Addressing Impostor Phenomenon in Collaboration Between User Experience Designers and Software Developers

This study examines the impact of Impostor Phenomenon (IP) on collaboration between UX designers and developers, an area underexplored in human-computer interaction and software development. Qualitative interviews reveal that IP disrupts collaboration and productivity by fostering procrastination, overwork, anxiety, and self-doubt. It also exacerbates communication barriers and creates a reluctance to share ideas, further hindering effective teamwork. Grounded in five key themes, this research identifies critical challenges posed by IP and lays the foundation for the development of design-driven interventions. Future work will focus on participatory workshops to co-create solutions aimed at mitigating IP's effects and fostering more effective interdisciplinary collaboration.