Yes, Alan, There Is An ROI For UX Design

Alan Cooper once wrote that the value of design should be obvious to everyone in the organization. If someone is asking you to explain a design’s value, it’s because they can’t see it. He said:

“If your boss is asking you to quantify the value of your work, you need to understand that your work indeed has no value. Not at that company. Not with that boss.”

That was harsh. Alan goes on to suggest there are only two alternatives for this situation:

“So when your boss asks you “What is the value of your work?” you have only two valid courses of action: 1) Accept that you and your situation are a valueless combination; or B)[sic] Go some place where your work is valued. Go somewhere that doesn’t ask the value of your work, but instead values your work!”

For me, this hit home. Back in 2011, I said something very similar. After explaining a couple of ways to get stakeholders to start investing in UX, I suggested:

“…maybe it’s time for you to find someplace else to work. Someplace where the executives are already convinced and want to make the investment.”

“Go somewhere else” is privilege talking

It’s been years since I originally wrote that. I now realize that’s a very privileged point-of-view. Not…