UX in 2024: A Reality Check for Aspiring Designers
I was laid off in January 2024, marking my second layoff in the three years since graduating from college. Will I return to this industry? That’s uncertain. I’ve decided to conduct thorough research before making any decisions.
Next, please allow me a few minutes to share my journey before I delve into my research and opinions on the topic of layoffs. If you’re a junior UX designer, or considering a transition to UX in 2024, this could be a valuable message for you.
I remember when I graduated, the job market was dynamic despite the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovering economy. I was under immense stress, spending 10 months doing everything possible to secure a job. My need for my first job was not only due to financial independence but also to maintain my legal status in a foreign country. Fortunately, I connected with a design manager, passed three rounds of interviews, and landed my first UX job. At that time, I wasn’t aware that UX was already a hot field in the industry. Perhaps I was too engrossed in my job search to notice the proliferation of UX certificate ads during the pandemic.
In my first job, I realized the significant amount of learning still ahead of me in various disciplines. It was interesting how YouTube tutorials and online articles provided more insightful knowledge about human-centred design and Figma tricks than my college professors. Recognizing the substantial gap between my skills and those of my senior colleagues was difficult but necessary at that time. This job also made me realize the negative impact a remote team can have on my social skills and mental health. And there was no use in hoping the company would encourage its remote employees to socialize as much as possible. Furthermore, I found most of my tasks repetitive. As a designer, I spent most of the day working on Sketch or Figma files, with little interaction with others outside of presentations or ideation sessions. Coming from a culturally and traditionally collectivist country, I had hoped to build relationships with my colleagues. However, I discovered that many people here prefer a clear separation between work and personal life, which was a cultural shock to me.
When I discussed my struggles with other IT professionals, many suggested, “If you’re struggling with a remote team, consider going out in the evenings or on weekends to meet new people.” Others said, “The issue is that you’re NOT GOOD ENOUGH! You need to be flexible and adapt to your environment. How can you have so many demands?” However, I usually found myself drained of energy after a full day of designing, leaving me emotionally unavailable for any evening social gatherings. Not to mention the additional training and exercise I plan to do outside of work hours just to keep up. Back then, I hadn’t realized that my heart was gradually moving away from the things I was doing. I had no idea if it was I who evolved over time, or if the real UX Design, which is not that idealistic, caused these issues.
For a long time, I secretly blamed myself. I thought I was the inadequate person causing all my distress. I believed that if I became better and more versatile, built all kinds of soft and hard skills demanded in this role, willing to accept the lowest pay among the juniors yet still excel at everything, I would eventually find happiness in any UX role because I loved designing from the beginning. However, after conducting extensive research into the opinions of other UX practitioners in 2024, I believe the correct mindset to see UX Design is exactly the opposite.
There’s a UX Youtuber, Malewicz, who created a video titled “Why Learning UX is Not Worth It in 2024”. Although YouTube content can be subjective, I agree with the points he made in this video.
The first point he raised was the overcrowded nature of the UX field. While some might argue that as companies filter out unqualified UX designers, those with only online certificates or boot camp graduations, the demand for qualified designers could increase. However, my research suggests that AI will likely take on many UX tasks, such as idea generation, prototyping, colour palettes, and data analysis.
Empathy and usability testing are indeed core to human-centred design, suggesting AI could never replace human UX designers, we need to consider that AI may not accurately predict human experiences or behaviours. Humans are fundamentally unpredictable, and AI lacks empathy. In this scenario, we would primarily need a small number of experts specializing in human psychology or behavioural analysis. These roles align more with consumer psychologists, behaviour researchers, and accessibility, leading to a significant reduction in traditional UX jobs. His second point further supports this trend.
The second point made was regarding the high standardization of UX/UI. This means there are numerous templates and plugins for web design, built on prior research of human interaction with digital products. These UI designs align with human cognitive patterns, making them ready for use. Companies simply need to apply their colour palettes and adjust minor details to suit their products. Despite the perception that every company requires a custom design system, ample templates are available for customization. Essentially, a single designer is required to oversee these minor adjustments. This trend is evident as many designers primarily work on “drag and drop” in Figma, rather than performing traditional UX tasks.
Another point he made pertains to the moral struggle inherent in being a UX designer. If you’re unable to advocate for users’ needs and maintain integrity with the research data you’ve gathered, you’re unlikely to succeed as a UX designer. This is a fundamental tenet of human-centred design theory and a widely accepted idea in the industry. However, modern designers often have to compromise and resort to “dark patterns” to aid stakeholders in earning unethical profits. This is a widespread issue, evident in the questionable UI practices of companies like Facebook and TikTok. Consequently, some research designed to aid users may be disregarded by these companies.
Based on my research, I’m not suggesting that UX will soon become obsolete. Rather, this field will continue to exist. However, with the rise of automation by AI and the increasing use of established mockups, companies will likely only hire for a limited number of high-level UX-related roles.
Many companies today require five years of experience and a diverse skill set for junior designer positions. However, that’s not the focal point. We need to look towards the future. I sincerely hope that those considering investing time and money in this field will be more thoughtful.
You may disagree with my findings from this extensive research, given the multitude of UX courses currently available. However, before you chase a seemingly lucrative role or set off on a predetermined path, deeply consider if UX roles is worth the money and time to invest and what kind of life would truly make you happy.
I also highly recommend The Pathless Path, especially to young people starting their careers. This book significantly changed my perspectives on money, career, and life.
No matter what you choose by the end, I hope you enjoy the things you do in every minute, every hour of your life.
Hello, I’m Xinyi! As a GEN-Z and former UX Designer from the Greater Toronto Area, I will be thrilled if you’ve found value in this article. Sharing it would mean a lot, helping spread these insights throughout our industry. If you’re inclined to support my journey as an independent content creator and my research efforts, consider treating me to a matcha latte, my favourite! Your support fuels my passion and enables me to continue creating content that resonates. Thank you for being part of this journey!
