The balancing act of designers

A few years back, in what could be termed the 'Golden Age', there was a rallying call for entering the UX design field. The message was clear: "Get into UX design, you’ll love it, and there's tons of market opportunities". During the mid-2010s, the market was thriving, making a career in UX design both lucrative and novel.

However, as we progressed, the question arose: Are there too many designers saturating the market? After this golden period, business strategies began to shift, leading to instability in design careers. New graduates faced a challenging job market, and even experienced designers found their positions uncertain. Companies started reducing their design organizations, affecting both generalists and specialists. This led to leaner teams, limited mobility, and a need for designers to demonstrate more value and accountability.

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Healthy and diverse

Despite the saturation, the design market remains healthy and diverse. An abundance of designers brings a variety of perspectives and solutions, fostering unique design identities. The increased accountability also offers designers more visibility and opportunities to showcase their impact.

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Automation and AI in design

The introduction of automation and AI in design is reshaping the field. Imagine AI tools that can transform hand-drawn sketches into responsive HTML pages or generate copy and visuals. Although UI processes might become more automated, skills in UX Research and Strategy are becoming increasingly critical. Designers must adapt to new technologies and explore areas beyond traditional flat screens, like Augmented Reality and AI agents.

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Will AI mark the end of designers? Not exactly. It might change the nature of some design roles, but it also presents an opportunity for designers to leverage AI in enhancing their creativity and efficiency. This involves strategic design thinking, using AI for organization, planning, and exploring alternatives.

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Scalability before delight

In the context of scalability versus delight in design, there's a challenge. How do we balance the need for scalable, efficient designs that cater to a wide audience with the desire for delightful, personalized experiences? Even scalable solutions can incorporate elements that engage users on a personal level.

Design roles are evolving. Researchers focus on gathering user insights, strategists on creating blueprints and guiding teams, and creators on designing interfaces and content. Each role contributes uniquely to the overall user experience.

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Holistic Design for a User-Centric World

As we advance, it's crucial for designers to not only focus on the task at hand but also consider the broader user experience within the entire digital environment. This holistic approach is essential whether one is a creator, a strategist, or a researcher.

Ultimately, good UX design is about being user-centric. Ignoring the needs of the users makes a design irrelevant. It’s vital to continuously understand the audience's goals, challenges, and motivations. While personal-level customization may not always be feasible, the product should be designed with the general user in mind.