Samuel FabayoProduct designer and design educator

Dear Designer, Don’t be a specialist!

2 Nov 2024 · 1 min

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0:41

In this concise career‑advice video, the speaker argues that top product designers succeed by being specialized generalists rather than narrow specialists. He outlines a three‑stage roadmap: (1) during the first one to two years, designers should experiment across disciplines—visual design, prototyping, user research, and even frontend development—to discover strengths and build a unique skill set; (2) in years two to three, the focus should shift to storytelling, using narratives to connect with audiences and effectively sell design ideas; (3) after three years, designers should concentrate on influence, leveraging their craft and storytelling abilities to lead projects, earn trust, and become respected leaders. A link to a deeper breakdown is provided for viewers seeking more detail.

Chapters

The best product designers aren't specialists. They are generalists who are exceptional at one or two things. And here's how you can be like them. In your first 1 to 2 years as a designer, try everything from visual design to prototyping to user research and even frontend development if you can do that. This helps you build unique skill sets and helps you to understand your strengths. By year 2 to 3, focus on storytelling. Great design isn't just about visuals, it's about connecting with people, and stories are a great way to do that. The best designers use storytelling to sell their ideas. After year 3, work on your influence. Use your craft and storytelling skills to lead projects and gain trust. Influence is what make you go from a good designer to a great one that others look up to. Want to see a deeper breakdown of how you can be a specialized generalist? Then check out this video in the link below.