How to deal with the Imposter Syndrome if you’re a Designer
If you haven’t heard about the Imposter Syndrom yet you’ve been missing out. Here is one alternative perspective from a designer’s way of looking at it which doesn’t get as much airplay.
If you haven’t heard about the Imposter Syndrome, you’ve been missing out.
It’s a phenomenon, and apparently, more than 70% of the population has experienced it at least one time in their career. There are heaps of Medium stories, TED talks, and comprehensive analyses covered ad nauseam elsewhere.
Here is one alternative perspective, from a designer’s way of looking at it, which doesn’t get as much airplay.
But like with all other trustworthy articles, let’s begin with a definition:
“The psychological experience of believing that one’s accomplishments came about not through genuine ability, but as a result of having been lucky, having worked harder than others, or having manipulated other people’s impressions, has been labeled the impostor phenomenon. This common pattern was first observed in highly successful female college students and professionals who, despite their accomplishments, were unable to internalize a sense of themselves as competent and talented. Attributing their successes not to their abilities but to external circumstances or to attributes unrelated to actual talent (e.g., personal charm, ability to read and meet other’s expectations), they reported feelings of being an impostor or a fake.”
(Psychotherapy Volume 30, Joe Langford, Pauline Rose Clance, Georgia State University)
Interestingly enough, this condition is quite “popular” in our day and age, and that may just be a ricochet effect of minorities breaking the glass ceiling. Feminism is at the forefront of the movement, but globalisation and technology have also played important roles by enabling individuals from less developed countries to access career opportunities which used to be inconceivable for them, just a few years back. These individuals started attributing their success to anything but their own performance. Their mind never had the chance to catch up with the change for the better, so they started feeling like imposters in their new environments.
I’m happy to see that more and more minorities are jumping over the invisible barriers and progressing in their careers regardless of gender, race or ethnicity, but apparently, it can leave marks. One of them is the Imposter Syndrome.
On the flip-side of the coin, the increased popularity of the imposter phenomenon has led people to mistake other personal insecurities with the Imposter Syndrome. Vivienne Kay is making it very clear in her article, that there’s a difference between feeling insecure and feeling like an imposter. Insecurity may be one of the symptoms, but it does not mean that you have the Imposter Syndrome. I honestly think more articles like this are needed.
And maybe you too have friends who use the Imposter Syndrome Excuse to throw in a humblebrag about their career? Trust me, they have a different kind of problem.
But we’re not here to talk about that. We’re here to look at how the Imposter Syndrome affects designers.
Why would designers need a “special category”?
Because we work in a tangled and undefined industry.
I know that doesn’t make sense right now, but bear with me while I tell you what I mean by “tangled” and “undefined”. And then I’ll let you know why this is the perfect environment for the Imposter Syndrome.
Design is tangled
Design as a discipline is changing and growing in complexity with many sub-disciplines surfacing. Over the past 20 years or so, terms like UX Design, Service Design or Design Thinking took the industry by storm. You can check out one of my previous stories for an intro into the various disciplines if you’re into that.
Hence, nowadays saying that you’re a Designer doesn’t help much. You could be anything from Interior Designer to Industrial Designer, Service Designer or Fashion Designer. All are saying different things about you.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not challenging but only stating the obvious. All these disciplines are very much part of Design, but they make this discipline harder and harder to understand, which takes us to the next point.
Design is undefined
Forget about Design Thinking or Service Design — these are specific terms that you don’t hear on TV every day. Have you ever wondered how non-designers would define design?
I certainly have, but I couldn’t find any research on that, so I’ll just take a guess. I guess most people out there would say that design is “making something pretty”.
And I’d also guess that most people have a hard time telling the difference between design and art.
Even though in theory there‘s a pretty clear distinction between Design and Art, based on my experience out there, people have a general expectation from designers to be part-time artists.
But don’t take my word for it, let’s ask Siri:
Me: Hey Siri, can you give me the definition of Design?
Siri: A plan or drawing produced to show the looks and functions or workings of a building, garment or other objects before it is built or made. Do you want to hear the next one?
Me: Sure…
Siri: An arrangement of lines or shapes created to form a pattern or decoration. Do you want to hear another one?
Me: Aha! So Design actually means “making something pretty”?
Siri: I’m not sure I understand.
It’s okay Siri, I know you’re just reading off the internet. But I’m not sure what’s Apple’s excuse for suggesting the Artist Emoji when I type “Designer”.
So we work in a tangled and undefined industry. And?
Creative industries make it damn hard not to feel like an imposter sometimes. Especially if you’re surrounded by exceptionally creative designers and you’re just starting your career. It takes time to discover your strengths and become confident.
Add the ambiguity of “Art vs. Design” to this mix, and you just got yourself the perfect environment to feel like an imposter.
Meet my imaginary friends:
Stephen is a Service Designer, Donna is a Fashion Designer, and Frida is a User Interface Designer. They all call themselves designers, but as they’re having a theoretical debate about design, they realise that they’re doing very different things at work. It’s not hard to imagine how one of them might feel like an imposter.
But let’s not dwell on my imaginary friends and find out how this Design Disorder manifests on designers.
By the way, if it’s not clear yet, this article is a satire, and the Design Disorders I write about, are not real medical conditions. And I am obviously not a pharmacist. However, just like with real disorders, the Designer’s Imposter Syndrome begins with symptoms, has a source, is transmitted and is treatable.
Symptoms
The funny thing with these symptoms is that some of them are great professional features. And they really help with your career. But the price that you pay may not be worth it. Here are a few:
- You make pixel-perfect designs — from your first sketch to the final prototype, your work is always at its best. Because you dread the thought that someone could even think that you’re not skilled in what you do.
- You’re anxious about design reviews — doesn’t even matter if it’s good or bad, you just don’t enjoy the process of getting feedback. If it’s bad, you have the feeling that they’ve figured you out. If it’s good, you have the impression that they’re lying or they don’t know you’re cheating them.
- You‘re humble when getting compliments — it happens quite often, but you genuinely don’t believe compliments.
- You put in the long hours — even though it’s way past your bedtime, you don’t mind putting in the extra time. As a matter of fact, you will see the extra hours as an opportunity to compensate for your (imaginary) lack of skills.
- You feel uncomfortable when you state your role — it’s probably not visible to others, but you lack the confidence when you say “I’m a designer”. It’s almost like you don’t think they’ll believe you.
- You don’t believe you can lead —this one is actually damaging your career. You feel like you’ve cheated your way up to where you are, but you dread the idea of stepping up. You think that any responsibility higher than what you have already would just expose you for what you really are.
Causes and Transmission
Here are some risk factors. Or call them triggers if you want to.
- You just got a promotion (yay!) — it goes without saying that a promotion will make you feel exposed and vulnerable. You will feel like you need to prove you deserved it. This will trigger the whole imposter cycle. The good news is that this will most likely go away pretty fast since it was caused by a one-time event.
- Your colleagues are much more talented than you are — If you’re working in a company that only recruits the best, there’s a good chance that your colleagues will be exceptional designers. Especially if you’re at the beginning of your career, you might genuinely feel like you’ve tricked your way in there. Trust me, in most cases, you’re there for a good reason.
- All your colleagues praise you — sounds good, but if you’re getting too much praise, you self imposed standards will grow. And when your expectations are too high to reach, it’s much easier to feel like an imposter.
Treatment
The good news is that there are plenty of ways to ameliorate the Imposter Syndrome. Try the following and see if you feel better:
- Note the feeling. You’ve probably heard of Headspace by now. And if you haven’t, you should check it out. Noting is a technique that helps you become aware of your thoughts and feelings. Once you’re able to distinguish this feeling from others, it’s much easier to do something about it.
- Tell others about how you feel and why. It’s liberating. If you’re close enough to your colleagues at work, then talk to them about it. If not, you can always talk to friends. Just don’t keep it to yourself.
- Learn to get feedback (yes, that’s a skill). Feedback is essential, and we need to be collaborative, but be careful, feedback is a double-edged sword. Use the input for what it’s meant, don’t see it as a criticism and don’t act as if your colleagues are taking a pop at you. Nobody is doubting your profession.
- Learn to read your surroundings. If you find yourself in an environment where you stand out (i.e., you’re a minority), then accept the fact that you will feel like an outsider. And don’t mistake that feeling with being an imposter.
- Fake it till you make it. I’m sure you know very well what that means.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re still reading this, I’m guessing that you’re wondering how to get rid of it altogether, not just ameliorate.
I wish I had a solution, but I don’t think there is one that fits everyone. What I am sure of, is that self-awareness is the first and most crucial step. It will take time to train your mind and ignore the pattern of thoughts that make you feel this way, but as long as you know how to distinguish them, you’re halfway there.
And don’t let the ambiguity around Design bother you, but embrace it instead. In my case, as years go by, I’m more and more convinced that Everyone is a designer… (yes it’s a link, and it’s worth reading).
Design Disorders is a collection of short satires, meant to study, explain and hopefully set right widespread design slip-ups.
