Two Things

I recently completed two years in designing digital interfaces (mostly web). While I’m yet to scratch the surface of digital design, it seems like a good time in retrospective.

Here are a couple of things that I realized in the past two years:

1. Learning to see

I don’t have a formal education in design (I’ve a bachelor’s of engineering), so I had almost zero idea on how design “worked.” During my first job I found it extremely difficult to make design decisions backed by reasons. Rather, they were more opinionated and copied (inspired?). However, with the help from the wonderful folks at Miranj, I gradually started to “see design.”

Whenever I saw an interface I encouraged myself to ruminate on elements and their positioning. Why it is like that, and not like this. Why this button placed here and not there. And the more I obsessed, the better I learned to see. The process is still ongoing and I am no where close to the expert designers who see more, and more precisely.

Moreover, I think this is only the half part of learning. We also need to have the vision of people for whom we are designing. How would they see the product that we’re designing?

You need a design eye to design, and a non-designer eye to feel what you designed (iA.net).

2. Being thoughtful

The second thing that I realized was that being thoughtful is important. Like, really important. It doesn’t matter what tools we use. It doesn’t matter what skills we have. If we are not thoughtful about the things we design and for the people who we are designing for, the end result is going to be of no use. Empathy counts.

If you can’t draw as well as someone, or use the software as well, or if you do not have as much money to buy supplies, or if you do not have access to the tools they have, beat them by being more thoughtful. Thoughtfulness is free and burns on time and empathy (Frank Chimero).