The article discusses a troubling trend among designers who hesitate to speak up due to fears of job insecurity, particularly amidst significant power imbalances seen in their teams. Designers witness engineers making arbitrary design changes and product teams disregarding valuable feedback. This environment raises questions about the perceived value of designers, prompting even talented individuals to seek new jobs. However, the author asserts that designers can still advocate for their ideas by considering if their actions will support team goals. Julie Zhuo's upcoming 'Valuable Employee Paradox scale' is introduced as a tool to navigate these complexities.
How do you know when to speak up? A timid designer asked me about a theme I've noticed more and more.
Currently, many Designers are terrified and unwilling to rock the boat. They're afraid they'll be out of a job if they make too much noise.
The value of Designers is in question, and even some of the most brilliant designers I know are looking for jobs.
You can still learn to push back and do what's right if you can answer a single question: Will these actions further the team's interests?
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