Why I Quit UX

After 7 years in UX, I'm now pivoting to something else. These are my realizations along the way, and this is the information I would have liked to have had when I first started out.

00:00 - Intro
02:00 - Cannot build new products from scratch
03:43 - No creative control over designs & roadmap
07:54 - Not capture the value you create

[MyloMusica]

At this point I just want work life balance and a well paid remote position. No ego

[LizzAngelus]

I feel like no one talks about this, they just glamorize ux. I personally hate my ux job, and maybe its just the company, but it makes me reconsider as a whole. It really just feels like im a glorified graphic designer expected to just do whatever upper management wants.

[Cristian.Pineda]

Man sorry to hear about your experience, I switched into UX back in 2021 and I've had a completely different experience. In my experience I've been able to significantly impact roadmaps by just being vocal about UXD observations. I've also been able to get my own ideas into roadmaps by literally just presenting ideas to Key stakeholders. If anyone is thinking about UXD I'd like to chyme in to say UXD is what you make it to be.

[jansleyreal]

I’m a physical therapist that has been trying to get into UX for the past year. Even with your reasons for quitting, I think it’s a good decision for me simply based on the pros you listed out in the beginning. Appreciate you sharing!

[foreverblissful]

Everything you mentioned is exactly why i want to join: for the guidance and safety net while learning the ropes. Then once I've been immersed in UX for a few years, got the mentorship/experience i can definitely see myself pursuing my own business whether on the side or full time. Thank you! This confirms that UX is good for people looking to learn about the heart of the business i.e. what makes a good product and product experience.

[deweywsu]

I'm glad you got to this point. You sound like an entrepreneur at heart who came to UX wanting to have control of making new products from the ground up. The same sentiments exist within people in all sorts of careers.

[AnshMehraa]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[Kushinahomra]

I have been working as a UX designer for more than 3 years. I can feel you! Especially when I worked in a country and a company where they know nothing about UX and don't care about what UX exactly can do. When they need some ideas, they hope you can develop some disruptive designs that can totally change the industry. when we have done some research and show them up, they just say something like umm but the boss wants to do that feature...What's worse, when the company has financial difficulties, they layoff you first.

[ionelCristianLupu_]

I feel the same thing: pursuing entrepreneurship. I am a software dev, not an UX designer, but 99% of the things you just said apply to me as well.

[djashawe]

Thanks for the very insightful content. You have a valid point. Even from a UX design standpoint, many web and mobile interfaces tend to resemble each other. I suppose there's little to no room left for innovation, even with all those brainstorming workshops. It seems that due to constraints such as tight deadlines and budgets, UX designers often feel compelled to opt for safer options or benchmark from established sources, rather than coming up with potentially superior but riskier innovative solutions.

[matthewhaltom]

All very true points you brought up here. As a UX designer of 13 years, 10 of those years were spent in startups. It's true that at many companies UX may not have as much impact on the roadmap as you'd like... but that is not true for all organizations. Ones that value design in the right ways will give design the respet and influence it deserves.

There are many benefits to working in startups as you can learn a lot, as you mentioned, and work on cutting edge ideas. The down side is the large risk what you build won't work out and you'll likely be taking a pay cut for that opportunity to make F-U money. Now getting into my late 30s, I took that risk and unfortunately saw little reward. Now I'm at a top tech company that values design and doing great work and am well paid for my experince, which also was built at startups.

A lot of it boils down to your own tolerance for risk vs. reward along with what aligns with your goals and passion.

[RichardSuchovsky]

Thanks for the insight. You provide a lot of good points in this video. Good luck on your journey.

[trumonsa]

I'm just starting to learn UX Design, but it's highly likely that I'll end up switching to tech entrepreneurship like you have. For me, learning UX Design, despite everything you've said, is useful to find a minimally creative career which is well-paid (and luckily, remote) and allows me to build the life I want while having a 9-5 and get the knowledge to design user-friendly apps and websites, so I can be as creative as I want and design my own products in my spare time to either sell them later or look for people to build them.

[kynaeunique]

I’m currently a case manager looking to get into UX/Ui design. Even with the videos I’ve watched recently saying why they don’t like it I think it’ll be a good fit for me cause it’ll allow me to have some form of creative expression in my work. I’ve always loved art and the arts in general so I’m excited to start learning UX/Ui

[blackmascot]

I understand ur point of view perfectly but i believe ur reasons for quitting rather stems more from a sense of unmet expectations & the fear of spiralling into a midlife crisis. Personally, my expectations for the UX industry is exactly as u described. Am just entering my 40s with 20years experience in the field of product design and i can practically relate to the path of fulfilment u are embarking on. As u pursue this cause i'd be mindful of raising any further expectations of chasing novel projects. Most of these ideas also come with their challenges of launching or dying out a few years upon arrival. Even when they manage to succeed they gradually transform into the very conventional space u wished to escape.

Hopefully it works out well for u.

[joanaalmeidaJA]

I started my UX career in 2023 :) So far, I'm loving it because I work in a startup and I have the opportunity to work on a new product idea from scratch. But at the same time I'm also an entrepreneur and I'm building my own products.

[neonhandshakelove]

Hi Travis, im so sorry you had to go through these experiences as there are companies that actually do what you are seeking. Luckily I was able to do new products at start ups, new products that don't exist and actually use generative research but it all depends on the company unfortunately. Luckily I am working in game design, AR, MR and VR - with UX with 'narrative'. Thats why you're supposed to interview the company very well to avoid being in a pitfall.

[omgnoway]

i've also been in design fro the past 6yrs. I started as a visual design intern and given the opportunity to branch into UX. I've had many managers but the last one just ended that life-span for me. Lacked so much empathy and saw me as a lost cause. Finally made the decision to leave after that toxic work enviroment, but decided to move on from UX after they drained my juices out.

[henrythomas]

Great video! Some key points were highlighted that I hadn't heard anyone else discuss. Thank you!

[Furitenma]

I appreciate you discussing this because it's true. Coming up with new products, establishing roadmaps or getting complete ownership and credit for projects just doesn't happen. That said, I think most professionals that have been doing this for many years understand the reasons behind this. Believing otherwise is a bit naive considering how big these companies are. It's simply part of the job like any other. Quitting makes sense if this isn't what you want but I think designers should be well aware of these pain points before going into this direction. I'm ok with scratching at the surface of a product or service if it means my salary is comfortable.