☯️ The paradox mindset
#18: An uncomfortable situation that fosters qualities on designers
The paradox mindset refers to the ability to embrace the complexities of seemingly conflicting or contradictory ideas, hold them simultaneously, and see them as an opportunity for learning and growth. It involves being open-minded, flexible, comfortable with ambiguity, and able to approach problems from multiple angles to find creative solutions.
At times in your design process, you may come across contradictions.
Form vs. Function
Power Users vs. Regular Users
Ethics vs. Business
Even though there is no perfect solution and there are always trade-offs, it's essential to consider the interests of both sides. Being pragmatic can sometimes be beneficial in making quick and practical decisions. However, being comfortable with complexities and contradictions might take your solution to places you never imagined.
Having a paradoxical mindset will help you develop certain qualities as a designer, such as:
Open-mindedness and flexibility: By embracing the complexities of contradictory ideas, you learn to approach problems with a more open and flexible mindset, which allows you to explore multiple perspectives and consider unconventional solutions.
Empathy and nuanced thinking: As you hold opposing ideas simultaneously, you seek to understand and respect the differences among stakeholders. This can help you identify and address potential conflicts, leading to more well-rounded and nuanced designs.
Resilience: The quality of being comfortable with complex, ambiguous, and uncertain situations to reach creative solutions.
Have the paradoxes in mind and strive to design a unique solution that balances form and function, find a way to address all user needs elegantly, and build a product that considers ethics while still commercially viable.
The test of first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind simultaneously and still retain the ability to function. One should, for example, be able to see that things are hopeless yet be determined to make them otherwise.
~F. Scott Fitzgerald
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#17 – Playing devil’s advocate