The tech industry is under pressure: mass layoffs, the rise of AI, and economic uncertainty are reshaping how we work. But what does this mean for designers? We surveyed 340 product designers and spoke with 10 more in interviews to uncover their challenges and expectations.

This research shows that product design is not just a craft or a career—it’s a complex system. Personal motivation often runs into structural barriers, and professional awareness alone isn’t enough for growth.

One clear takeaway: the problems designers face are systemic. They appear across regions, company sizes, and team structures—and they can’t be solved overnight or by individual effort alone.

Real change takes work on multiple levels: designers improving how they navigate their environment; leaders investing in healthier team dynamics; and the broader community creating space for open, honest conversations.

We may not solve everything at once, but we can keep moving—toward a more sustainable, more mature profession.