this might sound like it would lead or may even have lead to a market saturation, however, that is not necessarily the case.
We should take into account the demand. Many large companies might be rolling out new products with fresh new innovative and eye catching designs, hence many of these companies might be looking for fresh talent in the field. On the other side of the spectrum, given a rise in entrepreneurship and various even larger start ups companies, there would be a growing need for UI UX designers.
And how do designers respond to this demand? This is another point where it shows the variety in the field. UI UX designers can choose to go through the more traditional route of applying to positions in various companies. Smaller freelancers can sell their services on websites such as Fiverr. Individual designers and freelancers can also advertise their services on social media, particularly Instagram.
Now, is it oversaturated? After examining different points of view, it depends. A common theme is that UI at an entry level could be potentially considered saturated. Many companies wish for their UI UX designers to have more skill than using tools such as Figma to create nice designs (although this is still good to do). UX could be seen as more sought after, possibly in part due to companies wishing for the websites, apps, etc, to apply a psychological effect on users and generate more conversions, or make the company truly memorable.