There’s a problem.

What UX is supposed to be and what it’s becoming are two different things. Good designers feel stuck. It’s not because they aren’t skilled, but because the whole industry is going in the wrong direction.

Let’s be real. There are too many designers and not enough good jobs. It’s easy to get into UX now. Watch some videos, take a class, open Figma, and suddenly you’re a “UX Designer.” But there aren’t enough jobs for everyone.

Some people online are selling a dream. “Make tons of money as a UX Designer!” “Work from anywhere!” They teach you how to use tools, but not how to actually think. That’s the real issue.

UX has a problem with people understanding what it is. Bosses and clients don’t see the value. They’ve seen UX projects not work out, so now they don’t trust it. And when they need to cut costs, UX is often the first thing to go.

Is UX just becoming visual design? It feels that way. People are focused on Figma, Framer, and Webflow. Things like research, testing, and planning are being ignored or forgotten.

Hiring people around the world has changed things. Why hire one experienced designer in the US when you can hire five less experienced designers overseas for the same cost? It’s not about getting the best work; it’s about saving money.

So, what do we do now?

We need to make people understand what good UX is.

Here’s what we need to do:

Make people aware. Show them the real value of UX — the thinking, the problem-solving, and how it helps the business.

Share your work the right way. Don’t just show pretty pictures. Explain how you did your research, how you tested things, and why you made the choices you did.

Teach what UX is. If you’re helping new designers, focus on how to think and understand users, not just how to use software.

Ignore the noise. Stop listening to people who are just trying to sell you something, or follow every new trend that doesn’t help.

Pay attention to people doing real work. Learn from the designers who are actually solving problems and making a difference.

Think bigger than just screens. UX isn’t just about websites and apps. It’s about how things work in the real world, like systems and services. Explore things like physical products, AR/VR, and 3D.

Make your thinking important again. Show how understanding users helps the business succeed.

Step up and lead. If you have experience, take charge. You’ve seen the problems, so use that to make good decisions. Maybe become a Product Manager or someone who makes the big calls.

Stop just applying for jobs. Start reaching out to people who are hiring. Have real conversations. That’s often where jobs come from.

Think about moving. If you can, consider living somewhere cheaper or working remotely to give yourself more time and freedom.

Use AI to help you. Don’t think of AI as taking your job. Use it to work faster and automate boring tasks so you can focus on the important stuff.

Talk about business. Track how users behave, use tools like GA and Maze, and talk about numbers, not just opinions.

Think globally. Maybe learn another language and look for work in other countries. UX is needed in places you might not have thought of.

What’s the bottom line?

Change. Learn new things. Be willing to move.

No one is going to magically fix this for us. We need to take control, or someone else will decide what happens to UX.