Design has nothing to do with usability. Companies do not value designers. At least that has been my experience. When I was young and gullible I was hireable. Now I am too stubborn to compromise on my values to be a part of the bureaucracies and pandering.
There’s a whole book dedicated to turning gullible obedient designers happily producing malicious dark patterns into designers who own their responsibility to society and the end users.
It’s called Ruined by Design, by Mike Monteiro. He also has a talk on the same topic. Both are highly recommended.
In short, a designer has a responsibility to use the craft for good and refuse to weaponize it. For this to be a real possibility, we need a union standing behind the designer.
