To learn is to design
Make something awful at first, reflect, fix it, make something less awful, and repeat.
“No one can learn how to speak who does not first speak as best he can.”
~ Dale Carnegie
The same goes for design.
To learn is to design.
Start by identifying a problem around you and begin designing. Explore. Be comfortable with bad design by picking lousy color schemes, using too small font sizes, creating flawed user flows, etc.
Once you have made something, take time to observe yourself. Evaluate what you have done.
Dale Carnegie framed three questions to reflect on and improve yourself—I have rephrased them for design:
Do you know what qualities, by common consent, constitute good design?
How can you acquire those qualities?
What bad habits do you have that hinder your acquisition of those qualities?
To learn is to do what you want to do.
Make something awful at first.
Reflect.
Fix it.
Make something less awful.
Repeat.
Here are three ways I can support your growth as a designer:
Check out my Notes on Substack for quick and free tips.
Get my book, "The Practice of Design Practice," to adopt mindsets and practical tips on how designers can engage as lifelong learners.
Get my UI Kit and Design System, Nucleus to level up and accelerate your process. I also share tips, and ideas on Nucleus Substack.
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