What is the current experience of

Burnout in Design?

A summary of insights by Mariana Esquer / April 2024

“My burnout comes from the constant need to prove the value of design.”

— UX Designer, 8-10 years of experience

“It's just so interesting how continuous the challenge of design is communicating its value.”

— Service Designer, 8-10 years of experience

“Design being so devalued in comparison to other roles is what makes the job so miserable.”

— UX Designer, >11 years of experience

Burnout is increasingly affecting professionals, and it impacts designers in many ways. I spoke to them to explore this phenomenon and its effects.

A lot of research has been done into how Human Service professionals (for example, doctors and teachers) experience burnout. However, there's scarce exploration within the design industry,

To explore burnout in design:

54 designers shared their insights in a survey.

And I interviewed 7 of them.

Some key insights include:

FIRST

The fight to communicate the value of design, is exhausting.

SECOND

Designers feel the expectation to lend the olive branch of flexibility to others.

THIRD

There are many unhealthy myths that are reinforced within design.

LAST, BUT NOT LEAST…

Burnout for designers feels like a slow decaying process over time.

So, let's unpack that.

What is burnout?

The concept of burnout emerged in the US in the mid-1970s thanks to Christina Maslach as a way of describing a syndrome characterized by exhaustion present among professionals.

“A syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.”

— WHO, 2019

The three dimensions that build burnout according to Christina Maslach.

What causes burnout?

Workload

Perceived lack of control

Lack of reward or recognition

Poor social relationships

Lack of fairness

Values mismatch

And what does it do?

Gives us feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
Increases the mental distance from one’s job
Reduces our professional efficacy
Gives us feelings of negativism or cynicism related to our work
Feelings of negativism or cynicism related to our work

But burnout goes beyond those consequences.

Burnout can also be:

A negative sense of self, questioning if we have the ability to perform work, and even questioning the decision to pursue a particular career.

People often align their core values with their profession's values, developing the required knowledge, skills, and credentials during their formative years.

When a work environment is different from what had been expected, it’s no wonder that not only exhaustion arises, but a career, meaning and identity crisis can occur.

One of the experts I interviewed shared some insight into why the current pace of work is affecting professionals.

“We've modeled the wrong behavior of working extremely long hours without restoration. That leads to burnout, and then burnout leads to all sorts of issues, from anxiety to depression and negative self-talk.”

—Wil Heywood

Clinical Psychologist. Focuses on team building, creative collaboration and mindfulness as it relates to design.

But burnout goes beyond those consequences.

Burnout can also be:

A negative sense of self, questioning if we have the ability to perform work, and even questioning the decision to pursue a particular career.

People often align their core values with their profession's values, developing the required knowledge, skills, and credentials during their formative years.

When a work environment is different from what had been expected, it’s no wonder that not only exhaustion arises, but a career, meaning and identity crisis can occur.

One of the experts I interviewed shared some insight into why the current pace of work is affecting professionals.

“We've modeled the wrong behavior of working extremely long hours without restoration. That leads to burnout, and then burnout leads to all sorts of issues, from anxiety to depression and negative self-talk.”

—Wil Heywood

Clinical Psychologist. Focuses on team building, creative collaboration and mindfulness as it relates to design.

But burnout goes beyond those consequences.

Burnout can also be:

A negative sense of self, questioning if we have the ability to perform work, and even questioning the decision to pursue a particular career.

People often align their core values with their profession's values, developing the required knowledge, skills, and credentials during their formative years.

When a work environment is different from what had been expected, it’s no wonder that not only exhaustion arises, but a career, meaning and identity crisis can occur.

One of the experts I interviewed shared some insight into why the current pace of work is affecting professionals.

“We've modeled the wrong behavior of working extremely long hours without restoration. That leads to burnout, and then burnout leads to all sorts of issues, from anxiety to depression and negative self-talk.”

—Wil Heywood

Clinical Psychologist. Focuses on team building, creative collaboration and mindfulness as it relates to design.

What did designers have to say about it?

“Burnout, at least for me, takes the joy out of designing.”

“Burnout, at least for me, takes the joy out of designing.”

— Product Designer,  >11 years of experience

“Burnout is a direct result of lack of clarity, tumultuous design process and influence of design in the organization.”

“Burnout is a direct result of lack of clarity, tumultuous design process and influence of design in the organization.”

— UX Designer,  >11 years of experience

“Burnout is something that immediately turns off creativity, therefore jeopardizing the design process.”

“Burnout is something that immediately turns off creativity, therefore jeopardizing the design process.”

— Graphic Designer,  2-4 years of experience

What effects does burnout have on the designers I spoke to?

Most of them spoke about it making the design process and overall creativity, harder.

Burnout for designers generally presented an increased difficulty to be creative, made designers feel exhausted with their design-work, and caused them to lose enjoyment in their activites.

“It's like a haze where you can't be creative or have capacity for anything really.”

— Service Designer,  >11 years of experience

“In my experience, the culture of creative jobs results in inevitable burnout.”

— Graphic Designer,  >11 years of experience

“If you experience chronic stressors, this elevates certain hormones like cortisol. That elevation, for prolonged periods, alters the brain.”

—Eric Bandin

Doctoral Researcher who studies how hormones and brain dysfunction impact cognition, anxiety, and depression.

What effects does burnout have on the designers I spoke to?

Most of them spoke about it making the design process and overall creativity, harder.

Burnout for designers generally presented an increased difficulty to be creative, made designers feel exhausted with their design-work, and caused them to lose enjoyment in their activites.

“It's like a haze where you can't be creative or have capacity for anything really.”

— Service Designer,  >11 years of experience

“In my experience, the culture of creative jobs results in inevitable burnout.”

— Graphic Designer,  >11 years of experience

“If you experience chronic stressors, this elevates certain hormones like cortisol. That elevation, for prolonged periods, alters the brain.”

—Eric Bandin

Doctoral Researcher who studies how hormones and brain dysfunction impact cognition, anxiety, and depression.

What effects does burnout have on the designers I spoke to?

Most of them spoke about it making the design process and overall creativity, harder.

Burnout for designers generally presented an increased difficulty to be creative, made designers feel exhausted with their design-work, and caused them to lose enjoyment in their activites.

“It's like a haze where you can't be creative or have capacity for anything really.”

— Service Designer,  >11 years of experience

“In my experience, the culture of creative jobs results in inevitable burnout.”

— Graphic Designer,  >11 years of experience

“If you experience chronic stressors, this elevates certain hormones like cortisol. That elevation, for prolonged periods, alters the brain.”

—Eric Bandin

Doctoral Researcher who studies how hormones and brain dysfunction impact cognition, anxiety, and depression.

Hey designer…

How does burnout feel like?

Burnout feels like rust.
Burnout feels like cracks on pavement.
Burnout makes me feel as if I'm made of ice.
Burnout feels like accumulation of deterioration

“Burnout is a very slow and constant process. It leaves you with traces.

And it scars.”

Product Designer,  >11 years of experience

Where does burnout come from?

Discussion has emerged around burnout’s individual and private framing rather than a complex social and organizational issue.

Is burnout individual?

Is burnout individual?

Is burnout individual?

Is it merely occupational?
Is it merely occupational?
Is it merely occupational?

The designers I spoke to had different opinions in the matter.

The designers I spoke to had different opinions in the matter.

The designers I spoke to had different opinions in the matter.

More than half of respondents said that design-work related factors had a greater influence in their risk of burnout.

More than half of respondents said that design-work related factors had a greater influence in their risk of burnout.

Q: How do external factors and design work-related factors compare in their contribution to developing burnout?

53.7% said "Design work-related factors have greater influence." 11.1% said"External factors have greater influence." 31.4% said "Both contribute equally." 3.7% were unsure.

Q: How do external factors and design work-related factors compare in their contribution to developing burnout?

53.7% said "Design work-related factors have greater influence." 11.1% said"External factors have greater influence." 31.4% said "Both contribute equally." 3.7% were unsure.

Q: How do external factors and design work-related factors compare in their contribution to developing burnout?

53.7% said "Design work-related factors have greater influence." 11.1% said"External factors have greater influence." 31.4% said "Both contribute equally." 3.7% were unsure.

Maslach, the pioneer of studying burnout, has also criticized the individual framing of burnout.

Maslach, the pioneer of studying burnout, has also criticized the individual framing of burnout.

It frames action along the lines of “What can we do to help the person?” instead of focusing on a collective approach, questioning “What can we do to improve job safety?” (Maslach, 2017)

It frames action along the lines of “What can we do to help the person?” instead of focusing on a collective approach, questioning “What can we do to improve job safety?” (Maslach, 2017)

“Everything comes down to whether people feel psychologically safe in the work environment. How much are you allowing for people to participate? Are you allowing them to share their needs?”

—Petra Salarić

Researcher, designer, and activist. Specialist in wellbeing and taboo topics. Founder of the pstaboo consultancy.

How satisfied are you with the support you currently have from your organization to develop your career/practice?

15

6

4

6

10

10

3

Very

Dissatisfied

Very

Dissatisfied

Dissatisfied

Dissatisfied

Slightly

Dissatisfied

Slightly

Dissatisfied

Neutral

Neutral

Slightly

Satisfied

Slightly

Satisfied

Satisfied

Satisfied

Highly

Satisfied

Highly

Satisfied

“You can get burned out from your friends or your family and their needs. [For example] introverts naturally get burnt out from being engaged with large groups of people, regardless of who they are. So I don't believe that it's correct [to say burnout’s exclusive to a work environment.]”

—Eric Bandin

According to the participants, some of the added risks of current design practice as it relates to risk of burnout feelings:

• The impact open communication and its dynamics has on work, and collaboration.

• An unclear expectation of what success looks like for designers.

• Myths perpetrated across the industry, such as "designers should never sleep", or "you should always be working on 4-5 personal projects outside of your work activities".

• A feeling of unbalanced power to make decisions in the workplace, which feels has a close relationship to the value perception of design.

According to the participants, some of the added risks of current design practice as it relates to risk of burnout feelings:

• The impact open communication and its dynamics has on work, and collaboration.

• An unclear expectation of what success looks like for designers.

• Myths perpetrated across the industry, such as "designers should never sleep", or "you should always be working on 4-5 personal projects outside of your work activities".

• A feeling of unbalanced power to make decisions in the workplace, which feels has a close relationship to the value perception of design.

According to the participants, some of the added risks of current design practice as it relates to risk of burnout feelings:

• The impact open communication and its dynamics has on work, and collaboration.

• An unclear expectation of what success looks like for designers.

• Myths perpetrated across the industry, such as "designers should never sleep", or "you should always be working on 4-5 personal projects outside of your work activities".

• A feeling of unbalanced power to make decisions in the workplace, which feels has a close relationship to the value perception of design.

Hey designer…

Hey designer…

Hey designer…

Where does your

burnout come from?

Where does your

burnout come from?

Where does your

burnout come from?

“You need to be able to communicate with your team that either you have too much, or you have too little, and the team needs to be able to understand that that's not a bad thing.”

— Museum and Exhibit Designer, 2-4 years of experience

“Burnout for me happens when I have too many project deadlines to juggle and spend too many hours focused on work. Bringing my stress and thoughts about work home is crossing that healthy work life boundary.”

— Graphic Designer, 2-4 years of experience

“Burnout is a direct result of lack of clarity, tumultuous design process and influence of design in the organization.”

— UX Designer, >11 years of experience

“At some point I started questioning myself, they're not trusting me. So what's wrong with me? What am I doing wrong?”

“At some point I started questioning myself, they're not trusting me. So what's wrong with me? What am I doing wrong?”

—  Industrial Designer, 8-10 years of experience

The Value of Design

“The fight to communicate the value of design, is exhausting.”

“Removing the stigma that design isn’t worthy could go a long way in reducing burnout across the industry.”

—  – UX Designer, 8-10 years of experience

“Having to evangelize the value of design, fight on performance reviews or promotion panels to describe impact is exhausting.”

—  – UX Designer, 8-10 years of experience

The majority of interviewees, and an addition of 5 survey respondents, spoke about the battle of communicating why design is valuable.

One survey respondent said that “Culture is fundamental in relation to burnout, as it establishes the norms and expectations of design work. Culture determines the perceived value of design work.”

The current job market also came up, with another participant sharing that “companies threatening to make lay-offs that affect design, but not other areas, such as engineering,” also adds to their exhaustion, as they are made to feel like they’re more expendable than other sets of skills.

We can reflect that on top of the regular tasks associated with being a designer; some people are also carrying the task of proving that their work is worthy and valuable.

“Removing the stigma that design isn’t worthy could go a long way in reducing burnout across the industry.”

—  – UX Designer, 8-10 years of experience

“Having to evangelize the value of design, fight on performance reviews or promotion panels to describe impact is exhausting.”

—  – UX Designer, 8-10 years of experience

The majority of interviewees, and an addition of 5 survey respondents, spoke about the battle of communicating why design is valuable.

One survey respondent said that “Culture is fundamental in relation to burnout, as it establishes the norms and expectations of design work. Culture determines the perceived value of design work.”

The current job market also came up, with another participant sharing that “companies threatening to make lay-offs that affect design, but not other areas, such as engineering,” also adds to their exhaustion, as they are made to feel like they’re more expendable than other sets of skills.

We can reflect that on top of the regular tasks associated with being a designer; some people are also carrying the task of proving that their work is worthy and valuable.

“Removing the stigma that design isn’t worthy could go a long way in reducing burnout across the industry.”

—  – UX Designer, 8-10 years of experience

“Having to evangelize the value of design, fight on performance reviews or promotion panels to describe impact is exhausting.”

—  – UX Designer, 8-10 years of experience

The majority of interviewees, and an addition of 5 survey respondents, spoke about the battle of communicating why design is valuable.

One survey respondent said that “Culture is fundamental in relation to burnout, as it establishes the norms and expectations of design work. Culture determines the perceived value of design work.”

The current job market also came up, with another participant sharing that “companies threatening to make lay-offs that affect design, but not other areas, such as engineering,” also adds to their exhaustion, as they are made to feel like they’re more expendable than other sets of skills.

We can reflect that on top of the regular tasks associated with being a designer; some people are also carrying the task of proving that their work is worthy and valuable.

Flexibility to Work

“Designers feel the expectation to lend flexibility to others.”

“Where I work, someone [else] defines a need.  They or may not be designers, they may or may not know how long something might take. But it doesn't matter because, at the point [where I come in], the work has been sold.”

— Service Designer, 8-10 years of experience

“Unless we're working with other designers, we're always lending that olive branch of flexibility first. In my opinion, this is a huge problem.”

— Service Designer, 8-10 years of experience

This expectation to be the first one to offer flexibility around time constraints can cause a lot of friction between creativity and expected outcomes, participants say.

One survey respondent expressed that “(...) creative ideas don’t flow automatically when we want them to. It creates uncertainty and adds to the stress. Tight deadlines increase stress, but too much time leads to “boredom” stress.”

Participants elaborated by sharing that “burnout is driven by bosses and clients with unrealistic turnaround times” and a “lack of communication between collaborators” that led to design having to shift to adapt to the conditions set by others.

It appears that constraints are not an issue for designers, but rather that the conditions are set by someone other than the designers themselves.

“Where I work, someone [else] defines a need.  They or may not be designers, they may or may not know how long something might take. But it doesn't matter because, at the point [where I come in], the work has been sold.”

— Service Designer, 8-10 years of experience

“Unless we're working with other designers, we're always lending that olive branch of flexibility first. In my opinion, this is a huge problem.”

— Service Designer, 8-10 years of experience

This expectation to be the first one to offer flexibility around time constraints can cause a lot of friction between creativity and expected outcomes, participants say.

One survey respondent expressed that “(...) creative ideas don’t flow automatically when we want them to. It creates uncertainty and adds to the stress. Tight deadlines increase stress, but too much time leads to “boredom” stress.”

Participants elaborated by sharing that “burnout is driven by bosses and clients with unrealistic turnaround times” and a “lack of communication between collaborators” that led to design having to shift to adapt to the conditions set by others.

It appears that constraints are not an issue for designers, but rather that the conditions are set by someone other than the designers themselves.

“Where I work, someone [else] defines a need.  They or may not be designers, they may or may not know how long something might take. But it doesn't matter because, at the point [where I come in], the work has been sold.”

— Service Designer, 8-10 years of experience

“Unless we're working with other designers, we're always lending that olive branch of flexibility first. In my opinion, this is a huge problem.”

— Service Designer, 8-10 years of experience

This expectation to be the first one to offer flexibility around time constraints can cause a lot of friction between creativity and expected outcomes, participants say.

One survey respondent expressed that “(...) creative ideas don’t flow automatically when we want them to. It creates uncertainty and adds to the stress. Tight deadlines increase stress, but too much time leads to “boredom” stress.”

Participants elaborated by sharing that “burnout is driven by bosses and clients with unrealistic turnaround times” and a “lack of communication between collaborators” that led to design having to shift to adapt to the conditions set by others.

It appears that constraints are not an issue for designers, but rather that the conditions are set by someone other than the designers themselves.

The Myths of Design Practice

“There are many unhealthy myths that are reinforced within design.”

“There’s the indecent industry mythology that you must do 5 people jobs and never sleep, have 6 personal projects on the go, live & breath design & win lots of awards to be a successful designer.”

“There’s the indecent industry mythology that you must do 5 people jobs and never sleep, have 6 personal projects on the go, live & breath design & win lots of awards to be a successful designer.”

— Graphic Designer,  >11 years of experience

“[Management] had the notion [of] “Hey, you better work here until 8 p.m., and if you don't do that, you're a bad designer. And [that means you] are a bad human being.”

“[Management] had the notion [of] “Hey, you better work here until 8 p.m., and if you don't do that, you're a bad designer. And [that means you] are a bad human being.”

— Exhibit Designer, 2-4 years of experience

Hey designer…

How often do you work after hours?

One of the interviewed designers shared that they felt a social pressure always to be engaged in 4 or 5 personal projects at any given time to feel like they’re good at what they do.

“This is gonna sound very bad, but you can't care that much about that so many things. So then you're not doing your best design work.”

— Service Designer,  >11 years of experience

“There is a restorative process that's always going on in the brain, particularly present when you sleep.  Cerebral spinal fluid helps carry out waste from the brain, and it helps get rid of it so that it doesn't build up.”

—Eric Bandin

Doctoral Researcher who studies how hormones and brain dysfunction impact cognition, anxiety, and depression.

Having to work outside of regular hours to meet expectations leads to people having to sacrifice leisure time and/or sacrificing sleep.

Not having biological needs met has a direct impact on how we process information, undoubtedly affecting our ability to conduct creative processes.

So, what can we do?

“More than anything having a good manager, someone that is helping you to grow as a individual and as a professional.

“More than anything having a good manager, someone that is helping you to grow as a individual and as a professional.

— Industrial Designer, 8-10 years of experience

“You need to have a sense of like psychological safety in your workplace so that you can communicate your needs.”

“You need to have a sense of like psychological safety in your workplace so that you can communicate your needs.”

— Exhibit Designer, 2-4 years of experience

“I'm usually the first person to say something when something feels wrong. The more I do it, the more other people do it.”

“I'm usually the first person to say something when something feels wrong. The more I do it, the more other people do it.”

— Service and UX Designer,  >11 years of experience

Unfortunately, there's not a one-size-fits-all solution.

What we can do is keep talking about it with our peers.

Most designers I spoke to feel like they’re losing power within their organizations, due to factors that are out of their control, mainly the perception of what design has to offer in terms of producing financial value.

Because of this communication battle, designers feel as if they have to compromise the how and when of their professional activities, having to be more flexible than most to accommodate the needs of others.

This unbalanced feeling of power and flexibility expectation, comes with severe consequences with the experience of designers, mainly driving them to lose desire to strive for excellence in their work and find happiness within it.

Lastly, the participants emphasized a conflict between their identity as design profesionals, and their identity as individuals. They shared having a hard time with the way feedback is offered, as it sometimes can be directed at individuals. As a result, that can result in a low self-perception on their ability to design.

“People do not leave live in a vacuum. If I am feeling uncomfortable speaking about something in a bar with my friend, how can I then do that same thing inside the workplace? I won't.”

—Petra Salarić

Researcher, designer, and activist. Specialist in wellbeing and taboo topics. Founder of the pstaboo consultancy.

“We need to look at the entire person that we’re educating, going for excellence, but not letting the other areas of our life suffer.”

—Wil Heywood

Clinical Psychologist. Focuses on team building, creative collaboration and mindfulness as it relates to design.

What we can do is keep talking about it with our peers.

Most designers I spoke to feel like they’re losing power within their organizations, due to factors that are out of their control, mainly the perception of what design has to offer in terms of producing financial value.

Because of this communication battle, designers feel as if they have to compromise the how and when of their professional activities, having to be more flexible than most to accommodate the needs of others.

This unbalanced feeling of power and flexibility expectation, comes with severe consequences with the experience of designers, mainly driving them to lose desire to strive for excellence in their work and find happiness within it.

Lastly, the participants emphasized a conflict between their identity as design profesionals, and their identity as individuals. They shared having a hard time with the way feedback is offered, as it sometimes can be directed at individuals. As a result, that can result in a low self-perception on their ability to design.

“People do not leave live in a vacuum. If I am feeling uncomfortable speaking about something in a bar with my friend, how can I then do that same thing inside the workplace? I won't.”

—Petra Salarić

Researcher, designer, and activist. Specialist in wellbeing and taboo topics. Founder of the pstaboo consultancy.

“We need to look at the entire person that we’re educating, going for excellence, but not letting the other areas of our life suffer.”

—Wil Heywood

Clinical Psychologist. Focuses on team building, creative collaboration and mindfulness as it relates to design.

What we can do is keep talking about it with our peers.

Most designers I spoke to feel like they’re losing power within their organizations, due to factors that are out of their control, mainly the perception of what design has to offer in terms of producing financial value.

Because of this communication battle, designers feel as if they have to compromise the how and when of their professional activities, having to be more flexible than most to accommodate the needs of others.

This unbalanced feeling of power and flexibility expectation, comes with severe consequences with the experience of designers, mainly driving them to lose desire to strive for excellence in their work and find happiness within it.

Lastly, the participants emphasized a conflict between their identity as design profesionals, and their identity as individuals. They shared having a hard time with the way feedback is offered, as it sometimes can be directed at individuals. As a result, that can result in a low self-perception on their ability to design.

“People do not leave live in a vacuum. If I am feeling uncomfortable speaking about something in a bar with my friend, how can I then do that same thing inside the workplace? I won't.”

—Petra Salarić

Researcher, designer, and activist. Specialist in wellbeing and taboo topics. Founder of the pstaboo consultancy.

“We need to look at the entire person that we’re educating, going for excellence, but not letting the other areas of our life suffer.”

—Wil Heywood

Clinical Psychologist. Focuses on team building, creative collaboration and mindfulness as it relates to design.

This entire research project was informed by the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI)*

*A self-assessment instrument for burnout risk validated by the NAM.

This tool is particularly relevant for designers as it evaluates exhaustion across three dimensions:

personal, work-related, and client-related.

Take the Assessment