Marc Becquey

The main objections I hear about hiring UX contractors: “The ramp-up will be too slow,” “They’re too pricey,” and, “They won’t know our culture, or how we work.” Let’s unpack that. 👇 With recent UX downsizing, companies might have smaller permanent design teams — but trust me, demand for design work is still there, because stellar contractors are building that demand.🌟 I’ve watched it firsthand as I oversee staffing at Outwitly Inc. By utilizing contractors to augment their teams at specific points in the design lifecycle, organizations can still get the work done — without burning out their internal team with millions of feature requests on top of their usual load. It can be a win-win that keeps businesses healthy. 🌱 Back to those objections. Like many UX-related objections, they’re generally founded on shortsightedness: 🏁 Ramping Up vs Acting Now: 🏁Bringing on a contractor can actually add velocity, especially with longer projects that promise big impact but get pushed out or deprioritized because of the sheer amount of work. If you need something done and no one else has the capacity now, you can bring on a specialist for six months, instead of waiting. (^You can also make use of contractors to lay the foundation for upcoming work, like specialists in design ops, research ops, design systems, etc., while others focus on immediate deadlines. ) 💰Up-front Cost vs ROI: 💰Contractors often have higher rates because they take on higher risk, but when you consider the cost of slow internal hiring, employee turnover, long-term overhead, employee benefits, etc., contractors can be a lower-risk option. Specialized contractors can also pull research initiatives out of holding patterns and uncover opportunities for innovation with major ROI potential. 🧩 Like-Minded vs New Perspectives: 🧩New personalities aren’t scary! Blended teams are amazing for bringing in fresh perspectives and diverse skillsets that your internal team members can learn from and adopt, to the long-term benefit of their organizations. (^ Plus, the beautiful thing about the people who tend to go into contracting is that they’re often senior practitioners, willing to bet on themselves because they know they’re experienced enough to consistently win contracts, and they HAVE to be that good to find work.🔥) 👉 So, in reality, you get the "cream of the crop," new perspectives and more speed/flexibility. You get to skip over red tape and get straight to work. (Especially if you have support with choosing the right candidates.) If you’re considering this hiring move, OR you’re trying to convince your supervisor to consider it, give this blog post another look: https://lnkd.in/gRP-V3JS We posted it a while ago, but it’s still a good resource. I’d be interested to hear about other experiences with blended teams. What’s your favourite part?  What’s working best? #UXDesign #StaffAugmentation #UXContractors #BlendedTeams #DesignOps

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When it comes to user research, we can’t just provide a long laundry list of pain points and tiny fixes. 📝 That’s not enough. 👇 Researchers so often get stuck in the hamster wheel of incremental product improvement that we aren’t actually spending enough time with our research (synthesizing it using design thinking) to provide true innovative solutions. (As you know, providing innovative solutions is the KEY to creating real impact.) Instead, what usually happens is that stakeholders receive these research reports with a big long list of basic, surface-level pain points to address at the end (🥱), along with some basic recommendations, and they get added to some product/feature roadmap, prioritized, and implemented in a routine life cycle. 🤷 This is great, to an extent! BUT, hello!!… DESIGN (the bigger umbrella of design) is NOT about identifying a million pain points and painfully fixing each one. Design is about creating experiences and things that delight ✨ and excite 🤸people, while being functional. User research should support that. 👉 Try not to get stuck in this trap when you’re working on your next project.  Next time, when you’re looking at a fresh set of raw research data: 🧩 Strategize: Employ frameworks to start processing the themes and repeating ideas in your data. 🧘‍♂️ Marinate: Let these themes and ideas wash over your subconscious again and again, even while you sleep! 🌀Bend and push your creative mind: Work hard at putting those ideas together in new and exciting ways. 💥 Don’t stop until you get to the magic: You will find those “aha” moments waiting underneath it all. 🎯 Communicate and sell that magic in your reporting: Showcase opportunities that will actually get at the deep-rooted design problem and elevate your organization into a trendsetting power player. The way we do this for our clients is through Action Plans. Yes, we still provide the laundry list of pains — because it IS still useful. BUT, the genius 🧠 we deliver is in translating these larger themes into ACTIONABLE and INNOVATIVE solutions that will literally transform the way those businesses deliver their products and services, and propel them ahead of the industry. This is how you get noticed in your UX career — bringing these types of solutions to the table!! #UserResearch #UXResearch #DesignInnovation #UXCareer #DigitalTransformation

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Know when to take UX debt and when to invest. We love the way Mehekk Bassi breaks down the tradeoff between quick delivery and long-term UX value. She encourages designers to treat these choices like financial decisions by being intentional about when to borrow and when to invest. UX debt means taking shortcuts to deliver quickly, knowing there will be fixes later. It helps speed things up but can hurt the experience over time. UX investments take more effort upfront but lead to better long-term outcomes. Her advice is not to avoid UX debt entirely but to use it wisely and always have a plan to pay it back. Check out her article: https://lnkd.in/gCRqva3z Here are five big ideas: 1. UX debt is a strategic tool, not just a shortcut Taking on UX debt can be useful if done intentionally and with a plan to fix it later. 2. Design decisions mirror financial decisions Just like borrowing or investing money, designers must weigh short-term gains against long-term value. 3. Not all UX debt is bad It can help you move quickly in early stages, especially when validating ideas or meeting tight deadlines. 4. UX investments pay off over time Slower, thoughtful design improvements lead to better user experiences and fewer problems later. 5. Be deliberate about when and why you choose each Teams should track their UX debt, understand the cost, and know when to prioritize paying it down. 💬 We asked Mehekk why she wrote the post: “So, my thought behind writing this story was to highlight the fact that many design decisions are often taken without considering future implications of the product. Unknowingly many teams accumulate UX debt and by the time they realize the issues, it's often too late and the experience gets compromised. For us, as designers, thinking about debt becomes a non-negotiable while crafting any experience for the product, that's why the title says - financial mindset of a designer." This is prudent advice! Helio helps you spot when UX debt is slowing users down by measuring things like clarity, completion rates, and confidence. With quick tests using UX metrics, you can decide when to fix issues or move fast with purpose. #uxresearch #productdiscovery #marketresearch #productdesign

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We always say this, but this week, we are a bit louder, given that it's National Accessibility Awareness Week in Canada, #NAAW2025. Accessibility is not just altruism—good accessibility is good business. ➡️ When your digital content works for people of all abilities, you expand your Audience (1 in 4 adults live with a disability). Why design a site that turns away potentially 25% of your market? Inclusivity broadens your reach. ➡️ Accessible websites see improved SEO. Many accessibility best practices (clear structure, alt text, fast performance) also boost search rankings. Investing in accessibility drives engagement and loyalty. It's not just compliance; it's a competitive advantage. Good accessibility is good business. Check out our free accessibility audit provided by accessiBe on our website: https://lnkd.in/gbHusNsw

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Plain language = access. It's that simple! Accessibility Standards Canada just released a new national standard for plain language (CAN-ASC-3.1:2025) and it’s a big step forward for accessibility and inclusion in Canada. Plain language isn’t just about using simpler words. It’s about making sure everyone can find, understand, and use information without barriers. At Accessibrand™, we don’t just talk about it, we teach it, design it, and build it into everything we do! We offer plain language seminars for teams who want to communicate more clearly, and we apply plain language principles in all our design and marketing projects. We’re proud that Gillian Lynne-Davies, one of our core team members, is a Certified Plain Language Expert, helping organizations across Canada make accessibility part of every message. If your organization wants to improve accessibility and connection, contact us to get started. Read the new standard here: https://lnkd.in/g9V8aeZb #PlainLanguage #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #DigitalInclusion #Accessibrand #AccessibleCommunication #CommunicationForAll

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“Everything we produce is publicly accessible and open to feedback and collaboration. Our goal is to encourage the #GCDesign and web community to contribute to the #GCDesignSystem, making it the best tool it can be.” CDS’s GC Design System team has introduced new templates for creating streamlined, accessible #CanadaDotCa web pages to help make it easier for public servants to build consistent, user-friendly websites. Discover more about how these templates can enhance your #GCDigital work in our latest blog! 👇 https://lnkd.in/dtYWzdFz

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There’s a concerning trend in the digital accessibility space: proactivity is reaching a plateau. Only 28% of professionals we surveyed for our latest State of Digital Accessibility Report say their organization starts addressing digital accessibility in design—down slightly from 32% last year.  So how can design leaders reverse this trend? Our research shows that accessibility programs need five things to be successful: - An accountable party  - A dedicated budget  - An accessibility policy  - Support from leadership  - Effective training In my experience, these aren’t just essential at the organizational level. For long-term success, each team involved in digital accessibility—including design, content, and dev—also needs their own version of these elements. That means every design team needs its own accountable party, budget, and policy. Design leaders must champion accessibility within their function, and make sure high-quality training is available.  When design leaders put these elements in place, accessibility becomes a natural part of the design process, not an afterthought. And that leads to stronger experiences—for organizations AND their end users. Check out the full report here for more insight on the #DigitalAccessibility landscape: https://hubs.ly/Q03Ztdk-0 #Accessibility #A11y #SODAR #AccessibleDesign 

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By 2030 Designer jobs will end and here is what I am doing about it (and you should too). For many of us, AI is already indirect competition. For me, it will soon be direct. Tools like Lovable are still laggy. I haven’t seen truly compelling examples of sites built with Mixo alone. And yes - they lack the flair, restraint, and human judgement that good design demands. But let’s be honest. Most budget-constrained founders - and plenty of less design-aware clients - will choose "fast and cheap" over "crafted and considered". Not because it’s better, but because it’s easier. That shift is coming whether we like it or not. So this isn’t a doom post. It’s an invitation to pivot. Designers in London are already under pressure — rising costs, shrinking budgets, fewer retainers. AI doesn’t end the profession, but it ends the old version of it. The opportunity now is to: - relearn - reskill - move upstream Because those who don’t adapt won’t be “disrupted” - they’ll simply be priced out, likely surviving on some form of universal income while tools do the execution work. Designers 2030 are thinkers. New roles will emerge, only few will remain. I can already see some likely ones: - Content Curator - Decision Maker - AI-Assisted Designer (Graphic / Video / Web) - Product Developer - Vision Leader - Empathy & Ethics Guide - Experience Designer - Craftsmen Recruiter - Prompt Engineer - Question Designer - Emotional Support Officer Personally, I’m drawn to AI-Assisted Web Designer. It would be foolish not to use these tools. But the real value isn’t in clicking “generate” - it’s in direction, judgement, and intent. I still want to drive decisions. I still want to apply decades of experience in intuitive, human-centred design. And I still want every project to have a clear goal beyond “it looks fine”. The tools will change. Taste, responsibility, and clarity will not. So - how will you pivot? And what roles do you think will emerge in an AI-dominated economy?

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Just got back from Shopify Editions.dev in Toronto. While everyone was talking about AI-generated theme blocks, I was in the hallways talking to the people who actually have to implement this stuff. - Anne Thomas from Design Packs explained the technical reality behind universal blocks and why existing theme developers are concerned about migration paths. - Ezra Firestone (Zipify) thinks the real opportunity is sitting right in front of us: the Shop app that 100 million people already have installed. - Karl Meisterheim from Liquid Weekly had some sharp observations about the catalog API. Worth listening to if you're building on Shopify or advising clients who are. Link in comments.

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🏛️ Just got back from Montreal, where I attended the Souvenir Building Collectors Society convention—a fantastic gathering of people who share a love for architecture, history, and miniature landmarks. As someone working at the intersection of accessibility, education, and 3D design, I found the event incredibly inspiring. I came away with: - New ideas for tactile 3D printed models for blind students - A deeper appreciation for how these miniatures help us connect with places and stories - Great conversations with collectors and architects who see buildings not just as objects—but as memories, symbols, and tools for learning One insight really stood out: 🔍 What’s essential for blind people—the ability to touch and explore—is often deeply appreciated by sighted people too. Tactile models create emotional, memorable connections that go beyond accessibility. Whether you need to touch it or want to touch it, the experience adds value. The need for tactile access is much broader than most people realize—and it’s time we design with that in mind. #3DPrinting #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #Architecture

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🚨 The next wave of UX goes beyond screens. Designers who build AI tools, not just layouts, will lead the way. 🤖 AI platforms like Cursor, Onlook, and V0 enable designers to create their own utilities, automating workflows, seeding data, running accessibility checks, and more... without writing a single line of code. 👉 In my latest Medium article, I explore how designers can stop waiting for plugins (or dev bandwidth) and start building their own AI-powered tools. I also share 18 concrete examples you could build today to make your work faster and smarter. If you’ve ever wished, “I just need a tool for this...” this one’s for you. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gQDiD6Bj #UXDesign #AI #Productivity #DesignOps #Cursor #Onlook #V0

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Our latest UX research uncovered a surprising truth: 58% of desktop sites and 78% of mobile sites deliver mediocre or worse product list UX. That means most users are left frustrated when browsing product lists, which leads to low engagement and, ultimately, lost sales. But here’s the good news: fixing it isn’t impossible. Because as part of our latest Product List UX benchmark, we’ve identified 8 best practices that consistently separate high-performing product lists from the rest, such as: ✅ Combine product variations into one list item Avoid clutter and help users quickly understand the actual range of products. ✅ Provide 3+ product thumbnails in product lists Give users the visual information they need up front. Two images aren’t enough; multiple thumbnails reduce the need to click through every item. ✅ Show both total price and unit price Especially when quantities vary, displaying price-per-unit empowers users to make fast, confident comparisons. If you want your product lists to drive conversions instead of drop-offs, now’s the time to implement these best practices. Check out the latest UX benchmark here: https://lnkd.in/eBCWZAyg #userexperience #ux #ecommerce #userresearch

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🧠 Pixels are absolute. REM units are accessible. That difference matters. If you are translating designs from Figma into production-ready code, bookmark this. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gQ7yTU8X Why REM units matter for accessibility: • Pixels are fixed and do not respond well to user font size preferences • REM units scale relative to the root font size • Text resizing and zoom behave predictably • Layouts stay flexible across devices • Supports WCAG 2.2 guidance on text resizing and readability When text is locked in pixels, users with low vision, cognitive disabilities, or reading fatigue often see little or no benefit when they increase browser font size. That is a real barrier. If you care about accessible, resilient front-end code, REM units are not optional. Save this one. You will use it. #Accessibility #A11y #WebAccessibility #WCAG #WCAG22 #FrontendDev #CSS #Webflow #DesignToCode #InclusiveDesign #GracefulWebStudio

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