The letter, part by part
Leah Schmidt (UX Designer, Public Transport Services) is applying to be an UX Designer, Digital Services at Brindleway Building Society. Here is what each paragraph does.
- The hook
- The proof
- The fit
- The close
Dear Mr Okafor,
My grandmother still keeps her savings with a building society because, in her words, they talk to her like a person. Brindleway has that same reputation, and your plan to bring it into a new mobile app is exactly the kind of challenge I enjoy. I would love to join your Digital Services team as a UX Designer and help make sure the app feels as trustworthy as a chat at the branch counter.
For the past three years I have designed online services for a regional transport authority. My redesign of the concessionary pass application reduced phone enquiries by 27% and cut the average completion time from 19 to 8 minutes. I also set up a research panel of 140 residents, including older and disabled users, which gave us fast, honest feedback and shaped more than a dozen design decisions in its first year.
You mention that many Brindleway members are over 60 and that accessibility is a priority. That is where I do my best work: I design to WCAG 2.2 AA, test with screen readers and magnification tools, and run moderated sessions with people who are not confident online. I prototype in Figma, maintain a shared component library, and write plain-English content alongside my designs rather than leaving it until the end.
I would be delighted to talk through my portfolio and the research behind the pass application in more detail. I am happy to fit around your schedule for an interview, in person or online. Thank you for considering my application; I look forward to the possibility of working together.
Kind regards,
Leah Schmidt
Skills to mention
Employers hiring a ux designer often look for these. Name the ones you really have, with an example.
Phrases you can borrow
Change the details to your own, then copy them into your letter.
I design with real users in the room, because assumptions are cheaper to test than to fix later.
I write interface content alongside the layout, since clear words often solve more than new screens.
I measure good design by fewer errors, fewer support calls and more people finishing their task.
I make sure the people least confident online can use what I design without asking for help.
Tips for a ux designer cover letter
- Show the research behind your designs, not just the final screens.
- Quote outcomes like task completion, error rates or support calls reduced.
- Refer to the employer's users specifically and how you would design for them.
- Mention accessibility standards and how you test with real people, including disabled users.
- Keep your portfolio link prominent and make sure each case study explains your role.
Mistakes to avoid
- Talking only about visual style while ignoring research, usability and outcomes.
- Sending a portfolio full of pretty screens without explaining the problem or process.
- Using vague claims like 'user-centred' without a single example to back them up.