I like this rant. There’s clearly something broken with the current dogma of UX, and I also think that it wants to empower in a very paternalistic sense. UX designers never want to teach users anything, and now the newer generations have lower tech literacy than generations before. As a result they are more trapped to the whims of big tech companies, as they lack the necessary skills to seek out alternatives.
The old 1970s slogan is truer than ever, and for all the same old reasons.
I think you’re getting the causality a little twisted, though. The whims of bigtech aren’t all that whimsical: commodification and control to maximize profit. But that’s what drives UX design trends, not the other way around.
The good news is that there’s a world of adventure waiting just outside the garden walls. I’ve long since given up trying to fix corporate culture. It’s a fool’s errand. If you’re in an abusive relationship, the correct thing to do is to get out. Just walk away, go find something that respects your values, and contribute there. Once you’ve done that, you can help others do the same.
I like this rant. There’s clearly something broken with the current dogma of UX, and I also think that it wants to empower in a very paternalistic sense. UX designers never want to teach users anything, and now the newer generations have lower tech literacy than generations before. As a result they are more trapped to the whims of big tech companies, as they lack the necessary skills to seek out alternatives.
Nicely put!
The old 1970s slogan is truer than ever, and for all the same old reasons.
I think you’re getting the causality a little twisted, though. The whims of bigtech aren’t all that whimsical: commodification and control to maximize profit. But that’s what drives UX design trends, not the other way around.
The good news is that there’s a world of adventure waiting just outside the garden walls. I’ve long since given up trying to fix corporate culture. It’s a fool’s errand. If you’re in an abusive relationship, the correct thing to do is to get out. Just walk away, go find something that respects your values, and contribute there. Once you’ve done that, you can help others do the same.