How much do you think you are worth?? —? A reflection on UX?value

Imagine the countless situations where water is desired and valued according to context. At the airport, a bottle is a luxury; in a desert, a lifesaver. It’s taken for granted in a waterpark, while at a packed concert, it’s gold. At your home faucet, you might let it slip down the drain without a second thought. Despite all these fluctuations in value and perception, water remains simply that — water. This brings us to the first point about professional appreciation —?our perception of value. So let’s reflect for a while on that.

Are you what you are or what others think you?are?

Water is a valuable analogy for understanding UX designers' essence and adaptability to different circumstances. Like water, UX designers are problem solvers, empathetic listeners, strategists, and storytellers. They can adjust their approach, whether gently trickling or rushing, to meet the needs of a given situation. The adaptability of a UX designer in a company can translate into better user experiences and more efficient collaboration.

According to the article Positive Developments but Challenges Still Ahead: A Survey Study on UX Professionals’ Work Practices, 94.8% of the UX professionals interviewed faced various challenges in the organizational integration of UX in the companies they worked for. Some shared problems and challenges included insufficient resources, a lack of dedicated time, financial constraints, inadequate equipment, a lack of understanding regarding UX’s relevance within their organization, team, or project, and low prioritization of UX issues within the organization.

In an organization that doesn’t quite grasp the value of UX, we might feel like water in a desert — scarce yet indispensable. In a company where UX is overly abundant, we might feel like water in a waterpark, present but unnoticed.

Just as water depends on its context to flow effectively, a UX designer’s ability to do their job is directly related to the environment they find themselves in. Water flows have the power to shape the landscape, leaving profound changes. In the same way, workflows and organizational circumstances can influence how UX professional performs their job.

Comprehending this dynamic leads us to recognize that a UX designer’s performance is co-dependent on the constraints and opportunities of their work environment. Just as water adapts to the terrain it travels through, UX professionals must adapt to the characteristics of the organization in which they are inserted. This involves understanding and taking advantage of the possibilities and resources offered by the organized system and exploring the opportunities for growth and impact it provides.

It is not about seeking external approval but about recognizing the intrinsic value of the UX professional by rewarding their effort, talent, and contribution. Recognition in the workplace crafts a narrative of personal value and accomplishment for the professionals involved, reinforcing their sense of purpose and belonging within the organization. This cycle of value creation is fundamental to building a culture of mutual respect and achievement.

A company's low UX maturity may hide your full potential

Some companies perceive the UX professional as an added luxury, like bottled water at the airport. Other organizations understand the life-sustaining value a well-nourished UX brings value to their business environment, like water in a desert.

Low?UX maturity?can lead to inadequate compensation. This situation can be likened to someone stranded in a desert, feeling a mild thirst but not desperate enough to quench it with the available water. Some employers prefer to ensure they can be replenished and restored while waiting, holding you, and hindering the recognition of your full capabilities for business interest (aka money). Equally, they may wish to avoid accepting novelty because they feel it is yet to be the precise time to invest in future advancements.

Just as water is essential for survival and growth, acknowledging an employee’s worth, regardless of their domain, is crucial for fostering an environment of appreciation and growth. It’s a win-win relationship.

Impact and UX?value

Can you recall a situation when you felt undervalued or unnoticed, just as water might in different contexts? Maybe you were at an organization that didn’t fully understand the impact of UX on the business.

By recognizing your value, you can shape the industry and foster a collaborative culture, encouraging both sides' experimentation and development. However, if you feel unsupported in finding your purpose, despite all the energy expended, maybe it’s time to let the water run in new paths.

Some experienced UX designers consistently face undervaluation. Even when taking proactive steps to showcase their value, substantiating their impact with data-driven evidence, and nurturing collaborative relationships with stakeholders, there may come a point where the extra hours they invest no longer justify their continued presence.

Creating a new path from there allows you to demonstrate and experiment with your skills, gaining confidence for the naturally flowing opportunities that await the next step. So be aware of your worth.

Recognize your essence to find your true potential

I know how important it is to be confident in your ideas and perceptions as a user experience designer. But, just like water that flows regardless of context,?your value as a UX professional doesn’t be lowered just because someone doesn’t recognize your importance. Still, others can price you out if you are not the first to acknowledge your expertise.

We are like water, my fellow UX practitioners. We carve new paths, eroding resistance slowly and persistently over time. We flow around obstacles, find the crevices in problems, and fill them with solutions. We bring life to the barren landscapes of poor user experience, and in times of drought, we gather our resources and prepare to spring forth anew.

We should take pride in our adaptability. This is the true essence of professional appreciation.?It’s not about seeking validation from others but understanding and affirming our intrinsic worth. As designers, we must remember that our value does not lie in how well we adapt to others’ expectations but in how deeply we explore and present our true selves in the work we create.

You may have no clue about your capabilities, but the extent of your potential exceeds your beliefs about it.

Are you adapting your flow to fit into tiny cups or carving valleys, leaving a mark that genuinely represents your value?

So don’t underestimate your worth. It’s time to let others recognize that.

This article is merely a personal view within a particular context where adaptability, resilience, and hard work are essential to overcome UX challenges. It is critical to recognize that the UX design experience is not uniform. Each professional faces a unique set of circumstances influenced by factors such as the industry in which they work, the company's organizational culture, the type of product or service being developed, and the specific expectations of their role. We acknowledge that experiences and social contexts vary widely, and this content may not resonate in the same way for all readers. (:

(This article was originated published on Bootcamp)