UI UX Designers and the Creativity Paradox

Contrary to popular belief, as well as all the technological resources that are currently available one click away, UI UX designers do not have more free time than ever. Quite the opposite, designers are facing a period of time that raises many questions regarding the future of UI UX design. In this article, we will take a look at just how the rapid tech revolution as well as the late-stage capitalist work ethic has affected designers.

They say when there is nothing else to blame, blame it on the industrial revolution. A few hundred years after this defining era in the human book, we find ourselves in a world dominated by technology. If the 80s were dominated by the rise of personal computers, the 2000s’ mobile phones had consumers in a chokehold, and we are now rapidly entering the age of artificial intelligence-driven technologies. 

While there are many advantages of fast-paced digital progress that we would never try to deny, we cannot help but notice some phenomena that may not have such a positive impact on the people who are not only engaged with but also work in the tech field. This is what brings us to the current role of UI UX designers in the digital world. 

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According to a recent research conducted by Upwork, the number of people working as freelancers is estimated to reach around 86.5 million by 2028. But what does it have to do with UI/UX designers? Well, one of the easiest parallels we can draw between this shift from more conventional types of work to freelancing is that people are finding being part of companies more and more enjoyable and favorable.

It is not a surprise that many big companies tend to target their focus on stricter regulations and laws to establish value preservation. However, this does come with a cost for the UI/UX designers - namely, it can significantly hinder their creativity. And when you place stiff and uncomfortable boundaries around a designer’s most valued resource, creativity, you end up with an unsatisfying and even mediocre result. 

Besides this obstacle that is hard to overcome by the UI UX designers themselves, the repaid advances in technology have unfortunately narrowed down the need for human minds in digital design. Although we are far from being replaced by machines as some conspiracy theorists fear, we do have jobs that have been completely automated - thus, resulting in less and less need for human designers. And when employers are looking for UI UX designers for their projects, it is far from uncommon for them to have pretty high demands from them.

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If you have ever looked for jobs in UX or UI design, you will 100% relate to the example I am about to give. You find an open job post that looks good, they provide a nice salary, and the company is well-trusted. The interview day arrives, but the employer reveals that not only are they looking for a UI UX designer, but a candidate who also knows how to code, is a marketing specialist, and is a good graphic designer at the same time. 

In the digital design field, the people who fit this typology are known as UI/UX unicorns. The UI UX unicorns are supposed to be able to perform all the tasks needed in the design process, from the planning phase, all the way to the launch, sometimes replacing entire teams. This type of person naturally represents the dream candidate for employers, as they would save them a lot of money and resources. 

But let’s be honest, how many jack-of-all-trades of design have you met? Just as unicorns are mythical creatures, UI UX unicorns are almost impossible to find. It seems as if the UI UX unicorn is more of a utopic archetype that has spun out of over-the-top demands from a work culture that cares less about people and more about profit.

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But enough about employers for now - what about the relationship between UI/UX designers and their users? For such a user-centric heavy field, where UI design needs to be accessible and intuitive, it seems that people are trusting UI UX design less and less. 

Just as George Orwell predicted it in his famous novel from the 40s, 1984, we truly are living in the age of surveillance. And with the popularization of books such as The Age of Surveillance Capitalism that expose the way in which tech giants such as Facebook treat user data, users are becoming more reticent toward UX design.

As a concept, user experience design requires a lot of trust and can be seen in virtually every aspect of the product design. With UX design, our main goal is to gather data - and users are well aware of this! Users want to feel like their personal information is handled safely, and with the many negative examples put to the forefront in the media, users are more concerned about what may happen when they use a new website or app.

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We know this has been a fairly heavy discussion, especially for someone who is interested in the UI UX design field. The design sphere has its ups and downs, just like any other subject we could think of. But the first step in dealing with and overcoming these obstacles is to acknowledge them. Let’s take a look at the positive aspects of becoming a UI/UX designer because there still are many reasons why somebody would currently want to pursue this career path.

Benefits of a UI/UX Design career

• Marker in full Expansion. There is still a very big demand in the UI UX design market and plenty of jobs to apply for.
• Good Salaries. UI UX designers earn high salaries on average. For example, in 2023 the median salary of a UI/UX designer in the US was around $75K/per year.
• Flexibility. There are many aspects of UI/UX design that offer flexibility, such as a timetable that you can pick out yourself, and the possibility to work from home. 
• Growth Opportunities. UI/UX design allows you to grow a lot in your career - you can evolve a lot in salary and knowledge-wise from the moment you debut until you become a senior designer.

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We at uinkits understand the importance of inputs in great user experiences and creating amazing UI designs. That’s why we’ve developed a Figma UI Kit with design components that include these essential UI elements that enable you to design intuitive and user-friendly interfaces effortlessly.

“You press the button, we do the rest.” – Kodak.

Inspired by this iconic tagline from Kodak, we believe in simplifying the design process for you. Our Figma UI Kit, uinkits, is a complete design system with UI components that allows you, as a UI UX designer, to create your products as quickly as pressing a button. 

Our design system includes UI components, icons, variables, cards, buttons and everything you need for your design process. All you have to do is take your UI design component needed, and you’re ready to use it in your designs!

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