This document summarizes the challenges of a career in UX design over many years. It describes UX designers feeling like masochists due to developers not following instructions or product teams prescribing solutions rather than requirements. It also discusses problems at companies where UX teams are unable to have enough impact or use their preferred methodologies. However, it notes that unsatisfied UX professionals are usually unhappy with their company or role rather than the work itself. The document ends on a positive note by quoting surveys finding that UX designers feel their work helps people and makes a difference.

1. C O N D O L E N C E S O N
Y O U R U X C A R E E R
Q U E S T I O N A B L E C H O I C E S

2. – M I L I S S A
“UXers are masochists.”

3. WAY B A C K

4. B E G I N N I N G O F T I M E
1 9 9 5

5. I W O R K E D H E R E

6. H E R E
O R R A T H E R

7. 1 5 Y E A R S O F R E - O R G S

8. “ W H AT T H E # & $ ^ ! I S U I ? ”
– M Y N E W M A N A G E R / E X E C U T I V E

9. “ W H AT I S U I ? ” I N T H E D R A W E R
A N E M P T Y
C A R D B O A R D B O X U N D E R
T H E D E S K
&

10. W E E X P L A I N
O U R R O L E T O
T H E W O R L D

11. # T R U T H
D AV E G R AY, 2 0 1 4

12. W E H AV E C O M P L A I N T S

13. – E V E RY U X D E S I G N E R E V E R
“Developers don't follow instructions.”

14. – E V E RY U X D E S I G N E R E V E R
“Product is prescribing design solutions instead of
stating requirements.”

15. – E V E RY U X R E S E A R C H E R E V E R
“ The testing is too late to have an impact on the
shipped product.”

16. – E V E RY U X R E S E A R C H E R E V E R
“ The team is dictating methodology or script
instead of stating goals for testing.”

17. U G H . U X I S H A R D .

18. W W W. N N G R O U P. C O M / R E P O R T S / U S E R - E X P E R I E N C E -
C A R E E R S
“People who said they were unsatisfied usually
mentioned reasons related to their current
company or role, not about the work itself. In fact
many were unhappy because they didn’t get
to do enough UX or they weren’t able to be
as effective as they would like to be.”

19. – M I L I S S A , R I G H T N O W.
“See? I told you. UXers are masochists.”

20. – S U R V E Y R E S P O N D E N T
W W W. N N G R O U P. C O M / R E P O R T S / U S E R - E X P E R I E N C E -
C A R E E R S
“Everything I needed to know in UX design I
learned by playing Dungeons and Dragons.”

21. S O LV I N G T H E P R O B L E M S
O F U X T H R O U G H O R G
W E ’ R E T RY I N G

22. D E S I G N , P R O D U C T &
E N G I N E E R I N G A R E P E E R S

23. B U S I N E S S I S C H A N G I N G
M E A N W H I L E …

25. D E S I G N I S T H E D A R L I N G
O F B U S I N E S S

26. U X I S T H E D A R L I N G O F
D E S I G N

28. U X C A N N O T E X I S T
W I T H O U T R E S E A R C H

30. P R O B L E M S AT T H E T O P

31. – M A R I A G I U D I C E + C H R I S T O P H E R I R E L A N D
R I S E O F T H E D E O
“… design leaders usually possess characteristics,
behaviors, and mindsets that enable them to excel
in unpredictable, fast-moving, and value-charged
conditions.”

33. L E A H B U L E Y

34. A N D T H E N , T H I S
H A P P E N E D :

37. W E C A N B E H A P P Y
N O W, R I G H T ?

38. No.

39. – R U S S W I L S O N . L I K E , Y E S T E R D AY
“Empathy. Tenacity …and some other stuff.”

40. T O C R E AT E S O L U T I O N S W E
M U S T F O C U S O N P R O B L E M S

41. P R O B L E M S A R E
E V E RY W H E R E

42. C A R E E R A D VA N C E M E N T =
F O C U S O N B I G G E R P R O B L E M S

43. W E H AV E N O C H O I C E ,
B U T W E H AV E A C H A N C E

44. Y O U R G I F T / C U R S E C A N F I X
M O R E T H A N Y O U T H I N K

45. # F O C U S
D AV E G R AY, 2 0 1 4

46. – S U R V E Y R E S P O N D E N T
W W W. N N G R O U P. C O M / R E P O R T S / U S E R - E X P E R I E N C E -
C A R E E R S
“I get to make people’s lives better by using
less frustrating products, it’s an intellectual
challenge, and it’s a niche that continues to have
more demand than supply"

47. – S U R V E Y R E S P O N D E N T
W W W. N N G R O U P. C O M / R E P O R T S / U S E R - E X P E R I E N C E -
C A R E E R S
“I feel that my work means something.“

48. – S U R V E Y R E S P O N D E N T
W W W. N N G R O U P. C O M / R E P O R T S / U S E R - E X P E R I E N C E -
C A R E E R S
“I know my work helps people.“

49. – S U R V E Y R E S P O N D E N T
W W W. N N G R O U P. C O M / R E P O R T S / U S E R - E X P E R I E N C E -
C A R E E R S
“Best thing I ever did.”

50. M I L I S S A TA R Q U I N I
@ M I L I S S A
Thank you