Paul Boag Launches UX Insiders Community for In-House Professionals
A new peer-support network addresses the unique challenges of internal UX design roles.
1Addressing In-House UX Isolation
Paul Boag is launching UX Insiders, a specialized community for professionals working in-house. The initiative aims to solve the isolation often felt by designers and researchers who lack peers within their own organizations. By connecting individuals across different companies, the platform provides a space to discuss shared workplace challenges and strategies.
2Focusing on Non-Design Hurdles
The community prioritizes the operational side of UX, which Boag identifies as the most difficult aspect of the job. Members will tackle common obstacles like managing difficult stakeholders, navigating internal business cases, and adapting to new technologies like AI. These practical, non-design issues often lack established best practices in corporate settings.
3Structured Peer Support Mechanism
UX Insiders will facilitate connection through weekly hour-long calls every Tuesday at 3:30pm UK time. These sessions allow members to present specific problems or celebrate professional wins. Additionally, a private Slack channel provides a space for immediate feedback on emails or projects, ensuring members have support beyond the scheduled weekly meetings.
4Curated Resource Sharing Library
Beyond live discussions, the community offers a shared library containing templates, research plans, and business cases that have proven successful for other members. This repository serves as a practical tool for designers to implement in their own organizations, saving time and effort when justifying UX initiatives to senior management teams.
5Exclusive Membership for Practitioners
Membership is strictly limited to in-house professionals to ensure open, honest dialogue about organizational dynamics. By excluding agencies and freelancers, the community prevents solicitation and maintains a safe environment for discussing internal company matters. Applicants must undergo a brief verification process to confirm their in-house status before gaining access to the group.
6Founder Pricing and Launch Conditions
The community officially launches on January 5, 2027, with founder pricing available for the first 25 members. Rates are set at £49 monthly for annual billing or £59 for monthly payments, plus VAT. The project requires a minimum of 15 members by December 11, 2026, to proceed with the official launch.
7Employer-Supported Professional Development
Recognizing that these roles are often part of corporate structures, the platform allows employers to pay membership fees directly via invoice. This enables participants to utilize their existing training budgets for professional development. Boag emphasizes that this structure makes the community an accessible resource for teams looking to improve their internal UX.
8Parallel Support for Agencies
While UX Insiders is exclusive to in-house staff, Boag continues to operate Agency Academy for freelancers and agency owners. This separate community follows a similar format with weekly Thursday calls and a dedicated Slack. Smashing Magazine readers can access discounted rates for this agency-focused group until the end of November 2026.