UX Design Expectations vs Reality

[@ranzteeezy9716]

I can relate to that story, I was hired as a UI/UX Designer, my first project with the company I was tasked to do a web application, the first thing I did is to nerd out with the research, wireframe sketching, and case study stuff. I ended up looking like a joke to my co-designers and to our creative director because that is not how they do things there, their process is basically looking for design inspirations and go straight with the design they only care how the product would look like visually, no wonder why company's portfolio sucks in UX.

[@johnathonleslie756]

I can relate as well. I moved into a similar role with a company that had no design plan as well. They had the software developers do all design and work flows so it was all over the map. I was told to make the screens “pretty”. No interest in making the products better or make the work flow improved. They just wanted “pretty”. And they wondered why other similar companies’ products looked and worked so much better.

[@MultiSkyrise]

This is probably the most useful and insightful video I've ever seen on UX design. I think a video like this should be done for every and all careers, especially for high schoolers or someone trying to get into a different career. We are all disillusioned by the expectations and fantasy of what the job will be like in our heads, we spend years studying to get into the field and once we do we become disappointed because our illusion is broken and replaced by the harsh reality. Understanding the harsh reality is really a necessity for anyone researching on what career they want to get into.

[@janieliu9713]

Absolutely true. Thinking from a business person's perspective, if we pay money to a designer to design something, we do not care about how the designer comes up with the design, and we just want to see the ideal result as soon as possible. The designer knows the design process that leads to the ideal design we want, and this is their expertise and what we pay for.

[@Jerminator1984]

As someone trying to really grasp what this is all about for a possible career change, this is golden content and is much appreciated. Sub!

[@igorkhomenko9680]

This is simply 100% true. Thanks a lot for confirming that I am not the only seeing the harsh disconnect between all the nice'n'dandy theory and endless hours of UX-blah-blah on KZbin and simple gray reality - where you are presented with deadlines, tons of decisions made on assumptions you will never get to understand and the only deliverable you are expected to produce is the re-skinned UI made by developers a couple of months before you were hired.

[@DeepfriedBaby]

It's so funny. You were describing that process in the beginning, and I'm thinking "No place for me has EVER gone through this mythical proper process." This is a great post. Thanks for confirming I'm not crazy.

[@AlexMoschopoulos]

This helps so much! I'm transitioning from Web Designer/Art Director to a full-fledged UX Designer, and was quite concerned on how many projects where I became the "UX Advocate", but we didn't have time/budget to do full user surveys, whiteboard sessions and even ample time to brainstorm...so much of my process was mainly online research, application of best practices, and especially thinking like the end user when I designed the layouts. It's good to know I'm not the only one who gets into those dilemmas.

[@Lumeone]

Absolutely correct, the most common attitude in the real world is "money speak" "we pay you to do what we want" and the human design principles often do not fit in the process at all. Plus, with the proper customer analysis, you can in a day or two to discover and prove that business has no future, there is no business case, so you end up designing a useless product. I heard from a few programmers "We design dead products all the time. This is normal practice - as long as the customer pays, who cares!" What do you do in this case? Has anyone had an experience like that?

[@MujahidOmer]

Thank you for making this video to cover such a widely ignored topic. As I see it, if an organisation is willing to shell out some of the design processes for some projects that have a tight timeline, then it's perfectly alright. In fact, it actually helps the designers grow by picking out the most needed design steps and executing in accordance with the timeline and project goals. But on the flip-side, if an organisation always have projects with tight timelines and have never once executed a project with the entire design steps, then the designers and the team grow stale in their career advancement and knowledge. I'm in such a position (have been like this for the past 1 year). And it's better to just switch rather than convince the management of the benefits and better ROI on proper UX methodology; for a day that might never come. Life is just too short for that.

[@abaddierey]

@Mujahid Omer Very well said 🥂

[@thekiegirl]

Thanks for this nugget, Mike, you did a great job explaining the difference between a blueprint and an anchor - UX Design is a method based on a set of principles - its application is not set in stone it's up to us as professionals to make them work in our work place and with our clients. Feel better soon !

[@andrewmakasini4054]

Kie well said

[@jonbrown9490]

So ...as a chef of 20+ years looking at a career change...this sounds very similar to just about any " creative" field. What it really boils down to is that money and time are finite and management always wants/needs things done to the maximum level of quality with the minimum amount of capital and time. Is this a correct assessment of the situation?

[@MarkWhiteartist]

This is useful, I’m applying for start ups and I should have this mindset when applying

[@puravida417]

The best performing rushed A/B test this week or what the CEO, CPO or SVP of product wants tomorrow morning. Story of my life. 8 yrs exp. SF Bay area.

[@archmad]

there's disconnect between stakeholders because each one has its own goal in mind. it is important to set goals as a team, not individually. Then from that, each one has a role to play how to achieve it. Avoid general goals like, I want the best calendar app, or a task management app. Instead, define what is the "best" app, how can user make a 3 step calendar app, etc

[@Elizabeth-mf3dn]

Well said - basically every creative job I’ve worked lol use the blueprint but the reality is much different

[@VesoneDean]

I hate that this is true but it is. I think part of the frustration comes from something you said and in that, communicating with users/customers is considered a luxury for some companies (which is ironic given the job title of user experience designer). Using your example with the painters, the painter who does all the prep talks to the client and makes sure he/she understands what colors go where but gets the job done a day later...versus the painter who doesn't prep, gets done a day quicker but paints everything the wrong color. In my experience, quite a few companies opt to go the latter route.

[@KabbaModern03]

That's my weakness, I don't prep before I design. I can create a visually appealing interface but I get too many creative ideas along the way which can increase work time. I'm gonna' sketch more for sure before designing.

[@atomparish]

This is so true. I've experienced this in many of the companies I have worked at.

[@a-gnosis]

props for not sneezing

[@Aztek1994]

bro you look like a dentist ^^cheers !

[@psychederik]

lmaoo, what does a dentist look like?

[@tuezmoi]

@@psychederik Mike is pretty. That is all.

[@varunacharya4583]

@@psychederik johnny sins

[@systolicrecords502]

@@tuezmoi calling a guy pretty is even worse than the initial complement)

[@tuezmoi]

@@systolicrecords502 Maybe because nobody has ever called you pretty. 😂

[@ramisafaruque2192]

Lol I thought I was the only one. This is so accurate.

[@arthurbeginyan4633]

Thank you for explaining the reality. Gold!

[@adityalaad3862]

Hey Mike! Thanks for the video! I just want to ask a question. Since you have been in this industry for so long & have seen it grown over the years, do you feel or think that UX industry is approching a saturation? Do tou think there is a need for us designers to update our skills to stay more relevant in the field?

[@henrysmindyourenjoyment]

Excellent for perspective.

[@2mnyshp]

Yes, I also worked in feature factory - projects.

[@natejames3299]

I would've liked more hard examples like "Bill comes in and what's UX design for the entire website all changed around within 4 hours." - this was more of a sales video and didn't have as many hard examples that I was looking for.

[@starogre]

this video resonates well. but my only gripe is that these youtube UX designers never link their own portfolios in their descriptions

[@cafeplanck]

Thanks a millions, you opened my eyes

[@fatherheungmin]

Hey mike, just wondering at the end of your program will I be certified?

[@namchung2068]

yo this is a good question

[@DeepfriedBaby]

I just certified this comment. You are now certified by me.

[@ingusspride3551]

Are you proposing to work with your customers if for example, someone learning via online your classes?

[@briandiaz834]

Congratulations on 100k

[@minhhuynh3332]

thank you so much! this's gold

[@neha1299]

Really cool info !

[@amsumuhammed]

Love all your videos, they are super helpful! Thanks:) Keep working hard!!

[@derrickdavis4960]

Thanks Mike!

[@dbtwithme]

Love it alot

[@rakhik6451]

so much truth in this! Thank you

[@pavankumarattavar7514]

100%true

[@Sponsi_PL]

Thank you.

[@zjafer]

speak up buddy dont afraid

[@kiranpoojary4505]

How is the job market for UI/UX for 2030? Is the job market already started to become saturated with more and more people trying to work in this field?

[@nikitashcherba29]

The reality is cruel. You need to know html,css,JavaScript and be able to create high-fidelity mock ups. Other tasks such as ux research, cool thoughts and strategies performs marketing. If you want to start as UX designer most of the time you will do everything that is connected with a design.only big companies can afford themself to hire “pure” ux designer.

[@acantime]

Thats so false information

[@Lena-sf8pt]

can you elaborate?

[@danm1063]

Might just be me but all these hand movements feel so distracting lol

[@amsumuhammed]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@jewpoc]

why do you look so much like justin beiber

[@sundeepkumar9995]

Please add subtitles for more convenience of the viewer 🙏🏻

[@un_defined]

man don't brush your teeth, I'm dazzled thanks for info, and i would compress your talk