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Solo Development: Learning To Let Go Of Perfection

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Original Source: https://smashingmagazine.com/2025/01/solo-development-learning-to-let-go-of-perfection/

As expected from anyone who has ever tried building anything solo, my goal was not to build an app but the app — the one app that’s so good you wonder how you ever survived without it. I had everything in place: wireframes, a to-do list, project structure — you name it. Then I started building. Just not the product. I started with the landing page for it, which took me four days, and I hadn’t even touched the app’s core features yet. The idea itself was so good I had to start marketing it right away!

I found myself making every detail perfect: every color, shadow, gradient, font size, margin, and padding had to be spot on. I don’t even want to say how long the logo took.

Spoiler:
No one cares about your logo.

Why did I get so stuck on something that was never even part of the core app I wanted so badly to build? Why wasn’t I nagging myself to move on when I clearly needed to?

The reality of solo development is that there is no one to tell you when to stop or simply say, “Yo, this is good enough! Move on.“ Most users don’t care whether a login button is yellow or green. What they want (and need) is a button that works and solves their problem when clicking it.

Test Early And Often
Unnecessary tweaks, indecisive UI decisions, and perfectionism are the core reasons I spend more time on things than necessary.

Like most solo developers, I also started with the hope of pushing out builds with the efficiency of a large-scale team. But it is easier said than done.

When building solo, you start coding, then you maybe notice a design flaw, and you switch to fixing it, then a bug appears, and you try fixing that, and voilà — the day is gone. There comes a time when it hits you that, “You know what? It’s time to build messy.” That’s when good intentions of project and product management go out the window, and that’s when I find myself working by the seat of my pants rather than plowing forward with defined goals and actionable tasks that are based on good UI/UX principles, like storyboards, user personas, and basic prioritization.

This realization is something you have to experience to grasp fully. The trick I’ve learned is to focus on getting something out there for people to see and then work on actual feedback. In other words,

It’s more important to get the idea out there and iterate on it than reaching for perfection right out of the gate.

Because guess what? Even if you have the greatest app idea in the world, you’re never going to make it perfect until you start receiving feedback on it. You’re no mind reader — as much as we all want to be one — and some insights (often the most relevant) can only be received through real user feedback and analytics. Sure, your early assumptions may be correct, but how do you know until you ship them and start evaluating them?

Nowadays, I like to tell others (and myself) to work from hypotheses instead of absolutes. Make an assertion, describe how you intend to test it, and then ship it. With that, you can gather relevant insights that you can use to get closer to perfection — whatever that is.

Strength In Recognizing Weakness

Let’s be real: Building a full application on your own is not an easy feat. I’d say it’s like trying to build a house by yourself; it seems doable, but the reality is that it takes a lot more hands than the ones you have to make it happen. And not only to make it happen but to make it happen well.

There’s only so much one person can do, and admitting your strengths and weaknesses up-front will serve you well by avoiding the trap that you can do it all alone.

I once attempted to build a project management app alone. I knew it might be difficult, but I was confident. Within a few days, this “simple” project grew legs and expanded with new features like team collaboration, analytics, time tracking, and custom reports being added, many of which I was super excited to make.

Building a full app takes a lot of time. Think about it; you’re doing the work of a team all alone without any help. There’s no one to provide you with design assets, content, or back-end development. No stakeholder to “swoop and poop” on your ideas (which might be a good thing). Every decision, every line of code, and every design element is 100% on you alone.

It is technically possible to build a full-featured app solo, but when you think about it, there’s a reason why the concept of MVP exists. Take Instagram, for example; it wasn’t launched with reels, stories, creator’s insights, and so on. It started with one simple thing: photo sharing.

All I’m trying to say is start small, launch, and let users guide the evolution of the product. And if you can recruit more hands to help, that would be even better. Just remember to leverage your strengths and reinforce your weaknesses by leaning on other people’s strengths.

Yes, Think Like an MVP

The concept of a minimum viable product (MVP) has always been fascinating to me. In its simplest form, it means building the basic version of your idea that technically works and getting it in front of users. Yes, this is such a straightforward and widely distributed tip, but it’s still one of the hardest principles for solo developers to follow, particularly for me.

I mentioned earlier that my “genius” app idea grew legs. And lots of them. I had more ideas than I knew what to do with, and I hadn’t even written a reasonable amount of code! Sure, this app could be enhanced to support face ID, dark mode, advanced security, real-time results, and a bunch of other features. But all these could take months of development for an app that you’re not even certain users want.

I’ve learned to ask myself: “What would this project look like if it was easy to build?”. It’s so surreal how the answer almost always aligns with what users want. If you can distill your grand idea into a single indispensable idea that does one or two things extremely well, I think you’ll find — as I have — that the final result is laser-focused on solving real user problems.

Ship the simplest version first. Dark mode can wait. All you need is a well-defined idea, a hypothesis to test, and a functional prototype to validate that hypothesis; anything else is probably noise.

Handle Imperfection Gracefully

You may have heard about the “Ship it Fast” approach to development and instantly recognize the parallels between it and what I’ve discussed so far. In a sense, “Ship it Fast” is ultimately another way of describing an MVP: get the idea out fast and iterate on it just as quickly.

Some might disagree with the ship-fast approach and consider it reckless and unprofessional, which is understandable because, as developers, we care deeply about the quality of our work. However,

The ship-fast mentality is not to ignore quality but to push something out ASAP and learn from real user experiences. Ship it now — perfect it later.

That’s why I like to tell other developers that shipping an MVP is the safest, most professional way to approach development. It forces you to stay in scope and on task without succumbing to your whimsies. I even go so far as to make myself swear an “Oath of Focus” at the start of every project.

I, Vayo, hereby solemnly swear (with one hand on this design blueprint) to make no changes, no additions, and no extra features until this app is fully built in all its MVP glory. I pledge to avoid the temptations of endless tweaking and the thoughts of “just one more feature.”

Only when a completed prototype is achieved will I consider any new features, enhancements, or tweaks.

Signed,
Vayo, Keeper of the MVP

Remember, there’s no one there to hold you accountable when you develop on your own. Taking a brief moment to pause and accepting that my first version won’t be flawless helps put me in the right headspace early in the project.

Prioritize What Matters

I have noticed that no matter what I build, there’s always going to be bugs. Always. If Google still has bugs in the Google Notes app, trust me, then it’s fine for a solo developer to accept that bugs will always be a part of any project.

Look at flaky tests. For instance, you could run a test over 1,000 times and get all greens, and then the next day, you run the same test, an error shows. It’s just the nature of software development. And for the case of endlessly adding features, it never ends either. There’s always going to be a new feature that you’re excited about. The challenge is to curb some of that enthusiasm and shelve it responsibly for a later time when it makes sense to work on it.

I’ve learned to categorize bugs and features into two types: intrusive and non-intrusive. Intrusive are those things that prevent projects from functioning properly until fixed, like crashes and serious errors. The non-intrusive items are silent ones. Sure, they should be fixed, but the product will work just fine and won’t prevent users from getting value if they aren’t addressed right away.

You may want to categorize your bugs and features in other ways, and I’ve seen plenty of other examples, including:

High value, low value;
High effort, low effort;
High-cost, low-cost;
Need to have, nice to have.

I’ve even seen developers and teams use these categorizations to create some fancy priority “score” that considers each category. Whatever it is that helps you stay focused and on-task is going to be the right approach for you more than what specific category you use.

Live With Your Stack

Here’s a classic conundrum in development circles:

Should I use React? Or NextJS? Or wait, how about Vue? I heard it’s more optimized. But hold on, I read that React Redux is dead and that Zustand is the new hot tool.

And just like that, you’ve spent an entire day thinking about nothing but the tech stack you’re using to build the darn thing.

We all know that an average user could care less about the tech stack under the hood. Go ahead and ask your mom what tech stack WhatsApp is built on, and let me know what she says. Most times, it’s just us who obsesses about tech stacks, and that usually only happens when we’re asked to check under the hood.

I have come to accept that there will always be new tech stacks released every single day with the promise of 50% performance and 10% less code. That new tool might scale better, but do I actually have a scaling problem with my current number of zero users? Probably not.

My advice:

Pick the tools you work with best and stick to those tools until they start working against you.

There’s no use fighting something early if something you already know and use gets the job done. Basically, don’t prematurely optimize or constantly chase the latest shiny object.

Do Design Before The First Line of Code

I know lots of solo developers out there suck at design, and I’m probably among the top 50. My design process has traditionally been to open VS Code, create a new project, and start building the idea in whatever way comes to mind. No design assets, comps, or wireframes to work with — just pure, unstructured improvisation. That’s not a good idea, and it’s a habit I’m actively trying to break.

These days, I make sure to have a blueprint of what I’m building before I start writing code. Once I have that, I make sure to follow through and not change anything to respect my “Oath of Focus.”

I like how many teams call comps and wireframes “project artifacts.” They are pieces of evidence that provide a source of truth for how something looks and works. You might be the sort of person who works better with sets of requirements, and that’s totally fine. But having some sort of documentation that you can point back to in your work is like having a turn-by-turn navigation on a long road trip — it’s indispensable for getting where you need to go.

And what if you’re like me and don’t pride yourself on being the best designer? That’s another opportunity to admit your weaknesses up-front and recruit help from someone with those strengths. That way, you can articulate the goal and focus on what you’re good at.

Give Yourself Timelines

Personally, without deadlines, I’m almost unstoppable at procrastinating. I’ve started setting time limits when building any project, as it helps with procrastination and makes sure something is pushed out at a specified time. Although this won’t work without accountability, I feel the two work hand in hand.

I set a 2–3 week deadline to build a project. And no matter what, as soon as that time is up, I must post or share the work in its current state on my socials. Because of this, I’m not in my comfort zone anymore because I won’t want to share a half-baked project with the public; I’m conditioned to work faster and get it all done. It’s interesting to see the length of time you can go if you can trick your brain.

I realize that this is an extreme constraint, and it may not work for you. I’m just the kind of person who needs to know what my boundaries are. Setting deadlines and respecting them makes me a more disciplined developer. More than that, it makes me work efficiently because I stop overthinking things when I know I have a fixed amount of time, and that leads to faster builds.

Conclusion

The best and worst thing about solo development is the “solo” part. There’s a lot of freedom in working alone, and that freedom can be inspiring. However, all that freedom can be intoxicating, and if left unchecked, it becomes a debilitating hindrance to productivity and progress. That’s a good reason why solo development isn’t for everyone. Some folks will respond a lot better to a team environment.

But if you are a solo developer, then I hope my personal experiences are helpful to you. I’ve had to look hard at myself in the mirror many days to come to realize that I am not a perfect developer who can build the “perfect” app alone. It takes planning, discipline, and humility to make anything, especially the right app that does exactly the right thing.

Ideas are cheap and easy, but stepping out of our freedom and adding our own constraints based on progress over perfection is the secret sauce that keeps us moving and spending our time on those essential things.

Further Reading On SmashingMag

“What’s The Perfect Design Process?,” Vitaly Friedman
“Design Under Constraints: Challenges, Opportunities, And Practical Strategies,” Paul Boag
“Improving The Double Diamond Design Process,” Andy Budd
“Unexpected Learnings From Coding Artwork Every Day For Five Years,” Saskia Freeke

Top 20 Valentine’s Day Ideas to Sell with Print-on-Demand

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Original Source: https://ecommerce-platforms.com/articles/valentines-day-ideas-to-sell-with-print-on-demand

Valentine’s Day is one of the most profitable times of the year for businesses, especially those selling personalized and unique gifts.

People are on the hunt for heartfelt, creative, and even humorous items to make the day special for their loved ones.

With Print-on-Demand (POD), you have a low-risk, high-reward opportunity to tap into this massive market.

Here are 20 Valentine’s Day ideas to sell with POD, complete with insights and tips to maximize your success.

Why Print-on-Demand Works for Valentine’s Day

Print-on-Demand is the perfect business model for seasonal sales like Valentine’s Day. You don’t need to hold inventory, and you can focus solely on creating eye-catching, emotional designs that people can’t resist.

Valentine’s Day shopping revolves around personal touches and the ability to customize.

With print on demand, you can offer personalized options like names, dates, or even photos without additional overhead.

Whether it’s romantic, humorous, or even anti-Valentine’s products, print on demand gives you the flexibility to adapt to multiple customer segments.

With consumers increasingly shopping online, especially for unique and meaningful gifts, the POD model ensures you’re in the right place at the right time.

From quirky mugs to matching pajamas, the opportunities are endless. Let’s dive into the top ideas to inspire your Valentine’s Day POD collection.

1. Custom Couple T-Shirts

Couple t-shirts are a classic Valentine’s Day hit. People love wearing matching outfits that showcase their relationship.

Popular themes include funny slogans like “Soulmate Loading…” or complementary designs such as “Player 1” and “Player 2.”

Personalization is key here. Allow customers to add their names, anniversaries, or inside jokes to the design.

Couple t-shirts not only make for great gifts but also provide the couple with a fun photo opportunity, increasing their appeal on platforms like Instagram.

2. Romantic Mugs

Mugs are a simple yet effective POD product for Valentine’s Day. Customers love gifting items that are practical but still carry a personal touch.

Consider designs like “You’re My Cup of Tea” or photo mugs with a polaroid-style effect. Heart-shaped handle mugs can add a premium feel and elevate their perceived value.

Here’s a mug I created on Printful recently for one of my stores:

Don’t forget to target the “anti-Valentine” niche with humorous or sarcastic designs. Phrases like “I’m in a Relationship with Coffee” can be a big hit with single buyers or for Galentine’s celebrations.

3. Couple Hoodies

Oversized and cozy hoodies are trending, making them a great Valentine’s Day gift. Matching couple hoodies with phrases like “The King” and “His Queen” are popular choices.

Designs featuring cute illustrations or romantic quotes also work well.

Hoodies are versatile because they’re suitable for various weather conditions and fit the relaxed, cozy vibe of Valentine’s Day.

Add an option for embroidery to create a premium, textured look that customers are willing to pay extra for.

4. Funny Valentine’s Socks

Socks are a fun and inexpensive way to target impulse buyers. Create designs with flirty or humorous messages like “If You Can Read This, Bring Me Chocolate” or “Sole Mate.”

Bright colors and playful patterns can make the product stand out.

Valentine’s socks are also a great option for those looking for small, affordable gifts to complement bigger presents. Make them available in bundles to encourage higher order values.

5. Personalized Throw Pillows

Custom throw pillows are perfect for couples looking to add a romantic touch to their home. Designs can range from minimalist line art portraits to bold, colorful patterns with names and dates incorporated.

Pillows allow for extensive customization options, making them an ideal product for POD. Customers can choose their favorite quotes, anniversary dates, or even upload their photos to create one-of-a-kind keepsakes.

6. Love-Themed Phone Cases

Phone cases are a high-demand product that’s easy to personalize. Valentine’s Day designs can include romantic quotes, illustrations, or photos.

For couples, consider creating matching designs that form a complete picture when placed side by side.

Anti-Valentine’s cases also have a strong niche market. Phrases like “Swipe Left” or “Not Interested” can attract buyers who are celebrating their independence.

7. Wall Art Prints

Wall art is an evergreen POD product that shines on Valentine’s Day. Offer designs like star maps showing the night sky on a couple’s special date or minimalist art with meaningful quotes.

Digital download options can also be a hit for last-minute shoppers who need a quick, thoughtful gift. Pair these prints with mockups showing how they look framed to increase conversion rates.

8. Cute Tote Bags

Tote bags are practical and popular among eco-conscious shoppers. Add quirky love-themed slogans like “I Carry Your Heart (and Snacks)” or minimalist heart patterns.

Customization can elevate tote bags from simple accessories to cherished keepsakes. Offer options for adding names or illustrations, ensuring the product feels personal.

9. Valentine’s Greeting Cards

POD greeting cards allow for endless creativity. While romantic designs are a must, don’t overlook the demand for humorous and cheeky cards. Phrases like “You’re Tolerable. Let’s Stay Together” can stand out in a saturated market.

Offering a “customize your message” option can set your cards apart, allowing buyers to add their own touch without handwriting it themselves.

10. Matching Pajamas

Matching pajamas are a perfect Valentine’s Day gift for couples who want to stay in and enjoy a cozy night together. Fun patterns like hearts, arrows, or quirky phrases can make the designs pop.

Family matching pajama sets are another untapped niche that can bring in significant sales. Offer a variety of sizes to cater to everyone, from toddlers to adults.

11. Couple’s Jewelry Boxes

Jewelry boxes with custom engravings are a great POD product for Valentine’s Day. Designs can include names, initials, or special dates, giving them a premium and sentimental feel.

While these are typically smaller, more affordable gifts, they pair perfectly with other items like necklaces or rings, making them an excellent upsell opportunity.

12. Baby Onesies for New Parents

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for romantic couples. Parents love celebrating their little ones with themed onesies. Slogans like “Mommy’s Valentine” or “Daddy’s Little Heartbreaker” are irresistible.

Target this niche with adorable designs that are perfect for social media photo ops, ensuring customers are drawn to your store.

13. Pet Valentine Gifts

Pet owners are a passionate audience, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. Offer POD products like bandanas or t-shirts for pets with phrases like “My Human is Single” or “Furry Valentine.”

These items are great for gifting or for pet parents who love spoiling their furry friends. High-quality mockups featuring pets can drive sales even further.

14. Canvas Prints of Couple Photos

Canvas prints are a premium product that customers are willing to splurge on for Valentine’s Day. Offer designs that incorporate couple’s photos with creative effects like watercolor overlays or geometric patterns.

Providing framed options can further elevate this product’s appeal, making it a standout choice for high-ticket sales.

15. Valentine’s Wine Tumblers

Wine tumblers are a practical and fun gift for couples who enjoy a glass together. Slogans like “Wine is My Valentine” or personalized designs featuring names and dates work well.

Offering color variations and add-ons like matching coasters can help you upsell effectively.

16. Keychains for Couples

Keychains are small, affordable gifts that can pack a sentimental punch. Offer heart-shaped designs, engraved initials, or even mini-photo options.

These products are perfect as impulse buys or add-ons to larger gifts, making them a must-have in your Valentine’s Day lineup.

17. Romantic Notebooks

Notebooks with romantic themes are a thoughtful gift option. Designs like “Reasons I Love You” or minimalist covers with love quotes can appeal to those creating heartfelt, handwritten gifts.

Provide options for customization, such as adding a name or a personalized cover image, to make the notebooks even more special.

18. Customized Aprons

For couples who love cooking together, customized aprons make a practical and playful gift. Designs like “Cooking Up Love” or “Kiss the Chef” are fun and engaging.

Add cartoon-style characters or food-related puns to make the designs more eye-catching and relatable.

19. Love-Themed Hats or Beanies

Hats and beanies are trendy and practical gifts for Valentine’s Day. Embroidered heart designs, initials, or cheeky slogans like “Taken” or “Single AF” cater to a wide audience.

Pairing these products with matching scarves or gloves can help create bundled offers that drive higher order values.

20. Anti-Valentine’s Day Merch

The anti-Valentine’s niche is a growing market. Create designs with sarcastic phrases like “Cupid Missed Me” or “Not Interested” to target singles or those celebrating “Galentine’s Day.”

This niche is perfect for those who want to celebrate their independence or just poke fun at the holiday’s traditional sentimentality.

Pro Tips for Maximizing Valentine’s Day Sales

Start Early: Shoppers begin looking for Valentine’s gifts 6–8 weeks ahead. Launch your campaigns early to capture this demand.

Focus on Visual Marketing: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are perfect for showcasing your products with engaging visuals and mockups.

Offer Personalization: Personalized gifts have a higher perceived value and are more likely to convert.

Bundle Products: Pair complementary items, like mugs and coasters, to increase average order value.

Use High-Quality Mockups: Professional mockups can make your products look irresistible and increase trust with customers.

Conclusion

Valentine’s Day is a golden opportunity to capitalize on people’s desire for thoughtful and unique gifts. With Print-on-Demand, you can cater to this demand without the risk of holding inventory.

By offering a mix of romantic, humorous, and anti-Valentine’s products, you’ll be able to reach a wide audience and maximize your sales potential.

Ready to start printing profits this Valentine’s Day? The time to act is now!

The post Top 20 Valentine’s Day Ideas to Sell with Print-on-Demand appeared first on Ecommerce Platforms.

Santa’s High-Tech Holiday Logistics: A UX Fairy Tale

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Original Source: https://webdesignerdepot.com/santas-high-tech-holiday-logistics-a-ux-fairy-tale/

Santa Claus is a master UX designer, seamlessly combining advanced technology, rigorous testing, and a touch of magic to deliver billions of gifts in one night. From analyzing questionable TikTok trends to perfecting chimney entry systems, his operation is a festive blend of humor, innovation, and holiday cheer.

Santa Tracker 2024: Keeping the Magic Alive in the Digital Age

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Original Source: https://webdesignerdepot.com/santa-tracker-2024-keeping-the-magic-alive-in-the-digital-age/

Santa Tracker 2024 brings holiday magic to life with cutting-edge features like augmented reality, personalized messages from Santa, and real-time weather updates, making it more interactive and engaging than ever. This beloved tradition continues to unite families worldwide, blending technology and festive cheer to keep the Christmas spirit alive.

Three Approaches To Amplify Your Design Projects

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Original Source: https://smashingmagazine.com/2024/12/three-approaches-amplify-design-projects/

What makes an incredible project? Is it the client? The type of project? An exorbitant budget? While those things help to create the environment in which a great project can thrive, what truly makes a project something powerful is you.

No, this isn’t some pep talk on why you are the ultimate weapon — but yes, you are if you want to be. I am simply a web and product designer writing down my observations in order to give others the tools to make their project experiences all the better for it.

Still with me? Let me tell you about what I’ve discovered over the years working as an agency designer.

There are three approaches that have completely changed the way my projects run from start to finish. I have found that since implementing all three, my work and my interactions with clients and coworkers have blossomed. Here they are:

Unlearn previous experiences through Reframing.
Tap into your background with Connection Paths.
Take up your own space. Period.

In this article, you will find explanations of each approach and connected practical examples — as well as real-life ones from my project work at Fueled + 10up — to show you how they can be applied to projects. With that said, let’s dive in.

Approach 1: Unlearn Previous Experiences Through Reframing

While some of the things that we have learned over the years spent in design are invaluable, amidst those previous experiences, there are also the ones that hold us back.

Unlearning ingrained lessons is not an easy thing to do. Rather, I challenge you to reframe them and get into the habit of asking yourself, “Am I stopping short creatively because I have always gone this far?” or “Am I associating an implied response from others due to a previous experience and therefore not doing enough for the project?”

Let me give you some examples of thoughts that may arise on a given project and how you can reframe them in a better way.

Initial Thought
“I’ve designed cards thousands of times. Therefore, there are only so many ways you can do it.”

As you know, in 99.9% of website design projects, a card design is required. It may seem that every possible design ever imagined has been created up to this point — a fair reasoning, isn’t it? However, stifling yourself from the very get-go with this mentality will only serve to produce expected and too-well-known results.

Reframed Thought

Instead, you could approach this scenario with the following reframed thought:

“I’ve designed cards thousands of times, so let me take what I’ve learned, do some more exploration, and iterate on what could push these cards further for this particular project.”

With this new outlook, you may find yourself digging deeper to pull on creative threads, inevitably resulting in adaptive thinking. A good exercise to promote this is the Crazy 8’s design exercise. In this format, you can pull forth rapid ideas — some good, some not so good — and see what sticks. This method is meant to get your brain working through a simple solution by tackling it from multiple angles.

Real-Life Example

Here is a real-life example from one of my projects in which I had to explore cards on a deeper level. This client’s website was primarily made up of cards of varying content and complexity. In the initial stages of design, I worked to define how we could differentiate cards, with prominence in size, imagery, and color, as well as motion and hover effects.

What I landed on was a flexible system that had three tiers and harmonized well together. Knowing they had content that they wanted to be highlighted in a distinctive way, I created a Featured Card and tied it to the brand identity with the cutout shape in the image masking. I also included the glass effect on top to allude to the brand’s science background and ensure the text was accessible. For the Stacked Card, I introduced a unique hover effect pattern: depending on where the card was in a given grid, it would determine the card’s hover color. Lastly, for the Horizontal Card, I wanted to create something that had equal emphasis on the image and content and that could also stand alone well, even without an image.

While these cards include what most cards usually do, the approach I took and the visual language used was unique to the client. Instead of working on these too quickly, I ventured down a different path that took a little more thought, which led me to a result that felt in tune with the client’s needs. It also pushed me outside of what I knew to be the standard, straightforward approach.

Initial Thought
“Fast is better. Clients and project teams want me to be fast, so it’s okay if I cut down on exploration.”

In most projects, speed is indeed rewarded. It keeps the project within its budget constraints, the project managers are happy, and ultimately, the clients are happy, too. However, what it can end up doing instead is generating errors in the process and hindering design exploration.

Reframed Thought

In this scenario, you can reframe this like so:

“I like to work fast because I want the team to be successful. In addition, I want to make sure I have not only produced high-quality work but also explored whether this is the best and most creative solution for the project.”

With this new outlook, you are still looking out for what clients and project teams want (successful outcomes), but you have also enriched the experience by fully executing your design expertise rather than just churning out work.

One recommendation here is to always ensure you are communicating with your project team about the budget and timelines. Keeping yourself aware of these key goals will allow you to pace when to push for more exploration and when to dial it in.

Real-Life Example

I experienced this on a project of mine when a client’s piece of feedback seemed clear-cut, but as we entered a third round of design surrounding it, it revealed that it was much more complicated.

The client, Cleveland Public Library, had approved a set of wireframes for their homepage that illustrated a very content-heavy hero, but when it came to the design phase, they were delighted by a simpler, more bold design for a block that I created in my preliminary design explorations. At first, I thought it was obvious: let’s just give them a dialed-in, simple hero design and be done with it. I knew the hours were precious on this project, and I wanted to save time for later on as we got into the finer design details of the pages. However, this was an error on my part.

After taking a step back and removing speed as a key factor during this phase of the project, I found the solution they actually needed: a content-heavy hero showcasing the breadth of their offerings, melded with the boldness of the more pared-down design. And guess what? This variant was approved instantly!

Now that I have shown you two examples of how to unlearn previous experiences, I hope you can see the value of reframing those moments in order to tap into a more uninhibited and unexplored creative path. Of course, you should expect that it will take several implementations to start feeling the shift towards inherent thinking — even I need to remind myself to pause and reframe, like in the last example. Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say!

Try This

I challenge you to identify a few moments on a recent project where you could have paused, reflected, and used more creativity. What would you have done differently?

Approach 2: Tap Into Your Background With Connection Paths

I know I just talked about unlearning some of our previous experiences to unlock creativity, but what about the ones we may want to tap into to push us even further? Every designer has an array of passions, memories, and experiences that have culminated into what makes us who we are today. We often have a work self — professional and poised, and a personal self — exploding with hobbies. How can we take those unique facets of our personalities and apply them to our projects?

Creating connections with projects and clients on a deeper level is a major way to make use of our personal experiences and knowledge. It can help to add inspiration where you otherwise may not have found that same spark on a project or subject matter.

Let me walk you through what I like to call the Three Connection Paths. I’ll also show you how you can pull from these and apply them to your projects.

Direct Path

This connection path is one in which you have overlapping interests with the client or subject matter.

An example of this is a client from the video game industry, and you play their video games. Seems like an obvious connection! You can bring in your knowledge and love for the game industry and their work. You could propose easter eggs and tie-ins to their games on their website. It’s a match made in heaven.

Cross Path

This connection path is one in which you cross at a singular point with the client or subject matter.

An example of this is a client, which is a major restaurant chain, and you used to work in the food industry. With your background, you understand what it is like to work at a restaurant, so you might suggest what CTA’s or fun graphics would be important for a staff-centric site.

Network Path

This connection path is one in which you are tethered to the client or subject matter through who you know.

An example of this is a client in the engineering field, and one of your family members is an engineer. You can then ask your family members for insights or what would be a good user experience for them on a redesigned website.

Sometimes, you won’t be so lucky as to align with a client in one of the Three Connection Paths, but you can still find ways to add a layered experience through other means, such as your skillset and research. In the last example, say you know nothing about engineering nor have a connection to someone who does, but you are an excellent copy editor outside of work. You can propose tweaking the verbiage on their hero section to emphasize their goals all the more. This shows care and thoughtfulness, giving the client an experience they are sure to appreciate.

Real-Life Example

A real-life example in which I implemented a Direct Connection Path on a project was for Comics Kingdom’s website redesign. When I was younger, I wanted to be a manga creator, so this client being an intermediary between comic readers and creators resonated with me. Not only that, but I still practice illustration, so I knew I had to bring this skill set to the table, even though it was not part of the original scope of work.

I allowed myself to lean into that spark I felt. I hand-sketched a few illustrations in Procreate for their website that felt personal and tied to the joy that comics evoke. Beyond that, I found a way to incorporate my knowledge of manga into a background pattern that pulled inspiration from nawa-ami (a traditional cross-hatching style to denote deep thought) and mixed it with the motif of fingerprints — the idea of identity and the artist’s own mark on their work.

Due to my deep passion, I was able to cultivate an excellent collaborative relationship with the client, which led to a very successful launch and being invited to speak on their podcast. This experience solidified my belief that through tapping into Connection Paths, you can forge not only amazing projects but also partnerships.

Try This

Look at what projects you currently have and see which of the Three Connection Paths you could use to build that bond with the client or the subject matter. If you don’t see one of the Three Connection Paths aligning, then what skills or research could you bring to the table instead?

Approach 3: Take Up Your Own Space

The last — and arguably most important — approach to leveling up your projects is taking up your own space. I’m not referring to physical space like strong-arming those around you. What I’m referring to is the space in which designers take to be vocal about their design decisions.

A lot of designers find this practice uncomfortable. Whether it stems from having not been given that space to practice as a beginner designer, higher ranking designers not leaving the room for those less vocal, or even you yourself feeling like someone else might be better suited to talk to a particular point.

Don’t Retreat

Similarly, some designers find themselves retreating when receiving feedback. Instead of standing behind the reasoning of their designs or asking follow-up questions, it seems easier to simply go along with the requested change in order to make the client or team member providing the feedback happy. Even if you disagree with the request, does it feel like you need to execute it just because the client — or someone you feel outranks you — told you to?

You Are The Expert

There is another option, one in which you can mark yourself as the design expert you are and get comfortable in the discomfort.

Saying you don’t agree and explaining why helps solidify you as a strong decision-maker and confident designer. Tying it back to why you made the decision in the first place is key.

Illuminating your opinions and reasoning in conversations is what will get those around you to trust in your decisions. Hiding them away or conceding to client whims isn’t going to show those around you that you have the knowledge to make the proper recommendations for a project.

The Middle Ground

Now, I’m not saying that you will need to always disagree with the provided feedback to show that you have a backbone. Far from it. I think there is a time and place for when you need to lean into your expertise, and a time and place for when you need to find a middle ground and/or collaborate. Collaborating with coworkers and clients lets them peek into the “why” behind the design decisions being made.

Example

A great example of this is a client questioning you on a particular font size, saying it feels too large and out of place.

You have two options:

You could say that you will make it smaller.
Or you could dig deeper.

If you have been paying attention thus far, you’d know that option 2. is the route I would suggest. So, instead of just changing the font size, you should ask for specifics. For example, is the type hierarchy feeling off — the relationship of that heading to the body font it is paired with? You can ask if the size feels large in other instances since perhaps this is your H2 font, so it would need to be changed across the board. Calling attention to why you chose this size using data-informed UX design, accessibility, brand, or storytelling reasons all amplify your decision-making skills before the client, so including that information here helps.

If, after the discussion, the client still wants to go with changing the font size, at least you have given your reasoning and shown that you didn’t thoughtlessly make a decision — you made the design choice after taking into consideration multiple factors and putting in a lot of thought. Over time, this will build trust in you as the design expert on projects.

Real-Life Example

An example in which I showcased taking up my own space was from a recent project I worked on for Hilton Stories in their collaboration with Wicked. After conceptualizing a grand takeover experience complete with a storytelling undertone, one of the clients wanted to remove the page-loading animation with the idea of having more branded elements elsewhere.

While most of my team was ready to execute this, I read between the lines and realized that we could solve the issue by including clear verbiage of the collaboration on the loading animation as well as adding logos and a video spot to the interior pages. By sticking up for a key piece of my designs, I was able to show that I was aligned with not only my design decisions but the major goals of the project. This solution made the clients happy and allowed for a successful launch with the loading animation that the Fueled + 10up team and I worked so hard on.

Try This

The next time you receive feedback, pause for a moment. Take in carefully what is being said and ask questions before responding. Analyze if it makes sense to go against the design decisions you made. If it doesn’t, tell the client why. Have that open dialogue and see where you land. This will be uncomfortable at first, but over time, it will get easier.

Remember, you made your decisions for a reason. Now is the time to back up your design work and ultimately back up yourself and your decisions. So, take up your own space unapologetically.

Conclusion

Now that you have learned all about the three approaches, there is nothing stopping you from trialing these on your next project. From unlearning previous experiences through Reframing to tapping into your background with Connection Paths, you can lay the groundwork for how your past can be used to shape your future interactions. When taking up your own space, start small as you begin to advocate for your designs, and always try to connect to the “whys” so you instill trust in your clients and members of your design team.

As Robin Williams so eloquently delivered in the Dead Poets Society, “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” In this case, you don’t need to apply it so widely as the entire world, maybe just to your workplace for now.