UXA2023 Andy Budd - Design’s Mid-Life Crisis

On most objective measures, the design industry is thriving. Our skills are in high demand, our salaries are rising, and companies can’t fill roles fast enough (recent blip notwithstanding). Design leadership has come of age, we’re seeing companies invest in team development, and more and more designers are earning that hallowed “seat at the table”. So why, when I talk to designers, do so many of them feel burnt out and despondent; like all their hard work and effort has been for nothing. It’s as though the design industry is going through some sort of mid-life crisis.

In this session design leader, start-up advisor, speaker and coach, Andy Budd, takes us through some of the reasons why we’re experiencing this sense of collective Ennui, and what we can do about it. This talk may make for awkward listening at times. However, unless we can have an open and honest conversation about the behaviors that are holding us back, we’ll never unlock the full potential of what design has to offer.

Transcript

1. ` ` Midlife Crisis DESIGN’S @andybudd
2. ` ` WARNING SOME DESIGNERS MAY FIND T H E N E X T T A L K CHALLENGING V I E W E R D I S C R E T I O N ADVISED
3. ` ` Design has arguably
 reached its PEAK of influence
4. ` ` Designers seem more disillusioned than ever before
5. ` ` I believe there is a gap
 in our view of design
6. ` ` We’ve been sold an image of design that’s aspirational but unrealistic.
7. ` `
8. ` `
9. ` ` “Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context - a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan “ — Eero Saarinen.
10. ` `
11. ` `
12. ` `
13. “We hold these truths to be self evident.” ― A Designer ` `
14. ` `
15. ` `
16. ` `
17. ` `
18. ` ` The “Field of Dreams” Fallacy
19. ` ` The “Field of Dreams” Fallacy
20. ` `
21. ` `
22. ` `
23. ` `
24. ` `
25. ` `
26. ` ` “We wrongly believe to be the voice/attorney of the user while there are people in Sales and Support that talk to customers every single day and probably know way more about them“ — Paul Adams
27. ` `
28. ` `
29. ` ` It doesn’t matter how good your data is if you haven’t done the groundwork to ensure an evidence- based framework for making decisions is in place before doing the work of gathering other evidence. - Erika Hall
30. ` `
31. ` `
32. ` ` Designers often think agile is
 the problem.
33. ` ` Perfect is the enemy of good.
34. ` `
35. ` ` Chasing perfection is also a risk to our collective wellbeing
36. ` ` Launch day often feels more like a wake than a celebration
37. ` ` Designs midlife crisis
38. ` ` • Feeling unfulfilled in life • Questioning Long-Held Beliefs • Feelings of boredom or meaninglessness • Impulsive, often rash actions • Constantly comparing oneself to others • Intense feelings of nostalgia or regret • Switching careers (into product, for instance)
39. ` ` Designers are starting to question their impact
40. ` ` A growing interest in design ethics
41. ` `
42. ` ` Learning the language
 of business
43. ` `
44. ` ` Design and Business are closer aligned that you may think
45. ` ` We need to do a better job demonstrating the value we bring
46. ` `
47. ` ` Often it’s better to show rather than tell
48. ` `
49. ` `
50. ` `
51. ` `
52. ` `
53. ` ` “For every dollar spend on design, they’d get five back.”
54. ` `
55. ` ` A lot of designers live in a permanent state of abundance
56. ` ` A lot of business people exist in a world of limited resources
57. ` ` Most business leaders are looking for momentum over perfection
58. ` ` We think we’re playing chess when we’re actually playing poker
59. ` `
60. ` `
61. ` ` What does this all mean?
62. ` `
63. ` ` We need to stop placing design at the centre
64. ` ` Realise we’re playing a supporting role
65. ` `
66. ` `
67. ` ` We need to stop fixating over idealised processes
68. ` ` And accept the reality of our situation instead
69. ` ` And do a better job of proving the value of design
70. ` ` If we earn our seat at the table, lets make sure its a grow-up chair
71. ` ` @andybudd Thanks Design Leader . Investor . Advisor . Coach
72. ` ` @andybudd Questions? Design Leader . Investor . Advisor . Coach