UX designers are always looking for ways to optimize their design process and boost productivity in the long run. Keeping up with the constantly evolving world of design can be overwhelming at times for both rookie designers and seasoned professionals. To help with this, we have compiled a list of some of the most innovative design hacks to help designers streamline their work and boost productivity, so they can deliver outstanding results every time.
Whether you’re a new UX designer or a seasoned professional looking to keep your design skills sharp, this blog has got you covered. So, buckle up and read on!
DESIGN FOR HUMANS
Before we begin, we want to remind UX designers first of how important it is to be “designing for humans”. We’ll wager a guess and say that you’ve stumbled upon this crucial bit in your own foray into UX Design. Lead UX and Product Designer Miklos Philips puts it best when he said this:
“Involve your customers and collaborate with them from the start. Otherwise, you are working without understanding the whole picture.”
This type of “participatory design” process puts humans or end users at the center of the digital design process. It’s a “customer first” approach that entails taking the time to understand people’s needs, concerns, desires, and goals. This is especially crucial in a time of heightened personalisation and authenticity, where people demand more from brands and expect them to know their goals inside and out.
DESIGN HACKS
There are many design hacks that can help UX designers streamline their workflow and shorten design time, improve their overall efficiency. Here are some hacks that our creative team has sworn by:
Optimise your workspace
Creatives are often pegged to thrive in a state of “organized mess”. Take a look at your laptop screen and the numerous folders that make sense only to you, and you’d know what we mean! And while this system does work for a lot of people, upping your workspace to accommodate more order into your process can also do a lot to keep you more productive and efficient. Change is sometimes needed and welcome. But fret not—the change doesn’t have to be massive. You can begin by organising your workstation, investing in a good chair, or moving closer to a natural source of light like the window. However, remember that making sure that you have opportunities to move around your space should be your number one priority. Optimising your workspace can also mean investing in software or tools that make designing more comfortable and convenient for you.
Master design tools and shortcuts
Designers old and new can attest to how important mastering design tools and shortcuts can be to their overall process. After all, these tools are your friends and not your foes! However, only once you’ve mastered them can you truly maximise their potential. Start by learning the ins and outs of the top design softwares that you’re using like Adobe, Figma, and Sketch. The good thing about these tools is that you’re always going to find tips and tricks online that help you use them better. Remember, shortcuts are your best friend; the time and energy it saves you is time you can use to improve your designs. Aside from the top software, plugins and extensions are also useful. The trick here is really in investing in your design resources.
Take inspiration everywhere
Design is a tricky thing to navigate. After all, aside from the more technical part, designers are expected to tap into that creative part of their brain as well to come up with their outputs. As we all know, this isn’t as easy as others would think. Creativity can be elusive and sometimes even paralysing. So what do we do when overwhelmed with these design roadblocks? Our top tip? Look outward. One surefire way of overcoming and navigating design roadblocks is by taking inspiration outside of the self. There’s always inspiration to be had outside of yourself, which in turn, elevates your own processes. Design inspiration comes in many shapes and sizes. Here are where some designers take inspiration from when the well of creativity runs dry: walking, people-watching, traveling, chatting with friends and family, and scrolling through websites like Pinterest, Dribbble, and Behance. Not only does this help overcome creative blocks, it also helps inform you about the latest design trends.
Collaborate
Another way to increase designer productivity is collaboration! The good thing about being a designer—or creative in general—is that you’re never short of creative communities you can tap into for collaboration. If you’re up for it, you can even build your own community and begin talking to like-minded people to see what’s trending. The trick here is to keep your eyes peeled for what’s new within your circle and industry, so you’d have more chances of using these inspirations for your own work. One thing we’d like to add to this part is user feedback. Think of user feedback as a way of collaborating with your end users; what they have to say ultimately helps UX designers refine their designs and offer more effective solutions. It’s a way of developing more user centred products that meet the requirements and goals of your users.
Have fun!
Despite the nerve wrecking persistence of looming deadlines, the seemingly never ending revisions, and endless nights of preparing presentation decks, design is and can still be enjoyable! Perhaps you’re here to engage in work that allows you to be more creative, but learned UX designers know that the work is oftentimes mechanical, formulaic, and rigorous. Still, there is joy to be had in being engaged in an industry that lets you create solutions for people.
These are some of the things that designers can use to hack into their workflows and processes to ultimately improve their design skills. By implementing these hacks, you can complete more projects quickly, optimise your deliverables and cater to the needs of your stakeholders more effectively!
Are you struggling to navigate the complex world of design? Let Amber Creative be your guide! Reach out to us with your enquiries and we’ll get back to you promptly.
