9 Characteristics of a Good Designer

Designers solve difficult problems using creativity, logical and analytical skills which are followed by endless rounds of discussions with folks within and outside the team, product and design managers, developers, business analysts, and clients. All of these are in addition to the tasking research, design, multiple rounds of iterations, and usability testing.Despite the challenges that entail the role, there are certain characteristics that successful designers exhibit and could be developed with experience.

Creating Scalable ProductsScalability is often forgotten when a design solution is proposed. Whether its adding a new feature to a website or a button to a page, scalability looks at the full picture and considers potential future advantages and pitfalls if the proposed feature were to be implemented. Considering scalability as a strong decision-making criterion speaks volumes about the foresight that a designer possesses, and leveraging this aspect could save the company, time, and money if the product becomes difficult to scale in the future.

Being Context-drivenThe context of use holds paramount importance in finalizing suitable interactions within a product. For example, although minimalism is a common buzzword today, it could mean different things in different contexts. Since minimalism focusses on less is more, this concept may apply differently for a complex financial product as compared to a messaging app.

Creating Inclusive solutionsBeing inclusive while creating products could be charted as a responsibility that designers need to take on while designing. Considering several cross-sections of the human community while designing products is necessary to remain a strong competitor within the industry.For example, accessibility could never be an after-thought and needs to be addressed as part of the design solution right from the beginning.

Striving towards Coherence In DesignThe magic lies in the little things. Honing in on creativity to solve design problems is important but so is making sure that several related aspects of the design come together in unison to create a delightful experience.Its important to look critically at different aspects of the design such as visual design, interaction design, and usability aspects to make sure they fit well with the overall system.

After all, its the little things that make up the big picture.Critical Thinking to uncover the real problem spaceUnderstanding people is probably one of the most complex tasks that entail a designers job. Once research data is collected, it is imperative to critically think and read between the lines to understand what participants say and what they mean.

This requires strong analytical skills failing which the company might invest in solving a problem that was not the problem. A need could sometimes direct us to see if there is a need for something particular or if the need is stemming out of the desire for something else.Employing a more holistic approach to understanding the why behind the expressed need could make the actual problem space more easily discernable.

Rapid IterationsSome ideas stick and some dont but attachment has never helped solve anything. As designers work toward solving a problem, they could get attached to their ideas or solutions which may not be the best solution for the problem. This could be solved if quick iterations are made where ideas are vetted and discarded rapidly to choose the ideal solution for the design space.

AdaptabilityDesigners have the innate ability to adapt to situations and this comes out of interactions with multiple project stakeholders. This quality to adapt to situations could be leveraged to stay relevant within the fast-changing landscape of design.As design adapts to changing technology, successful designers adapt to the changing world of design practises.

AdvocationA Designer takes on several roles such as a user advocate, an analyst, a facilitator, and a leader. Successful designers find the perfect balance between these roles and are the middleman, advocating for the success of the business and the delight of the end-users. This could be challenging but it is in this challenge that designers thrive.

Continual ReflectionAn eye for good design comes out of watching other designers work, understanding how they think, and analyzing your thinking pattern and reflecting on it.When you continuously reflect on your practices as a designer and who you are as a person, it radically changes the way you approach design. You get new perspectives about the problem space that you wouldnt have had otherwise.

Reflections help you rework problem spaces to fit the model of the changing world.Final ThoughtsI believe that every step you take as a designer, be it a right or wrong move, takes you one step closer to the ideal solution and there is no need to shy away from making the move. Its only important to make the move to know if it were the right or wrong one.

After all, iterations is a popular word among designers and we could learn to embrace it this way too RELATED QUESTION How long do office chairs typically last before they need to be replaced? Asanswered. I depends on the quality of chair and the level of use it gets.

In the US an "office chair" can run from a $19.99 internet special to a $1,000 super ergo deluxe designer chair. With about $200-600 range covering the bulk of chairs that you will find in a well equipped office.

Cheap chairs have a life span in months under normal office use. mid range chairs in years, high end chairs can last decades (I am sitting on a 15 year old Aeron and I am a big guy (6'3" 300 lbs. ).

Level of use is important as well. I work in the office furniture industry and I will tell you that the place that seems to be the hardest on chairs is 911 call centers. The stations are staffed 24/7, the people never leave their seats and I don't know if any study has been done, but they must hire inordinately large folks if the damage done to chairs I have seen as field returns are any indication.

Being sent to a 911 call center is a sentence of life with hard labor to an office chair.