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8 Harsh Truths About UX Design Career
That every UX designer should know
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UX design is a dream career where creativity, empathy, and technology come together to solve user problems. While that’s true, being a UX designer isn’t always glamorous.
For those starting in the field, it’s essential to understand that becoming a successful UX designer involves challenges, compromises, and much learning from failures.
Below are a few harsh truths about UX design that will help you advance your UX career.
1. Your design is never perfect
No matter how extensive your thought process is, how much research you have done, and how many times you iterate, there’s always room for improvement.
What works today might fail tomorrow as user needs and technology evolve. Embrace the mindset that design is an ongoing process, not a finished product.
2. Most users won’t appreciate your design
A well-designed interface sometimes goes unnoticed because people focus on their tasks, not on the tools they use.
If users don’t complain, it means your design is functional.
But don’t expect them to stop and praise your work. Silence is usually the best compliment.
3. Stakeholders often don’t understand UX
You will frequently have to explain and defend your design decisions to stakeholders who prioritize business goals over user needs.
Bridging the gap between what stakeholders want and what users need is a critical skill in UX design.
4. User research is undervalued
Companies sometimes cut corners on user research or skip it entirely. Yet, they will expect a world-class user experience. It’s up to you to advocate for testing and data-driven design decisions.
