Is Instagram dead for UX Designers?

Hey reader,

It's been a while since I sent out a newsletter. I decided to take a break from social media and content creation back in August to soak up the sunshine and savour the good weather. But now, here we are, gearing up for an exciting new season.

I absolutely adore summer – the long days, beautiful weather, and delicious seasonal fruits and veg. However, there's something about autumn that fills me with enthusiasm to dive back into work and personal projects.

When I first reopened my Instagram app after a month, my initial impulse was to unfollow or mute people who were causing the anxiety that initially made me step away from the platform. That's when I stumbled upon what was happening in the world of UX design on IG.

As I went through each account (yes, individually), it became evident that most of the design content creators had stopped posting, some for months, and others even since December 2022. It was quite of a shock.

I ended up unfollowing over 300 inactive accounts that used to be a great source of inspiration for UX designers. It got me thinking:

To address these questions, let's take a look at how UX content has changed over time on IG. When I first began posting on IG back in 2019, there were loads of carousels packed with helpful advice. The engagement levels were through the roof. In fact, some accounts with 300k+ followers even went so far as to ask people to pay them for reposting their carousels and promoting their profiles. Very uncool!

But things took a different turn with the arrival of TikTok. Instagram pivoted in a new direction and embraced videos. If you were creating Reels in the summer of 2020, your engagement rate would have been off the charts. It's a shame that the good times didn't stick around. People started to abandon carousels, maybe because they were becoming a bit too overkilled, or perhaps because Instagram wasn't promoting them anymore. Instead, they shifted their focus to sharing Reels.

The problem with Reels is that they demand a different set of skills and techniques. Instead of simply designing each carousel screen on Figma, you're suddenly in front of the camera, needing good lighting, clear sound, and the ability to use your voice and personality to get your message across. Or you can opt for a funny little dance with some text on the screen (cringe). But not everyone is into this kind of content, especially when it comes to educational topics!

Perhaps this is why many designers have put the brakes on creating content. It could be due to this shift in content style, or maybe because the pandemic is now behind us, and we're all back to our usual routines. Trends change constantly, and we can't always expect the same results without evolving and reinventing ourselves.

I'm facing a similar struggle with creating content on IG for these very reasons. It's possible that there was a specific time and place for creative expression on Instagram, and that era has moved on. I miss those days, but I also like to believe that former Instagram design content creators (what a mouthful!) have embarked on more exciting projects and have moved forward in their lives.

Do you believe the era of UX design on Instagram has come to an end, or do you think it's still on the rise with a thriving audience for these content creators? Share your thoughts and insights by responding to this newsletter! 💌

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I'm Sara, a designer and content creator, on a mission to help fellow designers like you level up their design skills and increase their worth. Want to connect? Simply reply to this email. 💌