Communication Challenges Reported by UX Designers on Social Media: An Analysis of Subreddit Discussions

The rise of UX design as a profession has been marked by an influx of new practitioners and an increase in dedicated educational programs. Despite research focusing on UX methods and practices, less attention has been paid to the real-world challenges faced by design professionals. Even less attention has been given to communication challenges in design practice. This study analyzes communication challenges in UX design by analyzing posts from two subreddits: r/userexperience and r/UXDesign. Key findings highlight prevalent issues such as misalignment of expectations with stakeholders, difficulties in idea conveyance, and complexities in negotiation and collaboration within teams. The research echoes previous findings on the critical role of effective communication in design practice and suggests a gap in UX education concerning real-world communication challenges.