Designers often do invisible work that matters. Here's how to show it

"Partnering with data and making our process visible are essential for impactful design. When we work transparently, we build trust and credibility across the organization. A Head of AI Strategy and Design told me that last week, which is a reflection of UX's changing nature. UX professionals have always had some measure of 'invisible work'. Whether it's creating personas that only get seen occasionally or making design iterations, much of our work goes unnoticed."

"But as businesses increasingly question the value of UX, there's a growing need to signal not only that you've done work, but that it impacts the business's bottom line. This is where many designers struggle. The Uncomfortable Truth About How Businesses See Design At its core, businesses hire employees to do one of two things: make more money or save money. That's why their perception of UX tends to be flawed. Sales teams obviously bring in revenue. Marketing draws direct lines between campaigns and business outcomes."

Design must partner with data and make processes visible to create impact and build trust across an organization. Transparency in design work increases credibility and helps communicate value. UX contains substantial invisible work, including personas and iterative changes that often go unseen. Designers now need to signal not just activity but measurable impact on business results. Organizations primarily value roles that increase revenue or reduce costs, which skews perceptions of UX. Sales and marketing frequently show clearer business outcomes, leaving UX to bridge the gap between design efforts and tangible business metrics.

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