Policy of Truth
In an industry that is constantly changing, the role of a designer has shifted considerably.
So, instead of trying to determine what a UX, UX/UI, Web,Website, Experience, Product, or even Graphic Designer is or does. Perhaps it would be more helpful to think of what we, as content creators, can do to facilitate good design more effectively.
Below I have listed some skills we can develop to become better design advocates.
- Stay open minded - It's easy to talk about open mindedness, but it's far more difficult to put it into practice in real life - especially when someone is passionate about their ideas.Collaboration, openness to different ideas, and understanding our mistakes and failures can help us become better design experts.
- Learn something new - Developing a new skill or talent is a great way to improve ourselves, both at work and at home. Learning new things enables us to come up with new ideas and view problems in a different light.
- Learn to focus on people - We should remember that humans are more than consumers and users of products if we want to make a genuine impact on them. Recognizing that people are individuals allows us to be more attentive to their diverse natures and design more human experiences.
- Share the creative process – The creative process should NEVER be a secret The process of documenting and sharing with others should always be documented whenever we start a new design project.
- Be respectful of others' opinions – Earning respect is a two-way street, and it goes both ways. We don't have to agree with everyone's opinions, but we should make sure those with whom we work understand that they are in a safe working environment where they can freely share their ideas and opinions.
It’s an exciting time to be in our role as facilitators, defendants, educators of design. Increasing skills and utilizing expertise can help us improve as designers and those we work with. We need better design and to be better designers because our customers, communities, and society depend on it.
* This newsletter is named after the Depeche Mode song "Policy of Truth" from their 1990 album "Violator" and in honor of the late Andy Fletcher (Fletch) who passed away May 26, 2022 at the age of 60.