As a UX professional, I quite enjoy making things and untangling complex experience questions. I typically work hands on, but have run UX teams in previous incarnations.
I use a variety of tools in my work, currently splitting between Figma/Sketch/InVision/Principal as well as the Adobe Suite including XD. Also a heck of a lot of sharpies and post-its.
My process is always evolving, but one fundamental aspect is getting into a room with the right people early on, and just listening. Where is the friction? What are their hopes for the project? What is confusing? And so forth. The biggest value of UX is recognizing and understanding what hidden problems lie just beyond everyone's peripheral vision.
As a designer of things, I try to think about the details, and how they evoke a particular time or mood. I am always interested in the subtle affordances that users may not notice, but unconsciously pick up on.
