Good design is simple, but being a good designer isn’t. It’s not about looking busy or doing things that feel productive. The best designers don’t just “do design”; they understand, think, and solve. Remember, the “do design” part is the pre-requisite. They put in the time to improve their craft in ways no one else sees. The quiet hours spent refining skills, breaking down problems, and building real things are what set great designers apart.

Most new designers today miss the real work. They take courses, share fancy posts on social media, and attend meet-ups. These things feel like progress, but they’re not the work that matters. The truth is, becoming a great designer isn’t fun or fast. It’s long hours of solving tricky problems, trying new ideas, and a lot of failing.

The hard part? That work doesn’t show up right away. You can’t tweet it or put it on a resume after a week. But it’s what makes the best designers stand out.

In 2022, I had written a blog 88 tips for young product designers to help aspiring designers. If you're looking for a shorter version, here’s a quick one:

Show what you do best

Your portfolio should clearly show your strongest skills. Start by identifying what you enjoy doing most and what you’re best at, whether it’s creating user interfaces, designing seamless app flows, or designing visually appealing layouts.

Then, build three to five portfolio pieces that highlight these strengths. Choose projects that solve real problems, even if they’re self-initiated, like redesigning an app you use daily. Dedicate time each day to refining these attempts—review your work for consistency and usability.

Remember, it’s better to have a few excellent examples than a collection of unfinished or average ones. And understand what average looks like.

Audit your work

Dedicate 20 minutes daily to breaking down your designs into smaller parts. E.g., if you’re designing a checkout flow, ask questions like: What steps are unnecessary? What could confuse the user? Then, figure out solutions for each issue. Use simple sketches to visualise your ideas. By focusing on one small problem at a time, you’ll develop the habit of solving issues you have in your designs, step by step.

Lastly, explain your work without boring the reader

Review your portfolio regularly to ensure it’s concise. Start each project description with a single sentence that summarises the problem you solved, followed by two or three key outcomes. Replace long paragraphs with visuals or short notes that highlight your thought process.

Spend time every week editing and improving how you present your work. If you can’t explain a project clearly in under 30 seconds, keep simplifying.

Practice explaining better by picking a design from your portfolio and writing a one-minute explanation of what makes it good. Break it down into three parts: the problem, your solution, and the impact. Each day, take one design and rehearse presenting it, either by recording yourself or sharing it with a peer. This will make you more confident and clear in communicating your ideas, whether in a meeting or a portfolio review.

All the best.