UX Gaps

After finishing a UX design bootcamp, a new designer is eager to get their career started. They’ve been networking, attending meetups, sharing work online, and even landed interviews. But nothing has felt like the right fit yet. So instead of waiting for the perfect opportunity, they decide to try freelancing. The thinking is simple: “Why wait for a company to hire me when I can start working on my own projects right now?” They tell friends and family they’re available for freelance work, and a few opportunities come up. Maybe it’s a local store downtown that needs a website redesign, and they barter services — “ I’ll design your website if you help me with something in return.” Or maybe a cousin needs a simple portfolio site. These early projects are valuable. They provide practice, portfolio pieces, and confidence. But they’re not real client work. There’s no legal agreement, no formal contract, no defined scope. If something goes wrong, the stakes are low. That’s part of the probl...

 It’s your first week as a junior UX designer on a small, tight-knit product team — one lead designer, one mid-level designer, and two developers. You’re excited to finally put your skills into practice and contribute to real work. Your first project focuses on improving a section of the company website that’s been struggling with performance. After your first stakeholder meeting, you receive a detailed summary document packed with business metrics: conversion rates, drop-off points, and profitability trends. You scroll through it, trying to make sense of everything. The language is full of business jargon — meaningful, but disconnected from the world of users. Unpacking the Jargon You take the document to the mid-level designer, who’s experienced with the product and can help translate the metrics into actionable insights. Together, you review the spreadsheet. They explain: “When stakeholders talk about conversion rates, they mean how many users complete key actions — like si...