Building Resilience as a UI/UX Designer in an Ever-Changing Agency World

Why Are You Still at Antikode?

The Reality of UI/UX Agency Life: Rewarding, but Tough

Working in a UI/UX agency has always come with unique challenges. We serve various types of clients, each with different needs, expectations, and timelines. Work pace has always been fast, and the feedback loops are faster. We’re constantly expected to switch contexts—shifting from banking interfaces in the morning to FMCG branding by the afternoon.

But over the years, the game has evolved.

Now, AI is transforming design workflows, from personal copywriter to brainstorming buddy and over the time, junior designers are entering the field more equipped than ever, armed with bootcamp certificates, Figma skills, and access to a global pool of design knowledge. The entry bar has lowered, but the competition has soared.

When I started, I was a junior who knew nothing. No design system playbooks. The reach of digital content on product design wasn’t this massive. The industry wasn’t as open or accessible. Everything I learned was through sheer persistence of digging things through the internet, trial, error, and learning from feedback.

Today’s juniors come in with better technical foundations—and that’s great. But it also means the pressure to constantly evolve has intensified for everyone. In a space that doesn’t stop moving, how do you keep your footing?

Navigating the Imperfect Reality of Agency Life

How I Stay Resilient as a UI/UX Designer

Over time, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t just about mental toughness—it’s about how you design your own experience at work. Here’s what’s helped me stay resilient in an agency environment:

1. Growth as My Compass
   I’ve always asked myself: Am I still growing here? What are the future opportunities and growth I’d like to achieve-not only as an employee but also a person? As long as the answer is yes—whether through new challenges, different industries, or deeper design problems—I know I’m on the right path. Growth doesn’t always look like a promotion; sometimes it’s learning how to lead a team, improve collaboration, or make peace with ambiguity.
2. Trust in My Team and Leadership
   Navigating a fast-paced environment isn’t always easy, and in those moments, strong leadership makes all the difference. Having leaders with a strategic mindset not only fuels my motivation but also gives me clarity on where we’re headed and how I can contribute meaningfully to that journey.At ALVA Digital network, I’ve been fortunate to work with people who truly listen. That trust I build for the leaders and my team is what drives me to keep pushing for a better version of ourselves, both as individuals and as a team.

   Over time, I’ve also learned the importance of balance: knowing when to delegate, when to step in, and when to step back. Being part of a team that supports one another, especially during setbacks, is an often-overlooked strength that I value.

3. A Culture Where Empathy Matters
   Antikode’s culture plays a huge role in why I’ve stayed. It’s not just about perks or flexible hours—it’s about how we treat each other. A workplace with empathy fosters resilience because you don’t have to pretend everything’s fine.In a world that evolves rapidly and constantly throws us into waves of opinions and revisions, our creative team makes it a priority to create a safe space for open discussion and exploration. Here, you’re allowed to be imperfect. You’re allowed to have off days.What matters is that we show up for each other. It’s the spirit of true teamwork—supporting, encouraging, and lifting one another that keeps us moving forward together.

Resilience at Work: More Than Grit

Resilience in the workplace isn’t just about powering through. According to the resilience theory, it’s about adapting positively in the face of adversity—whether it’s organizational change, pressure, or failure.

In design, this shows up every day from a concept you worked on for weeks that gets rejected to designing under impossible constraints. Resilience means processing the disappointment, learning from it, and coming back with a better version—again and again. It’s a skill, not a trait. And in the fast-moving, ever-changing nature of agencies, it’s what keeps good designers from burning out.

Resilience as a Part of My Ikigai

At the end of the day, I see resilience not just as a survival mechanism, but as the balance of my Ikigai: the intersection of what I love, what I’m good at, what the world needs, and what I can be valued for.

Agency life demands balance between speed and thoughtfulness, ambition and rest, individuality and collaboration. Staying this long isn’t about settling with them. For me, it’s about growing, being challenged, and finding purpose in the process.