“Cut through the building to get around that stuff, find the skyscraper, go up, and look around.”
—Joel, The Last of Us
Coming into a new situation could be a new project, initiative, or company; It can be daunting. Maybe you're used to doing what you used to, but sometimes the beginning can make us nervous.
Feeling anxious is normal when you are in unfamiliar circumstances. Your view is limited. You don't know much about the situation. Your past experience also can't be one size fits all.
Start with a map to learn more about a particular type of information on a specific situation.
When you start a design system: You start with collecting all the existing UI and mapping out the existing components and patterns to help you conclude the current systems.
When you are on a new project in a new company: You start with understanding and mapping all the project stakeholders that can influence your project and how they are connected.
When you are in a discovery phase: You start with understanding who your users are and mapping based on what they say, think, do, and feel.
Always remember to start with a map to help you look around, understand the situation, and be more tactical.
“I wisely started with a map.”
— J. R. R. Tolkien
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