In this episode of Brave UX, Brendan welcomes Lawton Pybus, Principal and Co-Founder of Drill Bit Labs. Join them as they dive into the evolving landscape of UX amidst recent tech layoffs. Lawton shares insights from his extensive research on UX job markets and discusses the importance of valuing UX in organizations. With a blend of personal anecdotes—including a ‘fun’ story about a venomous snake—this conversation highlights key trends, challenges, and the potential role of AI in UX. Listeners will find valuable advice for navigating their careers and fostering resilience in the UX field. Don’t miss this insightful and entertaining discussion!   Highlights include: 00:00 - Introduction 02:15 - Job Market Analysis 05:45 - Real-Time Tracking of UX Roles 10:30 - Lawton’s Personal Journey 15:00 - Impact of Recent Layoffs in UX 20:40 - The Demand for UX Skills 25:15 - The PAIR Framework and AI in UX 30:00 - Ethical AI Use in UX Research 35:10 - The Importance of Independent Thought 40:00 - Closing Thoughts Who is Lawton Pybus Lawton is a Principal and Co-founder of Drill Bit Labs. With a background in human factors, he has prior experience leading UX research teams at UserTesting, UserZoom, and MeasuringU and executing research on teams at Charles Schwab and Cabela's. He is the author of many insightful blog posts and regularly speaks at industry conferences like UXPA.   Find Lawton Here Lawton Pybus on LinkedIn Drill Bit Labs Website Subscribe to Brave UX Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Apple Podcast Spotify YouTube Podbean Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! LinkedIn Instagram Brendan Jarvis hosts the Show, and you can find him here: Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn The Space InBetween Website