How to design better?
A collection of ideas on the design process and creating great designs
How to design better?
One of the biggest hurdles to working is how boring it is, but there’s a lot of value in doing manual and mundane work. It’s rote, but embracing the mundane is more than just getting work done; it’s about being the solution rather than finding one.
Dan Mall • Dan Mall’s 10 Principles for a Worthy Design Career | Figma Blog
Rule #6: Embrace the mundane
Lessons:
1. Imitate
Copywork is a great way to build the design muscles.
2. Remix
Start tweaking and fuse you'r imagination into it.
3. Invent
The “adjacent possible” is drawing connections from seeminlgy unrelated concepts/things and placing them together.
Dan gives the best breakdown of any designers process, that actually reveals the little nuances the nitty gritty parts of the process .
My father embodies design to the fullest extent. He says, “It’s a lifestyle, not a job.” He brings the same intensity to everything—whether solving engineering problems, crafting sales messages, or building side projects. He brings opinion. He is a polymath maniacal about every aspect his work touches. He is obsessed.
terrain.com • Design Literacy
people new to design tend to confuse an idea for the expression of an idea. Ideas are easy, because they don't rely on specifics. Expressing ideas is incredibly difficult, because doing it well requires a deep understanding of the medium that is only possible by having worked in it, such as understanding which methods to use where, identifying... See more
Nick Punt • Learning Product Design
Designer’s don’t solve problems. Designer’s bring intangible ideas and thoughts into tangible experiences, and we just happen solve someone’s problems along the way.
We call it a belief system because it's more than a collection of values. It's how we see the world and what is missing.
- Make stuff you use every day —it makes for a better life.
- Make it better —do less if you need to.
- Nothing is finished —everything can be rethought.
- Think small —make one small part of the world as it should be.
- Slow down —put in
Building a Belief System | !Boring Software
Every decision is a bet. To increase your odds of winning, place bets where you have an unfair advantage. Whether it’s your expertise, network, resources, or a unique insight, leveraging these advantages can make all the difference. When starting my agency, I had years of agency experience, a good reputation, and an existing steady stream of... See more
Dan Mall • Dan Mall’s 10 Principles for a Worthy Design Career | Figma Blog
Rule #2: Place bets on unfair advantage
Understanding why you undertake certain projects or tasks is just as important as knowing how. Whether it’s because you have to or because you want to, find the purpose in your work. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over my career is that I can find a worthy bet anywhere. It might not be obvious and I might have to dig for it, but... See more
Dan Mall • Dan Mall’s 10 Principles for a Worthy Design Career | Figma Blog
Rule #8: Keep asking why
If I believe in something, it means I know a certain amount about it. This gives me confidence to make decision, take action, do things that would have been harder to do before finding that belief. The belief that comes from finding purpose in what you’re doing.