Loyalty is Overrated: Transparency is the Real Key to a Thriving Design Career
Clear Expectations, Smart Choices and Stronger Professional Relationships
I believe the traditional notion of loyalty between employer and employee is outdated. At best it muddies the waters of what is meant to be a business relationship and at worst can be used as a kind of morality or personal character lever. Rather than placing value on loyalty, embracing the business-first nature of work, coupled with transparency and honest communication, paves the way for healthier professional relationships and clear-eyed career planning.
The Business-First Nature of Work
At its core, the employer-employee relationship is a business arrangement. In web and UX design, the designer’s role is to deliver results that align with business objectives. The company, in turn, provides resources, compensation and benefits. This mutual understanding of purpose ensures that both parties remain aligned on their commitment to each other.
There are benefits like vacation time or 401k vesting that grow with years of service but “devotion” or “faithfulness” are not words found in those policies. As employment extends into the future, the business advantages of retaining that employee such as institutional knowledge and increased impact grow and grow.
The Role of Transparency in Building Trust
Transparency isn’t just about project scope and deadlines — it’s the foundation of a healthy professional relationship between employers and designers. When companies are open about expectations, career growth opportunities, and decision-making processes, trust replaces uncertainty, and employees can make informed choices about their careers. I explore this more in The Design Leadership Pipeline Challenge.
For UX designers, this means clarity on how performance is measured and what truly leads to promotions or raises. Are decisions based on user impact, business growth, or leadership qualities? If these criteria aren’t clearly communicated, employees are left guessing, which breeds frustration and disengagement. Similarly, setting boundaries through transparency prevents burnout and resentment. If leadership expects designers to be on call for last-minute stakeholder requests or to stretch beyond their defined roles, that should be stated outright — not left as an unspoken rule. A design manager who acknowledges workload limits and fairly distributes responsibilities fosters a team that is both productive and motivated.
Openness about business decisions also plays a critical role. If a company decides to pivot a product strategy or scale back investment in UX research, keeping teams informed about the why behind these choices prevents misinformation and unnecessary anxiety. Designers don’t need to agree with every decision, but they do deserve to understand how those decisions are made and the impact on their roles.Managing Expectations Through Clear Communication
Effective communication is the lifeline of any design project. Whether it’s a UX researcher presenting findings to stakeholders or a product designer discussing user feedback with developers, the clearer the communication, the smoother the workflow.
When companies are transparent about their level of commitment to a project, it sets realistic expectations for everyone involved. A UX designer working on a product redesign needs to know if the company views this initiative as a top priority or a secondary project. This knowledge helps the designer allocate their efforts accordingly and manage their workload without unnecessary stress.
Clear communication also strengthens executive interactions. When presenting to company leaders, designers who articulate the impact of their work on business goals demonstrate not just design prowess but also strategic thinking — qualities that elevate their role within the organization.
Empowering Employees to Make Informed Decisions
When companies are transparent about their goals and commitments, employees have the necessary information to make decisions that align with their career aspirations and personal values. In web and UX design, where projects often vary in complexity and visibility, knowing where they stand helps professionals gauge their involvement and investment.
For example, a web designer may be offered a chance to work on a high-profile product launch. If the company is upfront about the project’s potential impact and the resources allocated, the designer can decide whether to take on this challenge, balancing the opportunity against their current workload and long-term goals.
This level of transparency encourages professionals to take ownership of their career paths. It shifts the narrative from a passive loyalty to an active partnership where both the company and the employee contribute to each other’s success.
Beyond Loyalty: Building Professional Relationships in Design
Redefining the employer-employee relationship in the context of business priorities, transparency, and clear communication fosters a work environment where mutual respect and shared goals thrive. For web designers and UX professionals, this approach translates into more effective collaborations and designs that meet business objectives, and – in the bigger picture – empowerment to take strategic steps that benefit their career.
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I write weekly articles for designers and design leaders who want to grow their impact, lead with clarity, and build careers that actually feel sustainable.