"But I promise you, my rants are merely neutral observations and opinions. I love talking to people, and over the last 2 months of unemployment (I am now employed), I called upon designer friends all in Asia and Europe to get their opinion on the current state of Design leadership and how it has impacted our careers. Spoiler alert: It ain't great. Hence the article."
"We seem to have found ourselves in an era where clout matters more than productivity, and when Design's productivity and impact is questioned, we somehow re-direct that discomfort and blame our Engineering and Product counterparts (or other happenings in the industry) for not enabling us to be more productive. "We're not the ones touching the code or deciding the business, so it's not our fault." or "AI is replacing designers!" or [Insert office politics statement here]."
A designer experienced two months of unemployment and solicited perspectives from design peers across Asia and Europe about leadership and career impacts. Responses revealed a growing emphasis on clout over measurable productivity and impact. Designers often deflect responsibility by blaming Engineering, Product, AI, or office politics for limited productivity and career setbacks. Common refrains include claims that designers do not touch code or decide business, or that AI will replace designers. The atmosphere reflects frustration, defensive postures, and concern about accountability and leadership within organizations.
Read at Medium
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