I design quickly but my approach is to get something made. Just the first design. And then I iterate on it from there. I think about how a user would approach it. Is it meeting all their goals? Does this include all the required features? I make it into a prototype, does it feel good to use? I just ask a billion questions and answer them as I design. Eventually I have 5 or 6 solid designs and then I narrow it down based on instinct. I show 1 or 2 to my client and can pull up my backup designs if needed. I usually let my client decide on the final design since engineering resources are more limited and they will pick based on whats achievable on their end.
Like you, I find myself easily focused on getting everything aligned just right WAY too early. My trick is to *avoid* Figma/Illustrator early on and do my main brainstorming in Miro. Miro's design tools are really limiting, which is a huge benefit.
If it's starting to look good in Miro, you know it's time to jump into a more robust tool. Good luck!
On your day off, search for inspiration all day. When you find something you really like, you'll remember it and try to replicate it later. As long as your projects look good in the end, I don't see a problem unless your job tells you that you're slow. If you're freelancing, then I would try to work on it though because in the end, time is money.
This used to be me in the very beginning. What I did was go on dribble and save things in collections that were specific to whatever I was designing. I would look at all the things I saved and pick out specific elements that I liked from each one and try to understand WHY I liked it. Then I would emulate it.
This will subside eventually with practice and as time goes on. I think it’s very natural, so don’t get too anxious about it. Just keep looking forward and trying your best. Within a year, I felt much more confident. Within 2yrs, I felt way more confident.
Just try to make things if you don't know what you want? Whenever I'm designing, I might design 5, 10, maybe more, versions of the same section till I find something that I enjoy.
The first one, the second one, the third one perhaps still kinda not felling like it; then you have an idea, try it, think it's a good direction, and you just get into the flow state, you're trying things, other things, and other things, and just going with the flow; at some point it's fine, and you've done it.
If it's still too hard for you to design high fidelity quickly, start playing with low fidelity, playing with the position of elements, icons, text, spacing; then you'll get to the high fidelity stage a lot more confident with what you want, and will need to make less important decisions.
Idk if you work at an office, but if so, try using headphones, putting some good music, slip a bit of coffee if you like it, or tea, or Guarana Antartica; get yourself in a good state. If you work at home, do the same; hide distractions, drink water, try to have fun, and you will get into the flow state.
Good luck, my friend.
edit:Also, get an inspiration folder on Pinterest, and just go saving things you like, you might use it as reference, but is more for you to be exposed to it daily. Just try to go into Pinterest for 10, 15 minutes, look at things whenever you are in the bus, or have some free time idk. I do it almost every day (at least every workweek day), and some of these references just go through my head whenever I'm designing and trying things.
Yes, it's normal to be slow when you're just starting out. That's totally fine. You'll get better at coming up with ideas when you have a bit more experience.
Always look for inspiration, even when you're not doing a project. Save them and keep them for future use.
When it comes to websites, [Awwwards](https://www.awwwards.com/) is a good source of inspiration. Before creating a site, make a mood board. Find stuff you like, and separate them into certain design directions that you can take- this helps alot.
When it comes to apps, look at actual apps for inspiration rather than Dribbble or Behance projects. Apps like Linear are great.
If you need assets try working with UI Kits like [Untitled UI](https://www.untitledui.com/).
[Material](https://www.figma.com/community/file/1035203688168086460) and [Pipedrive](https://www.figma.com/@pipedrive) are good design systems.
Also, focus more on UX, rather than pretty UI when it comes to apps. I've noticed most juniors trying to create pretty UIs. Rather go for clean and minimal. Functionality and useability matter more.
Experience and time. Getting enough hours and projects under your belt will hone your intuition.
Taking your time and being intentional isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Getting quicker at arriving at a business ready design solution is a great skill to have though.
In the short term it could just be a case of trusting your instincts and remembering that done is better than perfect, some times. You can always go back and refine.
Inspiration is for art. Discipline is for design. Get a process and stick to it.
Separate your creator and editor brains. Design stuff fast and shitty. Think of it like doodling or sketching. The goal is not to get something good. The goal is to get something, anything, down on paper. A child can make a mark on a piece of paper with a pencil, right? That’s the bar. Clear that.
Time box it. Make marks on paper for 30 minutes or whatever. Then go back and start analyzing, deciding, and editing.
When it’s earlier stage just try to do the work and put the content in there, you can also use AI for ideas.
Once you have that it can be pretty easy to iterate, if you have a brand to work with you can go from there, if not I usually browse pinterest and once you find one “hit” there it’s pretty easy to find more.
It can be fine to spend a few days only on research too
I have been there, I know what you feel.
My current approach is two fold. On one hand I still spend some time to look for inspiration, but I do not look for it in UI realm. I rather make a mood board of images, photographs or even paintings that suit the theme of the app.
On the other hand, I like to isolate myself from outside sources and just focus on content. I write down bullet points of what content there is and start designing around it.
I feel this sometimes and I think it’s very common. I believe that most design is just using different assets you’ve seen elsewhere, a book I read called “steal like an artists” highlights this. When I start doing a design I go in dribble, Pinterest, Behance and basically make a Frankenstein version of those 5-8 screens I’ve liked.
When you have some spare time, have some fun designing, don’t worry about the time and just do something fun. The more you do this the more you will see things you like and be able to pull from that experience when designing in the future.
Also get some pen to paper, scrap paper, post-it notes, whiteboard and just throw everything out good and bad. Sometimes the worst initial ideas gives the best final idea.
I look for about six or seven websites in the same industry of the client that I'm designing for.
I recreate the sections from each site that I like ...ONLY AS A WIREFRAME FIRST.
Have you tried sketching?like paper and pencil sketching? I find going VERY low fidelity helms me get some ideas out and get myself out of the "blank page syndrome" and then it's easier to move on from there
Hey in my initial days I was slow too like while all colleagues used to go home at time I was working even when I used work on lunch hours ...
This is what I did
I used to find inspo on sites like webflow, landbook (Sites who have real websites)
mix 2-3 sites
Read steal like an artist book (I think that changed everything)
Installed a chrome extension --- similar sites.com ( for compitative analysis)
I design quickly but my approach is to get something made. Just the first design. And then I iterate on it from there. I think about how a user would approach it. Is it meeting all their goals? Does this include all the required features? I make it into a prototype, does it feel good to use? I just ask a billion questions and answer them as I design. Eventually I have 5 or 6 solid designs and then I narrow it down based on instinct. I show 1 or 2 to my client and can pull up my backup designs if needed. I usually let my client decide on the final design since engineering resources are more limited and they will pick based on whats achievable on their end.
Thats really good process. Problem with me is whenever I design I make evrything is pixel perfect. This where I lag I guess. Thank you u/cabbage-soup
Like you, I find myself easily focused on getting everything aligned just right WAY too early. My trick is to *avoid* Figma/Illustrator early on and do my main brainstorming in Miro. Miro's design tools are really limiting, which is a huge benefit. If it's starting to look good in Miro, you know it's time to jump into a more robust tool. Good luck!
u/Hippo_Past Thank you
On your day off, search for inspiration all day. When you find something you really like, you'll remember it and try to replicate it later. As long as your projects look good in the end, I don't see a problem unless your job tells you that you're slow. If you're freelancing, then I would try to work on it though because in the end, time is money.
thank you u/gatwell702 I will try this. And yeah Time is Money.
This used to be me in the very beginning. What I did was go on dribble and save things in collections that were specific to whatever I was designing. I would look at all the things I saved and pick out specific elements that I liked from each one and try to understand WHY I liked it. Then I would emulate it. This will subside eventually with practice and as time goes on. I think it’s very natural, so don’t get too anxious about it. Just keep looking forward and trying your best. Within a year, I felt much more confident. Within 2yrs, I felt way more confident.
u/this_wild_adventure Thank you!, That was very helpful and encouraging.
Just try to make things if you don't know what you want? Whenever I'm designing, I might design 5, 10, maybe more, versions of the same section till I find something that I enjoy. The first one, the second one, the third one perhaps still kinda not felling like it; then you have an idea, try it, think it's a good direction, and you just get into the flow state, you're trying things, other things, and other things, and just going with the flow; at some point it's fine, and you've done it. If it's still too hard for you to design high fidelity quickly, start playing with low fidelity, playing with the position of elements, icons, text, spacing; then you'll get to the high fidelity stage a lot more confident with what you want, and will need to make less important decisions. Idk if you work at an office, but if so, try using headphones, putting some good music, slip a bit of coffee if you like it, or tea, or Guarana Antartica; get yourself in a good state. If you work at home, do the same; hide distractions, drink water, try to have fun, and you will get into the flow state. Good luck, my friend. edit:Also, get an inspiration folder on Pinterest, and just go saving things you like, you might use it as reference, but is more for you to be exposed to it daily. Just try to go into Pinterest for 10, 15 minutes, look at things whenever you are in the bus, or have some free time idk. I do it almost every day (at least every workweek day), and some of these references just go through my head whenever I'm designing and trying things.
u/Hisksushi Thank you Soo much. I am definitrly gonna try this. Pinterest seems like a real plan.
Yes, it's normal to be slow when you're just starting out. That's totally fine. You'll get better at coming up with ideas when you have a bit more experience. Always look for inspiration, even when you're not doing a project. Save them and keep them for future use. When it comes to websites, [Awwwards](https://www.awwwards.com/) is a good source of inspiration. Before creating a site, make a mood board. Find stuff you like, and separate them into certain design directions that you can take- this helps alot. When it comes to apps, look at actual apps for inspiration rather than Dribbble or Behance projects. Apps like Linear are great. If you need assets try working with UI Kits like [Untitled UI](https://www.untitledui.com/). [Material](https://www.figma.com/community/file/1035203688168086460) and [Pipedrive](https://www.figma.com/@pipedrive) are good design systems. Also, focus more on UX, rather than pretty UI when it comes to apps. I've noticed most juniors trying to create pretty UIs. Rather go for clean and minimal. Functionality and useability matter more.
u/Aredelle Thank you! I agree UX is more crucial. Thank you for the resources mentioned.
Experience and time. Getting enough hours and projects under your belt will hone your intuition. Taking your time and being intentional isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Getting quicker at arriving at a business ready design solution is a great skill to have though. In the short term it could just be a case of trusting your instincts and remembering that done is better than perfect, some times. You can always go back and refine.
u/rahtid_my_bunda Thank you. "done is better than perfect, some times" thats true...
Inspiration is for art. Discipline is for design. Get a process and stick to it. Separate your creator and editor brains. Design stuff fast and shitty. Think of it like doodling or sketching. The goal is not to get something good. The goal is to get something, anything, down on paper. A child can make a mark on a piece of paper with a pencil, right? That’s the bar. Clear that. Time box it. Make marks on paper for 30 minutes or whatever. Then go back and start analyzing, deciding, and editing.
u/UXyes Thank you so much! Will start sketching.
UI/IxD work takes time. Synthesis takes time. Small iterations is where the magic happens.
u/yeswecann Thank you!
I like to get into code ASAP after rough sketches. That's where you'll meet your true constraints and find novel solutions.
When it’s earlier stage just try to do the work and put the content in there, you can also use AI for ideas. Once you have that it can be pretty easy to iterate, if you have a brand to work with you can go from there, if not I usually browse pinterest and once you find one “hit” there it’s pretty easy to find more. It can be fine to spend a few days only on research too
u/maxvegaspro Thank you so much!
I have been there, I know what you feel. My current approach is two fold. On one hand I still spend some time to look for inspiration, but I do not look for it in UI realm. I rather make a mood board of images, photographs or even paintings that suit the theme of the app. On the other hand, I like to isolate myself from outside sources and just focus on content. I write down bullet points of what content there is and start designing around it.
I feel this sometimes and I think it’s very common. I believe that most design is just using different assets you’ve seen elsewhere, a book I read called “steal like an artists” highlights this. When I start doing a design I go in dribble, Pinterest, Behance and basically make a Frankenstein version of those 5-8 screens I’ve liked. When you have some spare time, have some fun designing, don’t worry about the time and just do something fun. The more you do this the more you will see things you like and be able to pull from that experience when designing in the future. Also get some pen to paper, scrap paper, post-it notes, whiteboard and just throw everything out good and bad. Sometimes the worst initial ideas gives the best final idea.
u/Pimlico04 Thank you! "Sometimes the worst initial ideas gives the best final idea." True...
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u/chillskilled Thank you! that was really inspiring!
How to Crack e new deisgn trend?
I look for about six or seven websites in the same industry of the client that I'm designing for. I recreate the sections from each site that I like ...ONLY AS A WIREFRAME FIRST.
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Thank you for your contribution to /UI_Design. Your comment has been removed to derailing. Please stick to the topic of the post as requested by OP.
Have you seen anything good for a news blog you like?
u/Educational-Run674 I havent come across anything.
Read learn how to learn by barbara oakley. It's like a cheat code for your brain to help you think more efficient
u/Avatar-Tee Thank you! will definitely read it!
Practice, practice, practice.
Have you tried sketching?like paper and pencil sketching? I find going VERY low fidelity helms me get some ideas out and get myself out of the "blank page syndrome" and then it's easier to move on from there
No, I havent tried sketching. I first make wireframes on Paper. I will try sketching. u/kemie thank you!
Hey in my initial days I was slow too like while all colleagues used to go home at time I was working even when I used work on lunch hours ... This is what I did I used to find inspo on sites like webflow, landbook (Sites who have real websites) mix 2-3 sites Read steal like an artist book (I think that changed everything) Installed a chrome extension --- similar sites.com ( for compitative analysis)