# The Essential Mindsets for Exceptional UX Design
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Chapter 1: Understanding the Dichotomy of Doers and Thinkers
"Is the world split into doers and thinkers, and do the thinkers need to guide the doers for optimal results?" This question I stumbled upon on Quora prompted me to delve deeper into the answers. Across various sectors and cultures, people often rely on binary classifications: work versus play, art versus design, and the like, including the doer versus thinker distinction. While this binary method simplifies intricate concepts, it can also hinder us from embracing diverse viewpoints and pushing our boundaries.
Doing as a Form of Thinking
In the doer/thinker framework, designers are frequently labeled as "doers." However, confining the role of a strategic designer to just these two categories can narrow our perspective and impede our quest for more meaningful solutions in both human and business contexts. Designers engage in problem-solving, but this occurs only after they think critically to identify and articulate the issues. Each designer comes with unique strengths, and our collective diversity propels our industry toward enhanced outcomes every day.
Don Norman aptly states, "Design thinking without doing is enjoyable, thrilling, yet ultimately fruitless. However, the act of doing should not be viewed as a separate phase from thinking, as much of our insights arise from the doing. The two cannot be disentangled."
Good Design Requires Varied Mindsets
Let’s explore the landscape of significant challenges, emerging technologies, and opportunities, as laid out by VAExperience in their recent episode, "The Future of UX."
Solutions are continually evolving, shaped by technological advancements and our lifestyles, all anchored in fundamental human challenges. Notably, trends like the gig economy, cashless societies, smart cities, and mobility have gained traction over the past decade and will remain pivotal in the coming years. The journey from phone banking to mobile banking through various platforms illustrates this evolution of solutions aimed at improving human life.
Designers find themselves at the forefront of emerging technologies that revolutionize how individuals experience and interpret the world. User experience design adopts a user-centered approach, providing varying impacts depending on how these methods are applied to specific problems. Often, our role involves leveraging available technologies with diverse perspectives to meet different business objectives.
A designer’s mindset must strike a balance between optimism and pragmatism. Excessive optimism can lead to stagnation, while too much pragmatism may cause us to overlook essential human truths and emotions, preventing us from grasping the bigger picture.
Chapter 2: The Five Key Mindsets in UX Design
To assess this balance, we can refer to the 3I model—Inspiration, Ideation, and Implementation—developed by IDEO in 2001. Thinking like a designer involves conjuring up bold ideas, investing time in experimentation, and being prepared to fail frequently. The 3I model effectively mirrors the five classic design thinking steps: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test, while aligning more closely with the thought processes of a strategic designer.
According to IDEO, the designer's mindset encapsulates five essential traits: empathy, optimism, iteration, creativity, and an acceptance of ambiguity. Central to design thinking is a focus on people throughout every stage of the process. This human-centered approach emphasizes that remarkable solutions stem from a profound understanding of the individuals they aim to serve—and equally, from understanding ourselves as designers.
The Five Mindsets Defined
Examining the doer-thinker dichotomy through the design thinking lens reveals a broader spectrum of mindset types linked to the five traditional design thinking stages:
- Empathize = Listener
- Define = Thinker
- Ideate = Dreamer
- Prototype = Maker
- Test and Share = Talker
These five mindsets represent vital, future-proof abilities that can be classified into 56 distinct elements of talent (DELTAs), as identified by the McKinsey Global Institute. Each mindset plays a crucial role in the design process, with varying degrees of emphasis depending on the individual designer. Importantly, these qualities overlap and interact with one another.
Value of Each Mindset
- Listener: Empathy is a crucial skill today and will continue to be vital (Google). Active listening is a precursor to empathy; one must be genuinely interested in others' perspectives to foster understanding.
- "Hearing is listening to what is said. Listening is hearing what isn't said." — Simon Sinek
- Thinker: Thinkers aim for the most effective solutions through thorough research and logical reasoning. They prioritize ideas and ensure potential criticisms are addressed.
- "A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan." — Greg Reid
- Dreamer: Dreamers challenge the status quo by embracing new perspectives. They recognize that questioning everyday assumptions can lead to remarkable insights.
- "In the past, everyone wanted to innovate. Now, everyone needs to innovate." — Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt, Chief Innovation Evangelist at Google
- Maker: Makers thrive in uncertainty and ambiguity. They embrace risks associated with new ideas, using iterations to refine and enhance their solutions.
- "The greatest skill one can develop is decreasing the time between idea and execution." — Dan Koe
- Talker: Effective communication involves more than expressing desires; it requires ensuring that others understand the intended message. Persuading others to engage with your ideas is a critical skill with lasting influence.
- "The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller." — Steve Jobs
Assessing Your UX Personality
In a recent design meeting, I conducted a workshop with product designers of varying strengths and experiences. We acknowledged that our workplace personas can naturally evolve based on our interests, the projects at hand, and the environments we work in. Each designer interprets their experiences uniquely, influencing their interests, values, and motivations.
Participants were asked to create two diagrams: one representing their aspirations and another depicting the combination of mindsets they predominantly use in current projects. Each designer showcased distinct combinations shaped by their past experiences, leading to the identification of three recurring blends:
- Dreamer + Talker: These individuals are passionate about inspiring others with innovative concepts. They can interpret megatrends and approach problems uniquely, fostering open-mindedness and collaboration.
- Listener + Thinker: Strategic planners who enjoy delving deep into problems, these individuals aim to align organizational goals with audience needs. They serve as a bridge between both parties, enhancing communication.
- Dreamer + Maker: These individuals quickly transition from ideation to action. Their creativity and commitment to change drive them to prototype rapidly while balancing idealism with practicality.
All combinations, including others not mentioned, have unique strengths. Each personality type can contribute to and lead projects in distinct ways. As you gain experience and explore new interests, your UX personality may evolve.
Ultimately, the better you understand yourself, the more effective you will be as a problem solver. Take a moment to reflect on your own blend of characteristics and how they influence your approach to identifying and addressing challenges.