🗺️ Designing Your Own UX Career Map
What to do when you've reached a crossroads with no clear direction
👋 Happy Saturday, my dear UX friends, Marina here!
Today, let's try to solve this UX career dilemma ↴
"Hi, I've been a UX designer at the same company for almost 4 years now. I've gotten pretty good at my job - everyone respects my work, and I'm comfortable with our processes.
But lately, I've been feeling... stuck.
When I look at the senior and staff designers at our company, I'm not sure I want to be like them...
They seem to involve more meetings, more politics, and less actual design work. And honestly, I'm not sure I want to manage people either.
How do I stay engaged in my career when the “next step” seems unclear or—dare I say—unappealing?
I still love UX, but the traditional ladder doesn't excite me. I don't want to just coast, but I'm struggling to see where to go from here…”
I bet many of us remember that mid-career “plateau moment” when you feel like you've mastered your current role, but the conventional "next steps" feel more like sideways moves (or worse, steps backward from what you love).
Why do we so rarely talk about it openly?
We're taught to chase that next promotion, that fancier title, that bigger team... but what if those things don't align with what actually energizes you?
But of course, there is a good news ;)
Because the traditional ladder is just one path - and often not even the most fulfilling one.
Some of the most successful UXers I know and worked with have crafted entirely custom career paths that don't fit neatly on an org chart. They've designed their careers with the same thoughtfulness they bring to their UX work.
So, let's explore how you might reimagine your career journey when the conventional next steps don't light your fire.
TEH CAREER COMPASS FRAMEWORK
💫 Finding Your True North
When the traditional path forward doesn't excite you, it's time to recalibrate your career compass.
Here's a framework I've developed to help UXers chart a more meaningful course ↴
STEP 1 → Deconstruct the "SHOULD"
First, let's break free from career "shoulds" that might be clouding your vision.