UX Gaps

 A designer has just joined a product team. They know the rules: research first, define the problem, map flows, test solutions. They’ve shipped work before, felt confident in their craft, and trusted the process. Now, they’re handed a project already in motion. The research is solid, but incomplete. As they read through it, it offers direction, not certainty. Some insights clearly point to user needs, while others raise new questions that were never fully answered. It’s usable, but it doesn’t provide the clarity they’re used to starting with. The foundation feels slightly uneven — and they notice it immediately. As they move into the design work, that feeling follows them. Some screens already exist. Some decisions were made before they arrived. Not everything is documented. The team is moving forward anyway. There isn’t a clean slate or a clear starting point — just a series of open threads that need to be picked up. For a designer used to defined sequences of steps, this is u...

This series started with a question. So you want to freelance. What does that actually mean? At first, it seemed simple — take on small projects, build confidence, and figure things out as you go. But over time, the path revealed its complexity. Freelancing isn’t just about doing design work; it’s about managing clients, setting boundaries, pricing your time, and making decisions when there’s no safety net. Along the way, you encountered moments that aren’t talked about as often: The first real project, where responsibility feels heavier than expected The realization that a strong network matters more than visibility alone The frustration of missed opportunities without social proof The discomfort of momentum bringing the wrong opportunity By the end of the series, a pattern had emerged. The hardest parts of freelancing weren’t about design skills. They weren’t even about experience. They were about judgment — making decisions when information is incomplete, expec...

 You’re taking a break. The last project ended unexpectedly, and you’re still carrying the weight of having to step away. It wasn’t about effort or skill; it was the lack of context, the missing information you needed to make competent decisions. Walking away was the right call, but that doesn’t make it any less deflating. So you step back. You scroll through your networks, catch up on updates, and give yourself space to reset. You’re not looking for work. You’re just letting yourself breathe. Then a message pops up. It’s from a former colleague from your previous career. They mention seeing your recent posts about your work in UX, your focus on mobile apps, and your growing interest in ed tech. Their team is working on a mobile app and wanted to see if you’d be open to learning more.  Curious, you reply, send it over. Soon after, they share a short onboarding document. It gives you a sense of what they’re building, who it’s for, and how the team is thinking about the work ...