Don't rush becoming a Senior UX Designer
Jacob Olenick
Lead Product Designer, Design Systems | ✨ I help UX Designers by posting career tips and content about working as an IC and contract UX Designer.
Becoming a Senior UX Designer is a milestone many new designers aspire to achieve, but it’s important to remember that this journey is not a race. Rushing through the process can lead to challenges that might otherwise be avoided with more experience and time. When I became a senior designer early in my career, I struggled with imposter syndrome and made mistakes that could have been prevented if I had spent more time mastering foundational skills. Growth in UX design is not just about acquiring titles; it’s about truly understanding the craft and becoming confident in your abilities.
One of the most critical aspects of being a senior designer is knowing how to collaborate effectively with product managers, developers, and other team members. These relationships take time to navigate and require an understanding of different perspectives and priorities. Additionally, it’s essential to deeply understand user needs and how to translate those into impactful designs. Rushing into a senior role without fully grasping these dynamics can result in frustrations for you and your team, and ultimately, it can affect the quality of the user experience.
Take the time to build a strong foundation. Use these early years to learn, experiment, and grow without the added pressure of senior-level responsibilities. Seek out mentorship, work on a variety of projects, and focus on mastering the nuances of UX design. By doing so, you’ll not only feel more prepared when you do step into a senior role but also enjoy the journey of becoming the kind of designer who can truly lead and inspire others.
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Senior UX Designer • Design Systems • I excel at structuring products, crafting design systems, and refining solutions through prototyping and collaboration.
1dIt's self-evident within a team who is actually senior and who is not, regardless of level or title. The senior people are the ones that others seek out for advice. Everybody else is just doing the work. We should all worry a lot less about titles for the sake of vanity and worry a lot more about making impactful contributions to the team and meaningful progress toward our own goals and potential.
Senior Product Designer | Mentor | I help Product Designers navigate through today's competitive job market
2wJacob Olenick Great insights as usual 🙌