Don't Become a UX/UI Designer BEFORE Considering These!

Summary

This video provides an honest look at the realities of being a UX designer in 2023. It highlights eight key challenges, such as the competitive job market, conflicting business and user priorities, the need to constantly learn new skills, and navigating workplace politics. It also addresses misconceptions about the role's creativity and the pressure of tight deadlines. The speaker shares personal insights from years of experience, emphasizing the importance of resilience, adaptability, and balancing stakeholder expectations to succeed in the fast-paced world of UX design.

Takeaways

• 😀 UX design requires significant effort and standing out in the current oversaturated market is challenging.
• 💼 Conflicting values exist in UX design; businesses prioritize revenue over user needs, which can be tough for some designers to accept.
• 📚 Constant learning is essential, as the UX field is evolving and designers must keep up with new skills to remain competitive.
• 📊 Managing stakeholders is a large part of the job, involving lots of meetings, defending ideas, and adapting to feedback.
• 🎨 UX design isn’t always as creative as expected. Most projects are business-driven with standardized design patterns and tight deadlines.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Designers must often handle both user and business needs, which can involve compromises and balancing different expectations.
• 🔥 Hustle culture is prevalent in tech, and while it's not mandatory, those who put in extra effort are more likely to advance quickly.
• 🙅‍♂️ New designers often face frequent rejections of their ideas due to a lack of stakeholder confidence, and building trust takes time.
• ⏰ Deadlines are often tight, with projects needing to be delivered faster than expected, requiring designers to work efficiently under pressure.
• 🏅 Despite the challenges, UX design can be highly rewarding, offering opportunities for career growth, creativity, and impact in various industries.

Q & A

What is the speaker's main purpose in sharing this video?

The speaker aims to share the honest realities of being a UX designer, offering insight into the challenges of the field so that viewers can make informed decisions about pursuing a career in UX design.

Why does the speaker mention the oversupply of UX designers in the market?

The speaker highlights that the oversupply of UX designers, due to the rise of boot camps, makes the market highly competitive. To stand out, new designers must work extra hard to be noticed and desired by potential employers.

What does the speaker mean by 'conflicting values' in UX design?

The speaker refers to the conflict between business goals and user needs. While UX designers focus on creating user-friendly experiences, businesses prioritize revenue and growth. Designers must learn to balance both business outcomes and user needs.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of learning new skills?

The speaker stresses that as the UX design industry matures, those who don’t continuously learn new and relevant skills will be replaced. Adapting to technological advancements, like AI, and diversifying skill sets are crucial for long-term success in the field.

What challenges does the speaker mention regarding stakeholder management?

The speaker points out that a significant part of the UX designer’s job involves managing stakeholders, attending meetings, and handling differing opinions. New designers should expect to have their ideas challenged and must be prepared to communicate and defend their work.

In what way is UX design less creative than some people expect?

UX design is less about artistic creativity and more about following standardized design patterns and meeting business-driven project requirements. While there is some creativity involved, particularly in finding ways to improve user conversions, the role often emphasizes efficiency and scalability.

How does hustle culture impact career advancement in UX design?

Hustle culture, where individuals treat work as play and put in extra effort, is prevalent in the tech industry. Those who are more passionate and work beyond the basic job requirements tend to get noticed and advance faster in their careers compared to those who treat it as a 9-to-5 job.

Why do new UX designers often struggle with getting their ideas accepted?

New UX designers frequently face rejection of their ideas due to a lack of stakeholder confidence. Building trust and gaining support for ideas requires experience, logical reasoning, and the ability to communicate and defend design decisions effectively.

What does the speaker mean by 'your deadline for your projects will always be yesterday'?

The speaker refers to the fast-paced nature of the UX design industry, particularly in tech companies that follow a lean startup model. Designers often face tight deadlines and need to deliver work quickly, which can be challenging for those who struggle with perfectionism or slower work styles.

Despite the challenges, why does the speaker still find UX design rewarding?

The speaker finds the UX design field rewarding because of the wide range of opportunities it offers, such as freelancing, building an agency, mentoring, and influencing businesses. Despite the challenges, the speaker believes that hard work and the right mindset lead to significant personal and professional rewards.