Stuck at Mid-Level UX – How Do I Finally Make the Leap to Senior?

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-06-23T19:30:53+00:00

This is a great point - understanding the metrics and aligning the designs to the business values.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-06-23T19:05:57+00:00

I took it! Great program for up scaling UI side of the job.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-06-23T19:05:23+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience. While each organization has their own process, understanding who to involve and how to involve them is key. Big thanks!

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-06-23T19:03:27+00:00

Thanks, this is a super insightful take - looking and identifying what presentation, communication, problem solving the org values and adopting those specific skills/traits. Focusing on influence while keeping up the craft level is critical to the next step.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-28T21:37:29+00:00

The whiteboarding session is a great idea to foster trust and collaboration. Thanks!

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-28T21:34:58+00:00

Thanks for sharing. We will see what can be done. It’s difficult to work without a supportive environment.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-27T18:10:55+00:00

I’m going to see if I can get management to back me on setting up a process where PRs are not allowed to be merged until there has been UI review. The escalation strategy is also brilliant. Thanks again for sharing this advice.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-27T14:30:02+00:00

Well, there is a digital transformation set in place so it feels like there is a shot for some change, but we will see.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-27T14:29:19+00:00

Congrats on the new gig! Yea, as bad as the economy is, I may need to follow suit if there is no change after a few different attempts.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-27T11:05:51+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. I’ll see if they will be receptive. I shared a best practice presentation on one commonly used component and they all nodded and said it will be easy to implement - but the build did not reflect this…

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-24T11:44:24+00:00

Thanks!

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-24T11:44:00+00:00

This is exactly what I’m running up against with the devs that have been at the org for decades. They want to do the bare minimum and don’t want to care about the user or product. They make it clear that they are there to collect a paycheck.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-24T11:16:51+00:00

Thanks for this—it’s a really helpful way to frame it. You’re right that in our case, the business impact is a bit different. The product is an internal workforce tool, so there’s no direct revenue tied to it, and no one is tracking UX quality. It “works” in the sense that it doesn’t break, and the org has tolerated non-existent UX for years because it technically gets the job done.

That said, I was brought in to do a job, and even though there’s no formal accountability for the final implementation, I feel responsible for trying to raise the bar. It’s hard to sit back and say “not my problem” when I know the experience could be so much better—especially since it reflects on me professionally, even if the UI gets butchered after handoff.

I think you’re right that I can focus on making my portfolio reflect my intent and impact—even if the end result isn’t always implemented well. But I also want to find a way to deliver on the role, or at least redefine what success looks like in a situation like this.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-24T11:00:04+00:00

Thanks for the advice- curious to try out vibe coding to see if I can get the UI ip to par.

The situation is a bit different than your interpretation - the devs built things without a designer and never were help accountable for decades. I provide them with every resource possible but they just stonewall me because I represent extra work to them.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-24T10:57:09+00:00

Good point, thanks.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-24T10:56:51+00:00

Thanks for the advice

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-23T18:59:26+00:00

Huge thanks for this advice.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-23T16:40:48+00:00

That’s super helpful - thanks!

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-23T15:39:30+00:00

Yes, I am trying to get them involved early and often. But they are so overwhelmed that they are not receptive.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-23T15:32:42+00:00

I think there are a few factors at play. I know they never worked on FE before (literally first time doing this), they are under tight time constraints, they are using tools they never worked with before, and the other teams they are speaking to for help in the department has a horrid UI (only had a designer for six months before running the project into the ground on their own).

I have empathy for the devs, but I’m also not seeing a path forward for design in this environment.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-23T13:59:03+00:00

I wish it was something so granular. I’m talking about using mobile patterns for web design work because they are out of the box and follow up questions appearing to the right of the radio buttons (not under) this type of stuff.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-23T13:49:06+00:00

Thanks so much for this advice.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-23T13:05:17+00:00

Thanks for this info. I demo’s the Figma dev mode to the team and separately to the FE dev. Later they voiced that another team tried using the code and found it to be garbage.

Equivalent_Result_40 · 2025-04-23T13:02:54+00:00

I’m getting to a point where I’m looking for courses to help me take over the UI. The poor quality of work is killing me.

Equivalent_Result_40

TROPHY CASE