The Most Difficult Part of Being a Product Designer

I asked design leaders for their perspective on the most difficult part of PD

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This week, I asked design leaders:

“What’s the hardest part of being a product designer?”

Here’s what designers had to say

Tommy Geoco

Designing O.P.P. (other people’s products).

Or said another way: Learning that your job is less about being the author of the best idea in the room, and more about bringing to life someone else’s vision.

Sometimes the most valuable thing a designer can do is to turn the abstract discussions into a tangible artifact (even if you think it’s a bad idea), slap it on the center of the table, and allow the rest of the room to continue the conversation from a shared understanding of what’s being discussed.

Sally Carson

Finding the sweet spot between these tensions:

• Being seen as a top contributor at work vs saving energy for community, activism, and making art.

• Being an unwilling participant in late-stage capitalism vs co-creating a post-capitalist future.

• Holding space for your climate grief vs building towards a post-carbon future.

Michael Riddering “Ridd”

Wrangling a bunch of conflicting opinions.

You share a design at CRIT and post something in Slack. 2 designers have different opinions. Then your PM indicates he wants to prioritize a different element. Just when you think you can find the middle ground, the CEO comes out of left field 2 days late and say something in Slack that contradicts everything you thought you had figured out.

Gaining alignment and knowing how to deal with opposing feedback can be tough.

Emily Anderson

Empathising too much

We’re taught to empathise with users, to be their voice, and to almost feel their pain, but sometimes, that can take a toll on us - particularly if we’re doing field research.

If features are pushed back or deprioritised for something else, it can feel like we’re failing them - especially if we know the opportunity we’re pushing for can much such a difference. It is important to empathise and to advocate, but, it’s also important to try to be objective about decisions, and to remember: you are not your work, you’re trying your best.