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

Your point about “quiet designers” is on point but I wonder if we are thinking about the same thing. How would you describe what the opposite of “quiet” looks like?

a bold one. If you’re just going along with what other stakeholders are asking of you you are a quiet designer. If you are bringing half a dozen options for the exact same screen or problem and at least not advocating strongly for 1-2 of them over others.

In orgs without research departments decisions around to design are boiled down to - best practices, competitive correlation, joy or personal opinion. When it’s anything but research your opinions are viewed as just that. Opinions. And everyone thinks their opinion is best.

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.