When I first heard about ADPList, I was excited to join a community dedicated to mentorship and professional growth. As a UX designer looking to expand my network and learn from seasoned professionals, the platform seemed like an ideal place to connect with mentors and gain valuable insights. I eagerly signed up and even applied to become a mentor myself. However, my mentor profile is still pending review, and here I am reading about this community and its leadership controversies.
Friday morning I was scrolling LinkedIn posts and came across one from a respected member of the design community, Hang Xu. He discusses how Lee has been consistently appropriating other creators’ content without giving proper credit. Some even pointed out that ADPList’s branding and materials bore striking similarities to those of other companies, including Airbnb.
A significant part of the recent controversy stemmed from Felix Lee being included as a speaker at Dovetail’s upcoming conference. This decision sparked backlash from many in the design community, who felt that his inclusion overlooked the ongoing concerns regarding his actions and the platform’s ethics. Many professionals took to LinkedIn and other platforms to voice their disappointment, questioning why Dovetail would provide a platform for someone with such a controversial reputation.
As I read through the comments and responses, I realized that these concerns weren’t just isolated incidents. Many designers expressed frustration over what they saw as a pattern of ethical lapses in ADPList’s leadership. Some even decided to distance themselves from the platform entirely. I also checked Reddit threads discussing the issue, where users detailed instances of content replication and a lack of accountability from the organization.
This discovery left me conflicted. On one hand, I had hoped to contribute to the mentorship opportunities on ADPList. On the other hand, I didn’t feel comfortable supporting a platform whose leadership had been accused of unethical practices. It made me question how I engage with professional communities and what values I want to uphold in my career.
For anyone considering joining ADPList, I would encourage doing some research first. While the mentorship opportunities can be valuable, it’s essential to be aware of the broader conversations happening around the platform. Ethical considerations matter in professional communities, and it’s important to align ourselves with spaces that foster not only learning but also integrity and respect for original work.
If you’re interested in learning more, I recommend checking out the LinkedIn posts by Filip Greš and Hang Xu, as well as discussions on Reddit and YouTube that delve into the controversy. These resources provide important perspectives on the ethical challenges within the design industry and how we, as professionals, can respond to them. I’ve linked some below!
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Update: I got an email from ADPList on my mentor application and it said “Unfortunately, we are unable to approve you as a mentor at this time. Our decision are based on a number of different reasons including your application, amount of experience, engagement with the community, teaching and mentoring experience, and more. This outcome in no way reflects on your ability as a professional.”
I must admit that I’m a little disappointed because I have been a Designlab mentor since May 2022 but if one door closes, another is bound to open. Onward!
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