Facing Imposter Syndrome in UX/UI Design

I've heard about imposter syndrome at least three times now in the past 4–6 weeks, and it's been on my mind a lot — hence the inspiration to write this blog. So, if you're looking for some inspiration or help to overcome it, hopefully this little article might shed some light on the situation.

I'm of course no expert, but I'm interested to learn more, so I'm happy to share any resources I come across along the way.

I have to say, it seems that the majority of people who transition into UX/UI design for the first time struggle with the idea that they're not good enough for the role, that they can't do the job, and will be a complete failure at it.

Admittedly, I feel the same — and the only thing giving me solace right now is hearing that other people are struggling with it too, or have struggled and pushed through to see light at the end of the tunnel.

The first time

I heard the term in relation to UX design roles on an episode of the Method Podcast by Google Design, called Google UX Interns (Sep 17, 2019).

Alex Lim, one of the UX interns, shared how he felt a strong sense of imposter syndrome when presenting one of his prototypes to senior designers at Google — and joked that the room was so quiet it felt like "crickets" after his presentation.

I found that fascinating, because that's exactly how I imagine I'll feel at some point in the near future once I have my first job as a UX/UI designer. It's scary, but hearing another person — especially a fellow aspiring UX designer — say it felt reassuring.

The second time

It was on a LinkedIn post by a UX careers advisor. (I can't remember her name — only that she was American and had curly hair. When I find her, I'll update this post with the link.)

Either way, I was waking up one morning listening to her post on my phone. The topic was along the lines of "the number one reason you can't land a UX job."

Like any engaging video, there was a huge lead-up to the point, so I scrubbed ahead — and the big reveal was…

The number one reason people aren't getting UX jobs is… YOU.

Apparently, confidence and imposter syndrome are affecting people's ability to find work or transition into UX design as a career.

The third time

On June 16th, 2021, I was listening to episode #1 of Anfisa Bogomolova & Ioana Teleanu's podcast Honest UX Talks: How to transition to UX design.

By now, it's clear there's a fair amount of imposter syndrome going around in people's psyche. But what are we to do about it? And before that — how do we define it?

What is Imposter Syndrome?

According to verywellmind.com:

Imposter syndrome (IS) refers to an internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be. While this definition is usually narrowly applied to intelligence and achievement, it has links to perfectionism and the social context.

Some of the common signs include:

Self-doubt
An inability to realistically assess your competence and skills
Attributing your success to external factors
Berating your performance
Fear that you won't live up to expectations
Overachieving
Sabotaging your own success
Setting very challenging goals and feeling disappointed when you fall short

What's the cure, Doc?

Again, I'm no expert — so to quote Arlin Cuncic:

"In order to move past these feelings, you need to become comfortable confronting some of those deeply ingrained beliefs you hold about yourself."

There's a great list of suggestions on ways to overcome and deal with imposter syndrome on Verywell Mind.

For me, the biggest takeaway is simple: be kind to yourself.

Be confident in your abilities past and present.
If you've put effort into your studies, client work, or personal projects and committed them to a portfolio — you're already on the right track.
No one starts as a highly experienced professional on day one. As with any skill, you need to practise regularly.

Consider this perspective…

Dealing with some level of imposter syndrome might actually be a good thing. It keeps you on your toes, self-aware of your shortcomings, and always willing to learn. Isn't that better than walking around acting like you know everything — when really, you don't?

There's something humbling in admitting, like a philosopher:

"I know that I know nothing." — Socratic paradox

Final thoughts

Best of luck to any fellow UX/UI designers starting out on their journey who may be feeling the same way as I do.

If you'd like to discuss this further or I can be of any help, please don't hesitate to connect via LinkedIn.