The UX design industry is currently facing a crisis of meaning, with professionals feeling burnt out and disconnected from the passion that led them to the field.
Designers are grappling with the dilemma of working for large corporations driven by profit, startups with questionable ethics, or non-profits with limited resources and external influences.
The shift in the industry from innovation to optimization has led to a decrease in demand for designers and a focus on financial growth over meaningful user experiences.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the decline of design's influence, pushing designers towards quick execution rather than deep exploration and problem-solving.
To address the crisis, designers are urged to quantify the value of their work, explore fields with less established design paradigms like AI and biotech, and actively propose innovative solutions within organizations.
Maintaining idealism and preventing complacency within design teams is essential to fostering a culture of innovation and impactful design work.
Finding meaning outside of work and focusing on personal well-being is also emphasized as a way to combat feelings of meaninglessness in UX design.