Bite-sized bits of productivity for the burnt-out designer
Searching for a job is hard. Searching for a job in a new field is very hard. Searching for a job in a new field during a pandemic and economic recession is playing the job hunt game on Expert mode. And based on the hundreds of other blog posts and articles I’ve seen out there, it’s quite clear that those in a similar position are struggling with their mental health in a serious way.
Just a few weeks ago, I wrote about 10 UX/Product Design challenges that we designers can work on to keep busy and keep advancing our skills while looking for a job. I look back at the girl who wrote that article and think, “oh, you sweet summer child”. Because truthfully, this job hunt is unlike any I’ve ever experienced. And holding myself to the same expectations for productivity as usual is feel unkind and unrealistic.
I have always placed an immense amount of value on my output and capabilities. I have always loved being able to cram in as much activity into one day as humanly possible. But this quarantine and pandemic have taken that quality of mine and shrunk it. I don’t want to totally discredit myself — since graduating my design program a few months ago, I have managed to complete multiple design challenges, design a new application, and work a ton on my visual design skills — but the decrease in energy and capacity are very, very real and it does no good to deny that or ignore reality.
I am positive I am not alone in this feeling. And quite frankly, if I read one more design challenge telling me to build out an entire user flow or full set wireframes or do mock user interviews, I will either a) see my self-worth sink to previously unimaginable levels or b) scream.
I’m being dramatic but honest. Things are hard right now. And if you are having trouble getting yourself to build out a new app or redesign an existing company’s brand and logo, try not to beat yourself up about it.
Instead, I’ve been taking a new approach that has been suggested to me for years but has never been implemented. I am breaking these challenges and the process of learning and designing into bite-sized, manageable goals. And no, cranking out a full draft of hi-fidelity wires is not a manageable goal right now (at least not for me).
Kindness is the key here. Allowing yourself to do less than usual is okay. Not pushing yourself to exhaustion is okay. Doing whatever you’re capable of in a given day is okay.
With that said, here are some of the bite-sized things I’ve been doing to grow and learn as a designer, during a job hunt, during a pandemic, during a recession.
- Watch a YouTube video of a design subject you want to learn more about. For me, that has been discovering good videos for branding, using Adobe XD, and how to get better at sketching. There are also tons around design thinking, layout design, and so so so much more.
- Check out ux.stackexchange.com and answer some design questions. This gets my brain stimulated and thinking about design problems without actually creating the solutions. There are tons of great questions out there, like questioning the utility of light vs dark mode, or how to design delete buttons in the clearest way to the user. I love doing this because it is a great way to engage with other designers and see all the differences in solutions and opinions.
- Build out just one screen. Seriously, just one. I find it helpful to first iron out a user journey and then choose a screen within that journey to create, just so I have some context around what I’m designing for. I agree with the idea that it is more effective and shows more skill to design the whole flow, but that is not what this post is for. Sometimes all you’ve got in you is one screen, and one screen is better than none.
- Make some mood boards or style tiles. Literally, this is just exploring Pinterest in a more productive way. Gather ideas around a general theme or color palette, and just collect imagery that fleshes that out more. As you go, you can find some screens or prototypes that fit the vibe you’re going for or paragraphs of type that add to the inspiration. I really love doing this as an exercise in divergent, creative thinking.
- Do some hand sketching. Figure out what you can do to make your sketches clearer, more informative, more visually appealing, etc. I get so jealous of designers who look like actual artists when they sketch, so practicing my low-fidelity wires and sketches can be fun and challenging.
- Meditate and don’t judge yourself so much for what you are able to get done. The job hunt feels more like a marathon than a sprint since there is little control around when it ends. It is so easy to beat yourself up about your burnout and criticize your “lack of motivation”. Take a breather, give yourself time to relax, and find some degree of peace. You’ll need the energy for your next interview!
Again, job searching is exhausting under normal circumstances, and we most certainly not living in normal circumstances right now. Be gentle and kind with yourself and do what you can within reason. Allow yourself to accomplish these small goals and eventually, they’ll add up to something big.
