I remember watching Walter Mitty (officially, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) for the first time back in so many years, maybe ten years ago. I was already a designer, of course, but still daydreaming and trying to figure out what to do with my career and life (hint: I still haven’t figured it out, ten years later).
Walter Mitty, the daydreaming photo editor from the 2013 film, might seem an unlikely source of inspiration for a UX designer. But for me, Mitty's journey of escaping his mundane routine to chase a captivating photograph resonated deeply with the core of what drives many UX designers – a desire to craft experiences that nudge people out of their comfort zones and into something meaningful. On his way, he also exerted himself and went out of his comfort zones, with a few people dissenting him. But of course, he also has people who truly trust him.
Walter Mitty’s story can apply as well to any 9-to-5 worker. Those being the cogs in the machines, but still striving for perfecti…
