What’s your design mindset?
This is an edited transcript of Episode 016 of Design, In Confidence, mindfulness & design podcast with Stefano Bellucci Sessa’s learnings on creative confidence, emotional intelligence, and mental health.
Everyone is a designer. Even without ‘design’ in the job title.
But it’s not what we design that really makes us different or similar.
How we design is what matters most.
Defining my design mindset helped me:
- better compare myself with other designers
- understand what different values I can bring and need from others
- understand what kind of biases I might have during the process
It helps me manage my mental health as a creative, so I want to share my learnings with you.
A few notes, before the design mindsets
As said, it’s not about what we design and it’s not about the why.
The design’s purpose would bring the conversations around ethics, importance and usefulness, which is not my point here.
There is not a good or bad design mindset.
It’s actually the opposite. It’s about how you’re different — not better or worse. You might be “worse” than others only in specific scenarios where that mindset isn’t enough. And you might actually be flexible enough to change your mindset.
Mindsets are not in black&white, but a spectrum.
I’ll share them as opposites, but you might be one of them in different moments, as well as somewhere in the middle.
The types of design mindsets
The problem finder–problem solver spectrum
This shows how they aren’t binary, but a spectrum.
Quite often we need to both understand a problem and solve it, but not everyone is equally good across the spectrum.
In some projects, I was (in different moments) finding problems and creating solutions. On others, I was working with amazing researchers, which made me aware of how ‘limited’ I am in being a full problem-finder.
I learn how to find problems, but I’m aware I’m in the middle of the spectrum: the “opportunity definer”.
This gives me the awareness of some biases, limits, and potential – I “jump to conclusions” earlier than problem-finders. It’s something that I try to control when researching alone, or use to help researchers stuck “admiring the problem”.
The system–detailed spectrum
This often defines what a designer designs.
Some problems need a holistic approach (e.g. a process or the strategy of a bank) others deep dive into specific interactions or components (e.g. how to help a customer asking for help).
We often need both mindsets.
System needs of system thinking. Details need focusing.
For example, using system thinking to understand the circular economy in a neighbourhood, but lacking attention to detail (e.g. packaging used in the local restaurant) might bring problems.
To manage my mental health, I had to make a further distinction in the system-details spectrum: defining and accepting what I can’t control.
Otherwise, I get stressed and overwhelmed trying to impact both systemically and at a detail level.
Think of details while making an impact systemically, or think systemically while making detailed impact.
Or any other compromise in the middle–otherwise you will comprimise your mental health.
It’s ok to not control everything.
It’s ok to “content ourselves” with delegating, influencing and collaborating. Or by letting things go: not everything needs to be in scope.
Since I introduced think and make, let’s look at them.
The thinke–maker spectrum.
Years ago, IDEO introduced Design Thinking making people realise that “designers think”: the making is just a part of the process.
When I made a distinction between creativity, design and innovation, I explained how design decisions help innovate successfully by meeting defined criteria of why, what then, how to change.
There is a design mindset to think what success criteria are; one to make something to meet those criteria.
I also call this the “strategy-delivery spectrum”, making me aware of:
- whether I will impact in the long or short term
- whether I work on something tangible and complete or something abstract and unfinished
Changing job and projects moved me across this spectrum, forcing me to reframe my expectations on what gives me a sense of accomplishment and when it’s ok to let go of perfectionism.
A brand needs to be finished, a product might be partially delivered, a strategy can be rough, a student might have made just a little progress.
Be aware of where you are on the thinker-maker and system-detail spectrums because career progression will push you towards thinker and system.
This awareness helps control expectations on what gives a sense of accomplishment and need for control. Without, we don’t let go of the desire of making a detailed impact leading to micromanaging others or not delegating tasks – a source of stress for us and/or others.
Remember that not every project should satisfy fully your sense of impact.
A project or job is just a part of where you are.
I like to be a thinker, but I illustrate more when missing the making on projects too abstract or strategic.
The connector-hero stream
Realising that I’m in the middle of this stream was a key point of my career.
I’m no hero, but a facilitator.
I design solutions, workshops and educational material so others can be heroes. Other facilitators might do it, for example, by investing resources and providing information.
Accepting I’m not a hero was extremely beneficial to my mental health.
I’ve always felt that society’s toxic masculinity and design education expected me to become a Donald Draper, Philippe Stark…or Tony Stark.
I don’t care about being a hero: I care about others doing something amazing and knowing that I’ve somehow helped them.
Some designers managed to go even beyond that: the connectors.
They designed contacts, partnerships, relationships, so multiple heroes and/or facilitators can come together. These designers manage communities, organize organizations, procure resources and similar.
Connecting is a design mindset too.
We all are designers.
We design with different mindsets: the how.
We design with different focuses: the what.
We design with different purposes: the why.
You are a designer if you understand and evaluate how to do things successfully, making choices of why, what, and how to meet defined criteria.
And it’s not easy. That’s why I consult to facilitate the design process and share this podcast. Hoping it helps you design your confidence.
And let me if it does help you.
Let me know if identifying your design mindset helps you design your confidence.
Subscribe to Design, in Confidence wherever you listen to your podcast.
Or follow me for future transcripts.
Please review, and share it with others.
Tell people why you found this valuable, and that you are a safe space to find support in building their creative confidence.
If you got this far, I’m sure you’re a great listener — which I thank you for.
And now, it’s time to listen to your thoughts.
And remember to thank yourself, for the time you spent to learn, and grow.
