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."

Partnering with data and making design processes visible are essential for impactful design. Transparent workflows build trust and credibility across the organization. Many UX tasks remain invisible, including personas and iterative changes that rarely get seen. Businesses increasingly question UX value and expect contributions that make or save money. UX must show measurable impact on the bottom line to counter flawed perceptions that prioritize direct revenue-generating teams. Designers need to signal outcomes, tie work to business metrics, and communicate value clearly to stakeholders to earn trust and demonstrate relevance.

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