What if I told you there was something that could transform your work and workplace? Nope, it’s not a new software, webinar, or widget. It’s a trait – a character trait. The name? Humility. Surprised? Don’t be! This new year has brought a changing shift to designers focusing on building their soft-skills and character qualities to better work with people, as people. To show you how, let’s explore three ways humility can prove to be your secret UX superpower.
Consistency
A major characteristic of successful companies is consistent design. When users navigate web pages, read print materials, and scroll through social media, they should interface with consistent colors, logos, and font. If you insist on using your personal aesthetic, products may seem choppy and confusing. Many designers have admitted to me that they don’t love their company’s design system. However, they agree it is important to use. If your company is undergoing a re-branding, consider that a time to share your thoughts on a new direction. But for now, remember that a uniform user experience is best. Consistency is key!
Collaboration
Designers are in a unique position because of their extensive work with cross-functional teams. The key to this being a smooth process? Flexibility, respect, and an openness to the ideas of others. This will make you a joy to work with and a powerful team-player. It’s important to share your perspectives and build your skillset, but that can be done without pride, control, and stubbornness. You can set an example by setting the tone!
Client-Centered Design
As it’s said, we don’t design for ourselves – we design for our users. Therefore, we must put aside our personal opinions and listen to client feedback. It is from UX research that we know what our users like, dislike, and desire. We must also remember that our users are action-oriented – they want to accomplish something, do something, buy something, etc. When designing, the user flow to accomplish tasks should always be at the forefront of our mind. My daily motto? “How can I design to make our users successful?”
And there you have it – three ways humility can be transformative. As designers, we are always looking for ways to level up our skills, and considering our soft skills will prove to be beneficial for ourselves, our teams, and our workplaces. As the French writer Thomas Merton once said, “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.” Let’s all strive to be real designers.
Image Source: Rawpixel on Unsplash.com.