Dive Club 🤿 Mig Reyes - Harsh truths that designers need to hear
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May 2, 2025 Mig Reyes, VP of Product Experience at Duolingo and former design director at Instagram, shares invaluable insights on the design industry. He provides a behind-the-scenes look at Duolingo's redesignation of 'UX' to 'Product Experience.' Mig discusses common portfolio mistakes and highlights the necessity of strong communication for designers. He also elaborates on effective hiring strategies for juniors and the importance of high design standards. With an emphasis on mentorship and collaborative culture, he reveals how helpfulness can shape personal and team growth.
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The Archaic UX Term
- "UX design" is considered an archaic term that implies separation from the product process.
- Leading consumer tech companies prefer "Product Design" to emphasize integrated, end-to-end product involvement.
Invest in Junior Designers
- Hold junior designers to high craft standards with scope tailored by experience.
- Invest heavily in early career talent to grow industry leaders over time.
Accelerate Designer Growth
- Treat juniors as capable and give high expectations, coaching them through gaps.
- Throw designers into executive reviews early to build confidence and skill rapidly.