The Truth About Manager vs. Staff Designer Tracks

Be confident w/ job interviews 👉 Job Interviews & UX Challenges for Product Designers Course: inesmir.com/interviews Build a converting UX portfolio 👉 UX Breakthrough Program: inesmir.com/breakthrough Not sure you are ready to get hired? ⚡️ FREE UX Hireability Score: https://score.inesmir.com/ The Hired&Ahead Community for Staff/Principals. Application form: https://forms.gle/dfLyqsSM49ES24w27 Ever wondered whether your UX design career should go down the people-manager route or the principal / Super IC path in product design? In this video, I break down the real differences between the managerial and individual contributor tracks in tech – impact, user experience work, calendar control, burnout, power and loneliness – based on my 16 years as a principal product designer. If you’re a mid-senior product designer trying to decide your next move beyond “senior”, this will help you choose the right path and grow your career with intention. Stay connected: 🔥 Instagram (86K+) for daily UX tips:   / ines.ux   📰 FREE weekly UX digest: inesmir.com/digest Chapters: 00:00 Product designer dual career paths 02:33 Why the manager track appealed at first 03:55 The reality of management and burnout 13:48 What the IC track actually is 15:14 Why I chose IC: benefits and connection 16:41 The challenges of being an IC 21:15 Manager vs. IC: my final take