From Engineering to Product Design

Being a designer is a journey that starts with the curiosity of making things.

I started with Computer Science exactly four years ago. Being really curious to understand how computer systems works, I joined the course. But being from a not so great college, things didn’t shape up well in the beginning.

I used my free time to learn things on my own. Things like design and coding. Because it made me curious enough to put my energy into it. The best thing about following your passion is that you’re paid to pursue your hobby.

Over these years I worked with some of the best people in the tech space. This post here, is about how you can get started with digital product design.

The most important thing to learn anything, is curiosity. Curiosity is the gap between what you know and what you want to know. It kicks in when you try something new and find it fascinating.

Let’s start with knowing the learnable skills you must acquire to become a designer. These are some things you are expected to be proficient in.

1. Learn to sketch

You don’t have to master it but learning to draw lines and basic shapes enable you to visualize ideas in a way that words cannot.

You will be able to solve complex problems if you can visualize it well enough. And solving problems is the essence of being a designer.

How to: Pick up a pencil or a pen and start doodling. Learn to frame the problems and find all possible solutions to it.

2. Learn the tools of the trade

Product designers have a toolkit.

This toolkit comprises of a variety of software using which you’ll be able to convert your ideas into something more tangible. You’ll be able to share your ideas on the fly if you can learn these.

With the recent rise in the number of tools in the market, this might get a little overwhelming. There are tools for everything now; wireframing, mocking, illustrating, prototyping, 3D design, motion effects. Tens of each.

Don’t let this stop you.

Learn what you want to. Start with what you’re most interested in. Keep making new things. Master it. And start again. Practicing is the key. Do all kinds of projects that interest you. Even if it pays little or nothing at all. If you want to do a certain project, go for it!

In the beginning, you won’t be able to deliver your highest quality work, and that’s okay. Focus on learning. Keep making.

It takes a lot of practice to be the best.

Becoming a Designer

Tools are temporary. They keep evolving over time. Learning the tools is an important skill for being designer but it does not make you a designer. So, what makes you a designer?

1. Learn to observe

We humans, have five senses using which we can receive inputs. Using which we create our references and experiences.

Observing things around you change the way you look at the world. Then you use these learnings to implement in the problems you are trying to solve. You can only create better experiences if you first understand the problems within the current ones.

There are a lot of things that are uncovered when you learn to observe. Type leading and kerning, color palettes of graphics, composition of photos, lights and shadows, video timelines, sculpture architectures, information hierarchy and a lot more!

Next time you are on your way to work. Notice 5 new things, and ask yourself what problems are they solving and could there be a better way? You can do this every day and realize how underutilized our senses are.

2. Learn to communicate

Communication is two-way channel. It’s the process that enables you to translate your thoughts into words and words into thoughts.

Speaking to deliver to message, listening to understand a message.

Communication is the only way you can share your ideas and inputs with others. Participate in debates. Develop empathy for your users and people you work with.

And of course, it’s the only way you can be of value in meetings and discussions.

3. Learn to make

Without your designs being implemented, they’re not of much use.

Making is where everything comes together. This is where you apply everything you have learnt so far.

You’re in unique position here if you’re from an engineering background. You can understand the details of the system and how it works. Use it to your advantage.

Learn by doing. Learn by designing things you already see around you. Copy them. Figure out ways to make them on your own. Design is everywhere you look. You just miss to notice them.

It is always the joy of seeing your users happy which keeps us going. And it feels awesome when you’ve made a piece of that system.

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Practicing with persistence

Learn, unlearn, relearn.?—?Alvin Toffler

If you’re able to acquire these skills, there’s no way you can be out of job. There’s a huge demand of designers all around the world.

Being a designer is a journey that never ends. There are infinite horizons you can touch and go deep into. For every new problem you will come across, you will find a lot of new things to be learnt. Learning to learn is a metaskill you will acquire over the years.

Designers have the power to see differently than the rest of the world. You will be able to understand and influence human behavior, solve their problems. It becomes a way of life.

Here’s the simple deal. More you practice, the better you become.

So, pick up your tools and make something. And keep making.

Reach out to me at twitter.com/gbaheti