UX is a fascinating field—but also a messy one. It covers a wide spectrum of skills, responsibilities, and perspectives. And because there’s no single “formula” or rigid framework that clearly says “2 + 2 = 4,” people often treat UX as a kind of open canvas where everyone can paint their own definition.
Now, I’m all for people discovering what UX can mean for them. That personal connection to your craft is important. But when it comes to how we talk about UX—especially in professional spaces like LinkedIn—things have gone off track. And that’s a problem.
What We’re Seeing on the Market
Business Social Media is filled with contents. Unfortunately, a lot of it adds more noise than insight. What’s worse, some of these trends actually hurt the way people understand and engage with the discipline.
There are multiple trends that are doing more harm than good:
1. Presenting Basics as Heuristics
This one shows up mostly among designers who are newer to UX—not necessarily juniors, just those still building foundational knowledge.
Sharing core UX principles as if they’re groundbreaking insights doesn’t really serve your professional audience. It doesn’t say much about UX—it mostly says something about you. And while it might grab attention from outside the industry, within the field, it raises a red flag about the depth of your understanding.
2. Personal Opinions Framed as Definitions
This is a big one—and probably the most damaging trend out there. It’s when people take personal interpretations of UX and present them as universal truths. You’ve probably seen statements like:
- “UX is about…” or “UX isn’t about…”
- “UX is…” or “UX is not…”
Often these statements reduce the discipline to one or two aspects—sometimes they’re just plain wrong. Making definitive claims about what UX is or isn’t requires a lot of experience, study, and perspective. Without that, we’re better off contributing to the conversation rather than trying to define it.
3. Personal Approaches Without Process
Personal approaches can be powerful—when they’re backed by process. If you’ve found a way to make something faster, better, or more efficient, that’s great. But sharing it without the research or domain understanding that got you there makes it feel more like a shortcut than a solution.
Look at the experts in the field: the tools and frameworks they share are usually focused, tested, and deeply grounded in experience. They’re designed to optimize specific parts of the process—not replace the fundamentals. A personal method might help someone, but it doesn’t rewrite the discipline.
4. Showing Solutions Without Framing the Problem
This is one of the clearest signs of a weak post. If you’re sharing a solution—whether it’s a visual redesign or a conceptual approach—and there’s no problem attached, it’s just your opinion.
Without a clear problem statement, without usability thinking or heuristics, the message becomes “I know better.” And in many cases, these posts include design issues that further weaken the credibility of the suggestion.
5. Misleading or False Information
This one’s less common but still out there. You’ll often spot it from people who are switching careers or trying to wear too many hats at once. Personally, I’m not a fan of the “multiple hats” mindset—not because learning new things is bad, but because true depth in any domain takes time and commitment.
Most mature companies are looking for generalists, but it does not mean multi-talents. If you’re doing five different jobs, you’re probably not doing any of them as well as someone fully focused. And probably you will be payed after the lowest range of your jobs.
And when false or overly simplified information starts circulating, it doesn’t just mislead people—it dilutes the quality of our entire field.
6. It’s About You, Not the Discipline
Some posts don’t really have a purpose. They don’t offer any value. They don’t inspire or educate. They’re just… there. And most of the time, they’re about boosting visibility rather than contributing to the field.
This kind of content is what we call noise. If your post doesn’t have a clear reason to exist beyond getting attention, it might be worth rethinking. You don’t have to post every day to stay relevant. In fact, being intentional about when and what you share can make your voice stand out even more.
7. Clickbait Culture
Clickbait tactics from mainstream platforms are starting to creep into our professional spaces—and that’s a slippery slope.
You’ve seen the titles:
- “UX is dead!”
- “Design isn’t just how it looks—it’s how it works!”
- “Why most product designers fail”
- “How AI will take your job”
Or posts with vague follow-up questions designed just to rack up comments.
These strategies might get short-term visibility, but they also train your audience to scroll right past your content. In the long run, you become part of the pattern people are actively trying to avoid.
How People Filter for Value
Just like we design systems with usability in mind, people design their content consumption patterns too.
If I want light content, I open Instagram. If I want gossip, I read a tabloid. But if I open LinkedIn or another professional network, I’m looking for insight, perspective, or meaningful exchange.
If someone reads your post and walks away empty-handed, two things are likely to happen:
- They unfollow. Not as common as it should be, but it’s becoming more frequent as noise increases.
- They recognize the pattern. If your posts consistently feel empty, they become part of the background. Your audience learns to scroll right past you.
We all have our own filters. Personally, if a smiling photo leads a post, I’ve learned it’s probably a recruiter or real estate agent – and I move on, because now it is not my priority. That’s not what I’m here for. And every people has the same behaviors.
The Layer Cake
This article is for designers. And here’s the truth: most of the patterns I listed above? They’re dark patterns. In design, we call that unethical design.
So how do we represent the discipline if we’re using tactics we wouldn’t tolerate in our work?
Everyone wants a slice of the cake. Instagram has filters. LinkedIn has tricks. But just like filters can’t hide everything, posting hacks won’t create real value for you.
Instead:
- Stay curious.
- Improve your skills.
- Ask good questions.
- Join smart conversations.
- Build your perspective brick by brick.
That’s how you grow. That’s how you earn your slice—not by cutting corners, but by bringing something real to the table. Because in the end, a layered cake only works if all the layers are solid.
