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.