Over the past fifteen years, UX has transformed from a niche specialty into a mainstream business function, and recently into a profession facing intense disruption. Salaries surged during the tech boom years, roles became increasingly specialized, and organizations invested heavily in research, design systems, and product experience. Today, many UX professionals are navigating layoffs, hiring freezes, AI-driven workflow changes, shrinking teams, and growing pressure to prove business impact.

This panel brings together UX leaders, researchers, hiring managers, and practitioners across career stages to examine how the economics and expectations of UX work have evolved, and where the field may be headed next.

Together, panelists will explore questions such as:
– Why did UX salaries rise so dramatically?
– Were compensation levels aligned with business value or inflated by market conditions?
– How have remote work, specialization, and tech-industry correction reshaped the profession?
– Which UX skills are becoming commoditized, and which are becoming more valuable?
– How is AI changing the perceived value of UX research and design work?
– What does a sustainable and resilient UX career look like now?

Rather than offering simplistic predictions, this discussion aims to provide historical context, candid industry perspectives, and practical insight for practitioners trying to navigate a rapidly changing profession. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the forces shaping UX careers today, and a more grounded perspective on what the future of UX work may realistically look like.