Karabiner is the only way I managed to sync window tiling shortcuts between native Macbook and Logitech keyboard, and even that took a lot of effort due to fn/globe key special treatment.
Company incentives will always trump individual functions, no matter if it’s UX, QA, etc.
Good UX is still possible, but requires a supportive business model as an enabler.
A lot of designers who joined the field recently weren’t thought the “we’re saving the world; we’re responsible for the empathy” trap that was so prevelent 10-15 years ago, and I’m seeing more realistic worldview and less shattering disillusionment because there was no belief in UX to start with - it’s just a job, not a calling.
UX designer here. See what kind of work and industry interests you - in-house product, agency, enterprise... then apply to all entry level positions that look interesting. Internships can be a good way to get a taste of position before fully committing, but their availability and quality really depend on location.
As both options are entry level, recruiters expect little concrete projects in portfolio (few personal projects should be ok), they will look for potential to learn how to do the work, so I suggest highlighting your ability to learn, think in a structured way, challenge your own assumptions, work with other people and grow.
After some research and trying out different chairs in a store, I bought Herman Miller Mirra 2 some 10 days ago, with fully adjustable arms and lumbar support.
Couldn't be happier with the purchase. I'm still adjusting, as my back muscles have withered, and the chair is forcing them to work again after months of slouching.
On my previos job I used Steelcase Gesture and liked it, but prefer mesh chairs like Mira/Aeron.
I remember visiting designernews often, a community from their portfolio, for robust and interesting discussions, before the acquisition. Through time it became stale, now it looks empty. I wonder what's the success rate for this kind of investment strategy.
Techniques of interaction design might help you, as many of them covered exactly this problem, namely:
-User interviews will help you understand the problems and contexts your target users have.
-Personas for focus on the target user. "Jobs to be Done" is a popular alternative.
-Scenarios and user flows will help you better understand the temporal context and flow between states
-Prototyping in tools like inVision, etc will help you test ideas before committing too much time and effort
-User testing goes hand in hand with prototyping, you will better understand how your users perceive your software, which usually differs quote a lot from makers perspective
I don't know what type of software are you building, but design systems like Salesforce Lightning Design System and Google Material Design provide ready-made patterns with extensibility in mind. They usually have similar patterns, but enterprise ones are more focused on "optionality".
Your logic and economic explanations are sensible. The term "shady countries" was the phrase I reacted upon, and only that. Shady government officials, businessmen, deals? Sure. Shady countries? It sounds extremely wide and viewed from a position of privilege.