The Future of Design Jobs (And Where You Stand)

Hi Fellow Designer, 👋

The world is changing fast.

And if you’ve ever felt a little anxious about what that means for your career as a designer... you’re not alone.

This week, I’m sharing a powerful PDF report from the World Economic Forum that dives into the Future of Jobs. Spoiler alert:

According to the report, graphic design is one of the fastest-declining job roles by 2030.

But here’s the flip side—UI/UX design is among the fastest-growing roles of the future. 🙌

That might sound scary at first, but it’s really just one thing:
Change.

Think about it, go back just 20 years and the design world looked nothing like it does now.

There were fewer tools, no real "design systems," and definitely no low-code platforms. Now, you can spin up beautiful interfaces, animations, and fully functioning websites without writing a single line of code.

We’ve gone from Photoshop-only workflows to Figma, Adobe XD, Webflow, Framer, and more. This is a world full of design superpowers (and maybe a little decision fatigue 😅).

And now, AI is here.

But instead of fearing it, we should understand it.

Yes, roles will shrink, but others will rise. Entirely new industries are emerging. More doors are opening than closing—if we’re ready to walk through them.

So instead of fearing the change, here’s what I do:
👉 Unlearn. Learn. Evolve.

Stop holding on to the past and start building skills that move us and the world forward.

Let’s move forward toward a better future, with a better you. ✨

Let’s get into it. 👇

💡 Your Weekly Design Picks

Here’s your collection of curated links for the week:

📑 Top 5 Reads for the Week

• Future of Jobs Report 2025 – World Economic Forum
  A global deep dive into where jobs are headed by 2030—spoiler: UI/UX is rising, graphic design is declining.

• 10 Harsh Truths Every Product Designer Learns the Hard Way
  A brutally honest look at what it really means to be a product designer in today’s world.

• Top 5 Productivity Hacks for Creatives
  Work smarter, not harder—practical productivity tricks tailored for creatives like you.

• UX Research of Mobile vs Desktop Apps + Top Tools
  Understand how research differs across devices and which tools give you the best results.

• Designing Better Buttons: Consistency, Hierarchy & Links
  Learn how to design buttons that communicate better, convert faster, and feel more intentional.

▶️ Top 3 Watch for the Week

• Showcases: The New Portfolio Case Study Format (10 mins)
  A fresh approach to presenting case studies that are simpler, cleaner, and more effective.

• I Built 9 Income Streams Without a Degree: What I Learned (13 mins)
  A candid breakdown of how one creator diversified their income and built financial freedom.

• How to Think Like an Advanced Designer in 2025 (8 mins)
  Learn what separates average designers from high-level thinkers in today’s design world.

🤑 Freelancing $$$

• How I Manage My Time with a Full-Time Job, Freelance & Side Hustles (6 mins)
  A time management system that balances multiple projects without losing your mind.

🤩 Portfolio to Inspire

• Niccolò Miranda – Designer & Developer
  A beautiful fusion of code and creativity, this portfolio is a masterclass in interactive storytelling.

• Moiz Ahmed – Full Stack Designer
  Minimal, modern, and bold—Moiz’s portfolio is a great example of clean personal branding.

⚒️ Top Tools & Resources to Try for the Week

• Arcade
  Turn your product demos into interactive stories your users can click, swipe, and explore.

• Lookback
  A user research platform to test, interview, and observe real users—live or asynchronously.

• Milanote
  An all-in-one space for UX planning, idea boards, and creative moodboarding.

If something resonates or if you have any suggestions, please let me know by reaching out at [email protected].

Or if you just want to say hi—I’d love to hear from you. 🙂

Thanks for being part of this from the beginning. I hope this becomes your favorite email of the week.

Happy Designing,
Murtuza Banani