"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]."
"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."
The design profession faces a culture that increasingly rewards visibility and clout over measurable outcomes. Many designers encounter stalled careers and personal frustration. Conversations with peers across Asia and Europe reveal widespread concern about leadership decisions and organizational dynamics. When design's productivity is questioned, professionals often deflect responsibility toward engineering, product, AI, or office politics. Common rationalizations include not writing code or lacking control over business decisions. These patterns erode accountability, reduce demonstrated impact, and contribute to professional instability despite individual skill and effort. The result is career uncertainty and a diminished role for design within product organizations.
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