Also on Medium — Designer Fears
Over the last couple of days I’ve read a dozen articles about the dire state of UX/UI designers in today’s world. And they only talk about “modern” problems: the 2024 job market, the threat of AI and the prospects of the design industry as a whole. So before jumping out the window, I decided to put together a complete list, including the fears that have always come with the profession.
Money
Let’s start with the current stuff. The crisis in the global market coincided with the post-COVID oversaturation of the job market. A wave of layoffs, a hard time finding work, all against a backdrop of economic instability and inflation — you know the drill. But that applies to any profession, you’ll say. Yes, but there are two quirks. First, the sharp turn in the market (rags to riches) makes the problem a bit more acute. Designers used to lavender oat milk lattes aren’t ready to brew the same tea bag twice just yet. Second (this should have been “first”), most designers aren’t ready to change profession and can’t even picture themselves in another role. That has more upsides, of course, but it’s reason enough to panic about going broke.
What to do? Learn some financial literacy so you have at least a minimal cushion for a rainy day. Put your big boy/girl pants on and solve problems as they come. And understand one simple thing: demand for design changes shape, but it doesn’t go away. And masters of their craft don’t starve.
Portfolio relevance
A sore spot for designers is how current and relevant the projects in their portfolio are. It has always mattered, but with new tech and tools it has become especially painful. AI adds fuel to the fire: pretty pictures in a portfolio won’t impress anyone anymore, and junior designers’ pet projects thrown together with ChatGPT can outshine real-life case studies. Portfolio cases (I mean mobile and web) used to go stale in a couple of years. Now it feels like a carton of milk has a longer shelf life than the average website. And what if 10-15-20 years of design experience turn out to be irrelevant, and you no longer have the energy to learn something new?
What to do? Accept that design is a lifelong calling, not a career step. And happily keep learning new things to the grave. Sorry, Adobe Fireworks and table layouts, the world doesn’t stand still.
Career and competition
Hundreds of applicants for one design job, thousands of courses churning out your competitors on an industrial scale. 20-year-old Behance stars with a lead designer’s commercial portfolio. And you’ve got a drinking problem and impostor syndrome. Well, the days of easy design are over, and most likely they’re never coming back. But that’s a good thing: tough competition sobers you up. Time to adapt or get out of the game.
What to do? Remember that quantity doesn’t always turn into quality. And price dumping on the market has nothing to do with your personal rate. More broadly, other people’s wins or failures have nothing to do with you. And anyway, new times open up new opportunities. Don’t cry…