How to Be a Better Designer

April 16, 2021 - Reading time: 12 minutes

Mindful tips for a creative job journey

So, what makes a great designer? Everyone says you need to be a magical unicorn who can code, design, manage projects, and probably make coffee while doing handstands. But hey, this isn't about that perfect designer checklist.

Instead, I'm sharing the good stuff I've picked up along my path to becoming a designer. These aren't your typical "10 steps to success" tips—just real insights from someone who's been there.

Think of these as friendly nudges rather than strict rules. They're the kind of things I wish someone had told me when I was starting, minus the intimidating perfectionism.

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Tip 1 — Work a lot

Work a lot, do design consistently.

Fall in love with the process, not just the end goal.

Learning design is a journey—it's those late-night tweaks, those 'aha!' moments when you finally nail that tricky layout, and even those times when you're stuck figuring out the perfect color palette. These aren't just steps to get through—they're the good stuff.

So, instead of always chasing that perfect result, find joy in the small wins along the way. Each pixel you push, every prototype you test, is part of becoming the designer you want to be.

Tip 2 — Take a break

learn to take a break.

Take a breather when your mind gets noisy. 💭

Sometimes, the best designs come when you step away from the screen. Stuck on a problem? Instead of force-feeding your creativity, try hitting pause. Go for a walk, make some coffee, or close your eyes for five minutes.

Fun fact: Meditation isn't just for zen masters—it's a secret weapon for clearing creative blocks. Even a quick mindfulness break can reset your design brain and spark fresh ideas.

Tip 3—Master your tool

focus on one thing

Any tool. Just focus on one at a time and achieve results with it.

Pick a tool and dive deep - any tool will do. Master one thing at a time, and watch the magic happen. Whether it's Figma or even Excel, getting really good at one tool opens up wild possibilities.

The cool part? Once you've mastered one tool, picking up the next one becomes way easier. Your brain starts to recognize patterns, shortcuts, and workflows. Eventually, you realize that learning itself is like a user interface - one that you're getting better at navigating every day.

Tip 4 — Steal like an artist

Steal like an artist

Hey, let's be real - coming up with totally original ideas when you're starting is tough.

Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, find designs you love and use them as your starting point. It's not about copying—it's about learning through inspiration and making something your own along the way.

Think of it like remixing a song: you start with something great and add your twist. Each iteration teaches you something new, and before you know it, you're creating your unique UI designs.

Tip 5 — Learn to listen

The secret superpower of great designers? Being an amazing listener.

When you really listen to what others say, you're not just being nice—you're building trust and collecting golden insights. Every conversation with teammates or clients is a chance to see your design through fresh eyes.

Think of it as user research in disguise: the more you listen, the more bulletproof your designs become. Plus, people love working with designers who make them feel heard.

Tip 6 — Articulate your design

Articulate your design

Master the art of showing your work - it's just as important as creating it. Learn to tell the story behind your UI decisions, because great design paired with clear communication is unbeatable.

When feedback time comes, check your ego at the door. Think of critiques as golden tickets to make your work even better, not personal attacks. The best designers know that feedback is fuel for growth.

Tip 7 — Learn to lose

Learn to lose

Sometimes, your design won't work, and it's okay.

Instead of beating yourself up over a design that didn't work out, treat it like a plot twist in your design story. Every 'failed' design is actually a goldmine of lessons for your next big win.

Remember: even those designers you look up to have folders full of designs that never made it. It's not about avoiding mistakes - it's about bouncing back stronger each time.

Tip 8 — Optimize your process

Optimize your process

Work smarter, not harder - there's no design trophy for doing everything from scratch.

Take advantage of proven design patterns, templates, and ready-made assets. Think of them as your design shortcuts - they're not cheating. They're your secret weapons for moving fast and staying efficient.

Pro tip: Build your toolkit of go-to resources. Save those components, collect those elements, and watch your workflow transform from sprint to an easy ride.

Tip 9 — Use a ready-made UI kit

Frames X Premium UI Kit

Why use a UI kit?

Think of a UI kit as your secret superpower. Instead of rebuilding the same buttons, cards, and forms for the hundredth time, you can use predesigned components and learn design by using them. A UI kit saves a lot of effort that younger designers should probably avoid for the sake of the craft.

What usually takes weeks of pixel-pushing can be done in hours with a proffesional UI Kit. With a UI Kit, you're not just saving time - you're freeing up your creative energy for the fun stuff, like solving unique design challenges and crafting amazing user experiences.

That's it. Thank you for the read. Before you go, here are some more helpful design resources: