A Message to Recruiters: Figma≠UX

In March of 2025, I was laid off from my UX director role at a big bank. In the months since, I’ve been steadily applying to jobs, interviewing, and working my network. While results remain mushy and inconclusive, the time I’ve spent filling out applications, browsing gig sites, and speaking with recruiters has had an educational benefit: it’s confirmed my theory that way too many employers think UX = Figma.