Managing a 5-8 ppl team does not leave you time to design. When you don't practice a craft, you should not expect to get better at it.
A frequent question I get when talking with senior designers: Will my growth as a designer stall if I start managing?
There is often a second question underneath that, which is:
Will I no longer be respected as a design leader if I can't keep up as a designer?
Thread below👇
Managing a 5-8 ppl team does not leave you time to design. When you don't practice a craft, you should not expect to get better at it.
What you *can* continue to grow (as both a design manager and a designer) is the following:
1) Your design eye
2) Your design voice
It means your taste is well-honed through extensive study of an area.
It means your sense for usability, simplicity and aesthetics is well-developed even at subtle or fine granularities.
As a designer, your work is limited by how good your eye is. Your eye can be way better than your work—for many junior designers it is—but the opposite is impossible.
1) Study the craft. Look at hundreds of examples.
2) Read or discuss critical commentary. Talk to the most obsessed people you know on the topic, and they'll help you understand what to look for.
3) Practice by designing.
Simply saying "This isn't good enough" is not helpful.
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