What are your tips for junior designers?
Martin Maričák
5 replies
Here are my three tips:
1. Progress over complaints
Nobody fixed low design maturity by complaining. Take small steps: Do a little bit of research. Propose a small improvement that goes beyond the brief. Ask “what if” questions.
Show the value of good design.
2. Relationships over being right
I have colleagues, and customers I’ve met 5-10 years ago in different companies. And I could have had more of them if I understood this sooner: Being good to work with beats being right.
Build bridges. Don’t burn them.
3. Judgement over perfect process
When I started as designer, I was looking for the golden process. I thought great designers are taking some steps I don’t, and that’s why their work is so good. I had to learn how taste is growing with experience, and curiosity.
Learn how to make sense of information. And to turn it to UX patterns.
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Rahul Manjhi@rahul_manjhi1
It's all about making those small, consistent improvements.
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Hi Martin! Great insights—thanks for sharing!
With 15+ years in the design industry, I can absolutely relate to your points and wanted to share a few additional thoughts:
1. Progress over complaints is such a solid approach. Small, actionable wins often speak louder than big ambitions. Celebrating those wins with your team can also build morale and create momentum for bigger changes.
2. Relationships over being right is a game-changer. Even when you’re “right,” how you communicate and collaborate matters more. Building bridges creates allies who’ll champion your vision long after the conversation ends.
3. Judgment over perfect process really resonates. While process offers structure, adaptability and curiosity are what drive mastery. Confidence also plays a huge role—trusting your instincts and refining them through experience makes all the difference.
Thanks again for the reminder—these lessons are timeless and invaluable for designers at any stage in their careers!
Spot on! Progress and relationships will always get me further than perfection.
Your points on relationships really resonates with me.
Great advice! One thing I’d add to your ‘Judgement over perfect process’ tip is that sometimes deadlines or external pressures will force me to make quick decisions