Adapted from a talk at UX+ Conference 2021, Alysa Trinidad opens up about the deepest fears designers face and how to navigate them. Drawing from her personal journey as a first-generation Filipino-American, she shares experiences with impostor syndrome, self-doubt, and the lasting impact of criticism during her education and early career. Despite major setbacks—like being removed from her school’s BFA program—Alysa pushed forward, eventually becoming a Senior Visual Designer at Intuit. Her story is a testament to how fear and failure can fuel growth and resilience.
Alysa also highlights the importance of normalizing conversations about mental health in the design world, where many creatives struggle with self-doubt and high expectations. She offers practical advice on tackling these challenges: embrace change in the fast-evolving UX field, channel your energy into mentorship, and step out of your comfort zone to face fears head-on. Her message is clear: Fear can be a tool for self-discovery and progress, and the design world needs diverse voices like yours to keep evolving.
