I’ve shared this graphic with a few groups, and the same gaps keep showing up: - Designers can explain what they built — not why it mattered - AI is being used to speed up execution, not improve judgment - Most people know they’re underpaid, but can’t articulate leverage - “Senior” still means output-heavy, not direction-heavy If you recognize yourself in one of these: 👉 comment with the category it shows up in most for you (Portfolio / Interviews / Pay / Politics / Leadership) No scores. No confessionals. Just signal.

(Self-Assessment ) Answer YES or NO. No hedging. And don't peek at the scoring! 😆 1. I can explain how my last project affected revenue, churn, or cost 2. I routinely challenge the problem before designing solutions 3. I know when human intervention lowers quality 4. I verify AI-generated research instead of trusting outputs 5. I move without waiting for permission or perfect inputs 6. I can say “this shouldn’t be built” and be heard 7. I understand my company’s business model 8. I’m comfortable making directional calls under uncertainty Scoring: - 0–3 YES: You’re operating on borrowed time - 4–6 YES: You’re competitive — but replaceable - 7–8 YES: You’re positioning yourself for leverage Post your score in Skool (no explanations required). Clarity beats comfort.

If you’re a product designer in 2026, sanity-check yourself: You are behind if: - You still measure value by artifacts - You rely on “empathy” without outcomes - You wait for roadmaps to act - You think AI is a threat instead of leverage - You avoid business conversations You are on track if: - You can explain how your work affects revenue, churn, or risk - You frame problems before opening tools - You know when not to design - You verify data instead of trusting pretty outputs - You initiate direction, not just execution You are ahead if: - Stakeholders ask for your opinion before decisions are made - You can kill ideas (including your own) with confidence - You operate comfortably without perfect clarity - You treat AI as a multiplier, not a crutch - You act like ownership is part of the job One uncomfortable truth for 2026: Execution is abundant. Direction is rare. Designers who can decide will outpace designers who can only produce.

2025 didn’t fail designers — it exposed things we were avoiding. Answer one of these (no essays, no fluff): - What part of your design identity stopped working this year? - Where did “good design” not translate into influence or impact? - What did AI speed up - and what did it make painfully obvious? - Where did you wait for permission when you shouldn’t have? This isn’t about regret. It’s about clarity going into 2026.

Welcome to Cut The Design Crap. This isn’t a motivation group. This isn’t a “tools list.” And this definitely isn’t LinkedIn-polite advice. This space exists for one reason: 👉 to help designers get hired, paid properly, and taken seriously. What you should post here: - Portfolios or case studies that aren’t working - Resume or LinkedIn questions with context - Interview questions you froze on - Salary or negotiation situations you’re unsure about - Real workplace politics you don’t know how to navigate What won’t fly: - Vague questions with no details - “Any advice?” posts - Hustle or positivity fluff Be specific. Be honest. You’ll get real feedback - not comfort. If you’re new, start by: 1. Reading a few posts 2. Picking one category that hurts the most 3. Posting one real problem you want help with That’s it. Let’s cut the crap. Who are you? Introduce yourself. I'm Allanna. 👉 http://linkedin.com/in/allannaharris