Designers over 40: what are some important things you’ve learned about yourself and the industry in your time?

Quiet designers lead to bad products. But designers are afraid to speak up either because they are new to their role or because they are afraid of offending someone. The perceived “subjective” nature of design leads to those who are bold being viewed as tyrants.

This is how design by committee tends to be birthed. All voices must be equally integrated or you are a tyrant. The flip side of this is that often times research is weaponized and skewed towards desired outcomes to do so and avoid conflict.