ডিজাইনারদের অक्स Bengalis often confront the tension between idealism and reality when asked how to make others 'do things the right way.' The author reflects on teaching Design for Behavior Change, noting that all design inherently seeks to influence behavior—often to drive sales or shareholder value, even when framed as user-centered or mission-driven. While B corps and nonprofits offer clearer ethical alignment, even these can drift toward financial imperatives. The author recalls LinkedIn’s early mission-driven culture but questions its current authenticity.

Recent survey data from Lenny Rachitsky and Noam Segal shows designers report the highest exhaustion, worst-rated managers, and lowest willingness to recommend the field to newcomers—despite personal satisfaction. The 'ladder' metaphor illustrates how advancements like Gen AI pull opportunities upward, leaving those behind feeling blocked. Though AI lowers the barrier to production, it hasn’t raised the quality ceiling, leading to more output without improvement—a particular sorrow for those who entered design to create meaningful work.