How did I deal with imposter syndrome as a UX designer?
The millionaire dollar question. And unfortunately, I don’t have a good answer because I am still dealing with imposter syndrome even after eight years of UX experience.
I am a self-taught UX designer and broke into the field organically. I had the opportunity to create a new UX role at my previous job. Naturally, the imposter syndrome hit hard. I started with no formal design training and had a lot to prove in order to justify this new role. I worked hard and also took evening classes to try to accelerate my development. I put a lot of effort to try to break through the imposter-led reality which involved a lot of on-the-job learning & application, reading UX-related articles, and networking at UX events.
Design is a journey, not an end goal. This is why I always feel like I am embodying the imposter syndrome. I feel that I am constantly learning and trying to identify gaps where my UX skills can improve. There’s just so much to catch up on that I am forever chasing knowledge. Here’s the reality: you are always going to feel like you are not enough, no matter how hard you try. According to Margie Warrell, “you don’t have to attain perfection or mastery to be worthy of the success you’ve achieved.” Embrace your success (or failures) and keep going. Over the years, I picked up a few tips to help alleviate the stress that comes with feeling like an imposter.
Some tips to help you cope:
- Have you’ve ever thought to yourself, “They are going to find out that I am not good enough.” I probably thought that about a million times. But our thoughts are just passing thoughts. Catch them in the act and reframe your thoughts. Every time I come across design inspiration sites, I am always struggling and blaming myself for my lack of UI skills. Once the negative thought exists, I try to interject and reframe: “Oh man this designer is amazing. Where can I learn how to do that?” You’d be surprised how you can actually shift your mindset.
- Pick a passion project. You cannot fake passion and excitement. No imposter syndrome can take that away from you. Focus on something that excites you and design with passion. Apply the design process to a problem that you are passionate about solving. The benefits are threefold: you’ll learn more effectively, you’ll end up with a project that you’re proud of, and you’ll be able to speak about the project with passion.
- Manifest your dream job. Come up with a career goal and a timeline. What kind of UX designer do you want to be? Do you want to focus on being an in-house designer? Perhaps join a consultancy? Or even practice as a freelancer? No matter which tracks you choose, start by narrowing down your career goals. What are the steps you need to take to achieve that goal? What can you do right now to get started? Start with a plan. Put the plan in practice. Iterate on the plan.
- Focus on a specialty. Let’s rid of the notion that we have to be UX unicorns or jack-of-all-trades. Focus on one or two trade skills and then build on top of your foundation. Are you more creative or analytical? Do you lean towards form or function? Learn about your strengths and hone your UX skills from top to bottom. Fight the imposter syndrome mindset by building your fundamentals.
- Understand your learning style. Some people are visual learners and like to watch videos or tutorials. Some people are active listeners and like to learn through seminars or podcasts. Find out your ideal learning style and accelerate your learning schedule. I like to consume content mostly through reading articles and listening to podcasts. Find what works for you and take in as much as you can.
I’m still learning something new every day in the field of UX. I don’t know everything, I probably don’t even know anything. (Yikes, the imposter syndrome kicks in again — go back to tip#1. Reframe: “It is okay that I don’t know everything, but I can learn it now.”
If you made it to the end of the article, give yourself a pat on the back! The fact that you’re self-aware and want to do something about it (dealing with imposter syndrome)— gives you a leg up on everyone else. When you’re struggling to define yourself as a designer, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are many people who are willing to give you the time of the day if you just ask for it. I would say 99% of the time they will offer you advice. The other 1% — well, that’s life. Keep on going and move on.
“You don’t have to attain perfection or mastery to be worthy of the success you’ve achieved.” — Margie Warrell
