Summary of "How to Grow as a UX/UI Designer in 2025 | Shyam Attreya, UX Design Manager at EY"

Summary of “How to Grow as a UX/UI Designer in 2025”

by Shyam Attreya, UX Design Manager at EY

Main Ideas and Concepts

Nature of UX/UI Design

UX/UI design uniquely involves balancing technology, human needs, and business requirements. Unlike purely exploratory fields, UX/UI designers are hired to achieve specific goals, requiring collaboration and adaptability.

Human Needs vs. Changing Requirements

Fundamental human needs remain constant, but their expressions and requirements evolve over time (e.g., from needing clean water to mineralized water). Designers must recognize this dynamic.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

There is an increasing focus on designing for accessibility, especially in India, where government mandates will require websites (banks, IRCTC, etc.) to be more inclusive for people with disabilities. Designers should practice non-judgmental observation to understand diverse user experiences, such as varying degrees of blindness.

Core Skills for UX/UI Designers

Collaboration: Being open to conversations, avoiding unnecessary explanations or “mansplaining,” and respecting different perspectives.
Empathy: Developed through active listening and engaging with users’ stories.
Design Psychology: Understanding human psychological principles behind design choices, such as making apps for elderly users that are colorful and comforting to reduce fear of digital products.
Lateral Thinking: Applying creative problem-solving to adapt to changing requirements.
Observation: Constantly learning without assumptions.

Portfolio Development and Presentation

Benchmark against others but avoid self-doubt by recognizing that portfolio presentation is a skill itself.
Tailor portfolios to match the ethos and values of each potential employer; Shyam maintains over 100 customized portfolios.
Keep portfolios engaging, interactive, and concise; avoid lengthy text.
Show failures and iterations to demonstrate a cyclical, iterative design process and willingness to experiment.
Highlight the design process and thought journey, not just polished final designs, since AI can generate visuals but not the reasoning behind them.

Professional Growth and Mindset

Seek help and mentorship: Overcome impostor syndrome by embracing curiosity and finding mentors for each project.
Do not rush research: Thorough research is essential despite external pressures to “already know.”
Accept criticism and feedback: Actively seek stress testing and peer reviews (“death days”) to refine and improve designs.

Work Environment Types and Their Implications

Studios
- Ethos-driven, master-apprentice model, often requiring multi-year commitment.
- High exposure to agile methodologies and diverse team challenges.
- Great for learning foundational skills not taught in college.
- Expect to take on varied tasks and responsibilities without hierarchy.
Corporate
- Business-driven with clear hierarchy and formal processes.
- Expect multiple rounds of internal feedback and revisions before client presentation.
- Designers often represent the company directly to high-level stakeholders, requiring communication skills and gravitas.
Startups
- Highly versatile roles, requiring designers to handle everything from design to administrative tasks.
- Designers act as educators, caretakers, and co-owners of the company’s vision.
- Requires courage, hunger, and willingness to take risks.
- Opportunity to disrupt norms and grow rapidly.
Product Companies
- Blend of entrepreneurial spirit and business goals.
- Access to rich historical context and legacy products, which can inspire design decisions.
- Opportunity to build long-term, impactful products with deep user connections.

Overarching Advice

Maintain an open-minded, non-judgmental attitude and avoid assuming you know everything. Continuous learning and adaptation are key to staying relevant in UX/UI design.

Detailed Methodology / Instructions for Growing as a UX/UI Designer

Develop Core Skills

Cultivate empathy through active listening and storytelling.
Learn design psychology to understand user behavior.
Practice lateral thinking for creative problem-solving.
Engage in non-judgmental observation of users, especially for accessibility.

Portfolio Building

Benchmark against industry examples but focus on tailoring to employer needs.
Create multiple customized portfolios aligned with different company values.
Keep portfolios interactive, engaging, and concise.
Include iterations, failures, and experimental work to demonstrate process.
Highlight your thought process with clear explanations and questions asked during design.

Professional Mindset

Seek mentors and help without fear of impostor syndrome.
Never rush user research; invest time in understanding users.
Embrace criticism and organize peer reviews or “death days” to rigorously test ideas.
Be prepared to iterate multiple times before finalizing designs.

Choosing Work Environments

Studio: Prepare for long-term learning, multi-tasking, and agile teamwork.
Corporate: Develop communication skills for hierarchical structures and client-facing roles.
Startup: Be ready to wear many hats, embrace risk, and show hunger for growth.
Product Company: Leverage company history and entrepreneurial culture to build impactful products.