How to get ahead of 99% of Product Designers (Starting today)

Summary

This video script offers a six-point checklist for aspiring UX designers to excel in their field, emphasizing the importance of relying on documentation over courses, building visibility among the right audience, prioritizing functionality over aesthetics, consuming high-quality experiences, learning from successful applications, and attracting opportunities through personal branding. It also highlights common mistakes made by beginners, such as failing to define problem statements, lacking inspiration sources, and not fully utilizing Figma's capabilities, providing actionable advice for improving design skills and professional growth.

Takeaways

• 📚 Rely on official documentation rather than courses or videos to stay updated with new features and best practices for tools like Figma.
• 🔍 Build the habit of being visible to the right audience by engaging with their content and sharing your own work on platforms like LinkedIn and Medium.
• 🎨 Prioritize functionality over aesthetics in design, focusing on solving the most critical user problems and establishing efficient systems.
• 🌟 Consume high-quality experiences to understand what makes them stand out and apply those learnings to your own design work.
• 📈 Learn from the successes of other applications and businesses to identify patterns and strategies that can be implemented in your own projects.
• 🧲 Attract better opportunities by optimizing your skills, online presence, and personal charisma rather than actively seeking them out.
• 🗓️ Document your learnings and process using tools like Notion to keep track of your progress and share your expertise with others.
• 🤝 Connect with the right set of people including design managers, CEOs, and recruiters to increase your visibility and opportunities.
• 🛠️ Make use of the latest AI tools and resources to automate tasks and stay ahead in the field of UX design.
• 🚫 Avoid common mistakes such as not defining a clear problem statement, lacking inspiration, and not fully utilizing design tools like Figma.
• 🛑 Strengthen your theoretical knowledge in UX design and stay updated with industry practices to effectively communicate and debate within your team.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The main purpose of the video is to provide a six-point checklist for UX designers to stand out and excel in their field, as well as to share common mistakes made by beginner UX designers.

What is the first point in the six-point checklist mentioned in the video?

The first point is to rely on documentation rather than videos and courses to upskill, as documentation is often the most up-to-date resource for new features in tools like Figma, chat GPT, or Photoshop.

How can UX designers document their learnings effectively?

UX designers can document their learnings effectively by using a tool like Notion, which allows for organization and easy reference of the knowledge gained from official documentation.

What is the importance of being visible to the right set of people in the design community?

Being visible to the right set of people is crucial for networking, gaining recognition, and potentially securing job opportunities. It involves engaging with the community through platforms like Medium and LinkedIn and attending design conferences and events.

Why should a UX designer prioritize functionality over aesthetics when starting out?

Prioritizing functionality ensures that the design is efficient, scalable, and focused on solving the core problems of the user. Aesthetics are important, but they should not overshadow the functionality and usability of the design.

What does the video suggest about consuming good experiences to improve one's design skills?

The video suggests that consuming good experiences, such as visiting well-designed spaces or using well-crafted products, helps designers understand what makes an experience stand out and can inspire their own design work.

How can learning from the successes of other applications benefit a UX designer?

Learning from successful applications helps a UX designer identify patterns and best practices that have worked well for others, allowing them to implement similar strategies in their own designs without reinventing the wheel.

What is the video's advice on seeking opportunities as a UX designer?

The video advises not to actively seek opportunities but to optimize oneself to attract better opportunities. This involves improving skills, building a strong online presence, and developing charisma and persuasive abilities.

What are some common mistakes beginner UX designers make according to the video?

Some common mistakes include an inability to define a clear problem statement, not having enough reference websites for inspiration, and not fully utilizing the capabilities of design tools like Figma.

Why is it important for UX designers to strengthen their understanding of design theory?

Strengthening design theory helps UX designers to have a solid foundation to debate and question problem statements, ensuring they are working on the right problems and not just blindly accepting tasks.

What resources does the video recommend for UX designers to collect inspiration from?

The video recommends using various websites and tools like Mobile, SAS, and Page Flows to collect inspiration and organize it in a way that is useful for reference and learning.