The UX/UI Cover Letter: How to Talk About Design Without Just Listing Tools
When it comes to applying for UX/UI roles, the cover letter is often overlooked. Many candidates either repeat their resume or fall back on listing every design tool they know: Figma, Sketch, InVision, Adobe XD, the list goes on. But hiring managers aren’t looking for a tool inventory—they’re looking for a thinker, a problem-solver, and a designer who understands the why behind their work.
Here’s how to craft a UX/UI cover letter that shows your design thinking, highlights real outcomes, and helps you stand out from the crowd.
Solving Problems
Start With the Problem You Solve
Don’t open with “I’m writing to apply for the UX/UI Designer role at Company X.” Start with a short story or insight that reflects the kind of design problem you’re passionate about solving. For example:
"When I worked on redesigning a mobile payment flow for a local business, I wasn’t just moving buttons—I was figuring out how to help real people complete purchases faster, with less confusion."
This kind of opening shows that you think beyond screens—you think about people.
The Process
Focus on Process, Not Just Outcomes
It’s tempting to jump straight into metrics—"I increased user satisfaction scores by 30%." That’s great, but how did you get there?
Walk the reader through your design process. Did you run usability tests? Create personas based on interviews? Iterate based on user feedback? Sharing a bit of your process shows your maturity as a designer and your ability to collaborate across functions.
Connecting Work to Goals
Connect Your Work to Business or User Goals
Hiring managers want to know you can make an impact. So go beyond the aesthetic and technical aspects. Did your design lead to a higher conversion rate? Did you reduce drop-off on a key onboarding screen? Did a feature you designed get positive feedback during a beta release?
Framing your contributions in terms of user outcomes or business value makes your cover letter much more compelling.
Understand the Company
Show That You Understand the Company
A great cover letter is never one-size-fits-all. Research the company’s product, tone, and design approach. Reference a specific feature you admire or a challenge you’d be excited to work on.
This shows that you care about this job—not just any job.
“I’ve long admired how [Company X] makes complex data feel approachable. Your recent dashboard redesign was a perfect example of that—and I’d love to bring my skills in information hierarchy and interaction design to support similar initiatives.”
Human and Confident
Keep the Tone Human and Confident
You don’t need to sound overly formal. Be respectful, but let your personality come through. Avoid filler phrases like “I believe I would be a good fit” and instead speak directly about what excites you and how you can contribute.
“I’d be thrilled to help design solutions that make [Company X]’s user experience even more seamless. I’m especially excited about the opportunity to work on products that are used by millions every day.”
In Summary
A strong UX/UI cover letter doesn’t list every tool you’ve ever used. It tells a story. It reflects your thinking. And it connects your experience to the company’s mission.
If you want a head start, we’ve created a downloadable Cover Letter Template for UX/UI Designers that follows this exact structure—designed to help you highlight your value without relying on a wall of tool names.
Download the Cover Letter for a UX/UI Designer now and start telling your story the right way.
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