The pixel pusher, the perfectionist, low business acumen, “the artist who’s not really good at product and business so they only get pulled in when it’s time to make visuals” are common stereotypes designers often face.
The truth is these aren’t wrong 🙊🙈, these stereotypes do exist, but are just a few flavors of designer.
Reality is there are designers who are antithetical to these stereotypes—they’ve moved past solely thinking of design (which all designers should do) and can hold multiple functional viewpoints. These designers are business thinkers, great communicators, can design exceptional experiences (at a great level of quality), walk & talk like PMs, can go deep with engineering, and unlock new realms of product innovation through creative thinking. The truth is the making part is the easiest part of the puzzle and is done with low effort. Let’s call these folks “high-value designers”.
Here are a few principles to contextualize deeply to become a high-value designer, and not fall into the cliché stereotypes:
🟢 1. Good is better than perfect. Strive for progress over perfection by starting with “good enough”, shipping it, and then refining things over time based on feedback and real-world learnings. Spending too much time on niceties too early has diminishing returns & delays true progress. Plus paints you as the perfectionist.
🛠️ 2. Tools are just that—tools. It’s important to remember that operating a tool doesn’t equate to mastering a skill. The real magic is in thinking beyond the tool, in critical and creative problem-solving.
“No matter what tools you use to create, the true instrument is you.” — Rick Rubin.
Note: executing quality design work is a pre-requisite to being a “designer”, so execution within a tool at an exceptional quality is table stakes. Being a great thinker and planner isn’t enough, you should also be a master of the craft.
🌟 3. In business, design’s true value is making strategy and tactics visible and tangible. What does this mean? It means a picture is worth a 1000 words, and a prototype is worth a 1000 meetings. Design is about turning abstract plans into something concrete that people can see, understand, & rally around. Run show & tell’s often. Do a lot more showing than telling.
🎤 4. Master storytelling. Storytelling is crucial for designers. If you can’t make people see & believe in the future you’re designing, it’s as good as non-existent. Paint the picture in a way that turns your ideas into a compelling story people can get behind.
✍️ 5. Document your thinking. Writing is essential for clear thinking, buy-in, articulation, & thought distribution. Escaping the “pixel pusher” stereotype requires stepping out of tools like Figma and delving into articulating broader strategies and tactics before diving into craft. Taking a moment to write before, during, and after you make something provides insight into your logic & positions you as a thinker & planner, not just a designer.
Master these, and watch your “value” & and impact as a designer increase.