You’ve read all the articles.

Attended the webinars. Liked the LinkedIn posts. Nodded in agreement.

But you’re still stuck in your UX career.

Here’s the hard truth:

Most designers don’t get stuck because they’re bad.

They get stuck because they consume more than they contribute.

They’re stuck at Level 2.

The Value Consumer.

They know what good UX looks like. But they’re not putting anything into the world that shows it.

→ They watch design breakdowns but don’t write their own.

→ They study portfolios but never publish theirs.

→ They nod at insights but never share their take.

The Value Consumer is invisible — because they’re reactive.

And in today’s hiring market, invisibility is career death.

Hiring managers can’t trust someone they can’t see.

Now here’s the good news:

Moving from Level 2 (Consumer) to Level 3 (Contributor) doesn’t require magic.

It just requires evidence of thinking.

Not the perfect answer. Just your answer.

→ Share a short post on what frustrated you in a recent UX flow.

→ Leave a thoughtful comment that goes beyond “great work!”

→ Record a 60-second Loom walking through your design decision.

Your goal isn’t to be right. It’s to be visible.

Because contributors create trust.

And trust leads to referrals, interviews, and offers.

Let me give you a sharper metaphor:

Imagine you’re in a cooking class.

There’s one student who asks questions, shares flavor tips, and helps others fix their sauce.

There’s another student who just watches, quietly takes notes, and leaves.

Who would you trust more to cater your next event?

Exactly.

The shift starts with a single post, a single share, a single contribution.

Not because you’re trying to go viral.

But because you’re showing up as someone who adds value — not just absorbs it.

And when hiring managers see you consistently operating at Level 3 or above?

They stop seeing you as an applicant.

And start seeing you as a must-have.

Where are you right now?

→ Level 1: Critic

→ Level 2: Consumer

→ Level 3: Contributor

→ Level 4: Creator

→ Level 5: CEO

Move up one level. Today.

Reply back to this email — what’s your take? Just 1–3 words is perfect.