How to Break Free from the "Perfection Trap"
Or, how prioritizing progress over perfection can supercharge your design journey
Ever felt trapped in the quest for ”perfect”?
You're not alone.
As designers, we often get caught in this web.
But hey, it's time to flip the script!
Before we dive in, let's set things straight:
Progress means you're growing.
It's about learning, improving, and applying.
Perfection, on the other hand, is a fantasy.
It's an attractive mirage, but it's stress and pressure in disguise.
So, here's the deal:
Progress fuels growth. Perfection just slows it down.
Want to shift from perfection to progress?
Journaling for Growth
Here is how—
Log your designs: Make a habit of noting down your creations each day.
Crafted some wireframes today? Log it. Experimented with interactive user flows? Note it down. Big or small, every design counts.
Capture your learning: Every design you make teaches you something. Don't let those lessons slip away. Maybe you've found a quicker way to test a user interface? Write it. Experimented with a new design tool? Document it.
Record your connections: Remember, no designer is an island. Who are you meeting on your journey? Did you chat with a veteran UX designer at a webinar? Cool! Write about the interaction. Picked their brain for insights? Even better. Note it all down.
Your journal isn't about being “perfect”. It's about capturing your journey, your growth.
In just a few weeks of keeping a design journal, you'll notice a major shift in your confidence as a designer.
You'll have tangible evidence of your growth and evolution, which will give you the courage to tackle bigger and more challenging projects!
And most importantly, you'll realize that every step you take, no matter how small, is a step towards becoming a better designer.
What else?
Embrace a Growth Mindset
Moving beyond journaling, adopt a growth mindset.
It’s all about believing you can improve with effort and time. It encourages us to take on challenges, view mistakes as learning opportunities, and appreciate the journey.
Experiment: Growth comes from trying new things. It’s okay to fail. That app interaction didn't work? But you’ve learned something, right? Next iteration will be better!
Seek feedback: Don't fear critiques. They could be priceless sources of growth. A user struggled with navigation you designed? It’s not a failure, it’s a cue for improvement!
Celebrate wins: Did you nail that user flow on the first go? That's a win. Got a thumbs-up from a client? Another win. Each victory is progress.
After a few weeks of focusing on growth, you'll notice a shift.
You're not just “doing”, you're growing.
You're learning and connecting. That's confidence rooted in reality!
Sometimes, looking at things from a completely different perspective can lead to extraordinary insights.
Play the “Reverse Design” Game
Disassemble your favorite designs: Find a design you admire and “disassemble” it. What would happen if the color scheme was different? Or, the navigation was elsewhere? This reverse-engineering can spark new ideas and deeper understanding.
Create “anti-personas”: We're used to creating user personas, right? Try creating “anti-personas”—those who are never going to use your product. Understanding why they won't, can provide unexpected insights about who will and how to serve them better.
Great ideas can come from the most unexpected places.
So, why not look beyond the design realm?
Embrace the “Tangential Inspiration” Technique
Seek inspiration elsewhere: Love nature? Maybe the colors of a sunset can inspire your next app theme. Adore music? The structure of a song could give you fresh ideas for user flow.
Cross-industry learning: Explore how problems are solved in other industries. For instance, how do chefs organize their kitchens efficiently? Could those principles be applied to arrange your navigation?
Harness the Power of “Daydreaming”
Daydreaming isn't just whimsical thinking.
It can be a productive exercise when harnessed properly.
Constructive daydreaming: Allow yourself to daydream with a focus. Picture the most intuitive app interface or the slickest user journey. What does it look like? This mental playground can yield innovative design ideas.
“Futurecasting”: Let your mind wander to the future. Imagine how UX/Product design might change in 5, 10, or even 20 years. By thinking forward, you might come up with designs that are ahead of their time.
Explore “Analogical Thinking”
Drawing parallels between unrelated fields can lead to interesting insights.
Analogies in nature: Nature is a master designer. How does a bee navigate to its hive? Is there a lesson there for designing user navigation?
Historical analogies: Look into the past. How was information and ideas conveyed before digital interfaces? Ancient maps, mechanical computers, or cave paintings can give you fresh design perspectives.
Leverage “Randomness”
Unstructured exploration can often lead to unexpected discoveries.
Random exploration: Spend a day playing with a design tool you've never used. Or design something just for fun, without a brief or a goal. These random explorations can spark unexpected creativity.
“Serendipitous” learning: Watch a lecture or read a book on a topic completely unrelated to design. You never know when a concept in astrophysics or a philosophical argument might trigger a breakthrough in your design thinking.
Your design journey is a path of growth, not a quest for perfection.
In the grand scheme of things, what truly matters is how much you learn, the skills you acquire, and the value you create.
Happy progressing and growing! 🙌
—Marina
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