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From burnout to balance: why are so many UX designers fatigued?

There’s a mental health problem in UX — how can we address it?

Chris Kernaghan
UX Collective
7 min readMar 30, 2023
Gray scale Photo of Man Covering Face With His Hands
Source: Pexels

UX design is a dynamic and rewarding field, full of creative challenges and opportunities for growth. As designers, we have the power to make a real impact on people’s lives by creating products and services that are intuitive, user-friendly, and enjoyable to use. However, despite the many benefits of working in UX design, mental health issues are becoming increasingly prevalent in the industry.

Perhaps they always have been, but for whatever reason, folks are now coming forward to vocalize their frustrations. Whether it be Design Twitter, r/UXDesign over at Reddit, or just anecdotal chit-chat from friends — it’s clear something isn’t working.

Perhaps it’s the pressure to meet unrealistic deadlines, juggle business and user needs, and keep up with emerging technologies while trying to deliver exceptional user experiences. Perhaps it’s because some of us feel UX isn’t taken very seriously. Regardless, this can take a significant toll on our well-being.

From burnout and anxiety to depression and substance abuse, mental health issues are a serious concern for UX designers. It’s time to acknowledge these challenges and take steps to create a healthier, more…

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Published in UX Collective

We believe designers are thinkers as much as they are makers. Curated stories on UX, Visual & Product Design. https://linktr.ee/uxc

Written by Chris Kernaghan

Designer. Owner of wearefounders.uk and feedme.design. Perpetually outdoors with the kids. Avid reader of books.

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