The 100x cost rule: how strategic UX investment drives growth and reduces risk.

One thing most companies underestimate:
Fixing a UX issue after development can cost 100x more than fixing it during design.
This isn’t just theory.
IBM Systems Sciences Institute coined this "100x cost rule" back in the 1970s.
And a 2017 NN/g report confirmed it:
→ Early UX work significantly reduces rework, costs, and delays.
(Even more true today — as product ecosystems grow more complex with AI, data pipelines, and multi-platform architecture.)
And then there’s Forrester’s research that found that every $1 invested in UX can return up to $100.
Yes, a 9,900% ROI.

Building on this, let’s talk about something every founder, product manager and design lead should understand:
UX debt.
Like technical debt, UX debt builds when teams skip foundational design to move faster.
But speed now = cost later.
Every vague requirement, skipped research or rushed layout adds invisible cost that eventually becomes very visible:
→ In rebuilds
→ In redesigns
→ In dropped features
→ In developer frustration
→ In user confusion
→ In investor skepticism

It’s not just money.
It’s trust. Momentum. Morale.

Early UX isn't a luxury.
It's a strategy.
An investment that compounds into clarity and profit — or debt and delay.
Start early.
Design with intent.
Avoid paying the 100x tax.