Critical Thinking for UX Designers

Critical thinking can be defined as deliberately analysing information to make better judgements, and well-informed decisions. This includes using logic, reasoning and creativity. It is a broad skill that can be applied to various scenarios. It has a wide range of applications. It can be used in UX design strategy, time management of projects, DesignOps, DevOps, business strategies and effective decision making in UX design studios. Critical thinking also helps you on an individual level to become a high performer, giving you a competitive advantage.

It is an intentional process, a goal oriented thinking. Without goals, it is just over-thinking.

Critical Thinking = 1. Observation   2. Analysis   3. Synthesis

It is essential for you to be curious in order to be good at this skill. Ask a lot of questions, before jumping to any conclusions when gathering data and observing events. Gathering data helps you gain access to a bigger picture. This helps you simplify or understand any complex issues.

These skilled individuals are essential to teamwork, as they are mission-driven, open-minded and empathetic. Being solution focused these people can naturally be categorized into being rational, thoughtful and insightful. These people serve better in roles that demand data-driven solutions, objective analysis and evaluation.

Here are some fundamental questions that can be asked for any situation: What is the hypothesis? Why does it exist? What are other aspects to this hypothesis? Who is this beneficial to? What is the context of this hypothesis? What else? What if?

This is an acquired skill. Here is how one can improve the skill:

• Question everything. Do not make any assumptions, evaluate the data gathered for relevance and truthfulness.
• Keep your actions aligned with your purpose. Always keep a track of your actions by identifying their relevance in terms of your goal. The purpose acts as a guideline for all your actions. This way you can also be able to predict possibilities. Keep checking these predictions with the outcomes, so that you are better equipped in the future.
• Be aware of your thoughts. Human mind is a complex system to understand. A lot of times, the mind works by using heuristics/ thumb rules. These rules are mostly influenced by biases. Hence, hindering the skill essential for objective, productive work. Be aware and switch to more comprehensive thinking.

Critical thinking essentially boosts your success graph in all aspects of life. This is another reason why it is an important requirement to become a successful UX designer -

1. An essential aspectof the design thinking process.
2. It serves as a balance within the experience design process without suppressing creative design process.
3. It will help at the analysis and synthesis stage after the research. where the designers can easily differentiate between signal and noise. And take out insights from the all the information they have gathered.

What do designers want?

The community of designers around the world have a dream. A shared dream. One where everyone has irrefutable respect for them. A place where they get ample creative freedom. A place where they get paid worthy of their services! The dream isn’t very far though.

Design is fast becoming the force to reckon with. And is finally getting the appreciation and attention it deserves. Getting aligned to the roles and responsibilities of a designer as seen from an overview, from a business (UX Design Studio) perspective and as a crucial part in the bigger scheme of things is important.

Just like how each player on a football team plays an equally important role.

See it, to Believe it.

To keep this state of euphoria alive, designers need to pass on these pearls of wisdom to their colleagues and counterparts as well. Any two departments can work best, once they understand how each team works. We believe mutual respect and liberty in problem solving are the starting points of a great co-working relationship.

Listen to your teams. Understand their work styles. And work out the best winning strategy.

Listen. Empathize. Respond.

This is the only mantra, we believe designers would expect their colleagues to master when it comes to working together. A wise man once said if you want to see a change in the world, change yourself. If you want a global change, start local. Start with yourself.

Goal-oriented, focused efforts with the power of collaboration are a definite success formula.

Good design is all about a set purpose. Intended for an audience who are going to benefit from the solutions. On a larger level, designers focus on well-informed designs that are the best possible solutions addressing business and user goals. Adding value to the overall service the design team provides in collaboration with other departments. On an individual level, what designers want is quite simple.

1.  In order to create truly great experiences, and become a good designer, one has to let go of the constraints. A variety in the projects, helps sharpen their skills. Broaden their understanding of various domains.

2.  Designers flourish in environments that provide freedom and autonomy to take design decisions. Systems where they can expand their skillsets and be better at their core skills.

3.  Designers want to be challenged at work. They aspire to work on projects that will test their capabilities and help them push their boundaries. They seek constant possibilities to gain more knowledge.

4.  Any ambitious designer prefers to work in an environment where there is scope for growth. A place where she/ he can explore and widen the skills in order to transform into a future ready designer. An eco-system where designers can develop their business acumen, strategic mindset, project management knowledge etc. to help them advance in their careers.

5.  In a top UX design studio, creativity and productivity are the key factors for an environment fit for the design team. In order to inspire the teams and drive growth, happiness of the employees at workplace becomes an imperative in business. The designers should feel they are adding value to the workplace, making an impact and leading the organization ahead.

The day a designer lands job at a UX design company that fulfils all these criteria, she/ he will become the best recruit, a happy employee delivering high results.

According to Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends,

A productive, positive employee experience has emerged as the new contract between employer and employee.

Happiness levels of employees increase the overall productivity, solidifying the belief that happy designers should be at the top of every design studio’s agenda. With the backdrop of today’s work stress, more and more designers have become picky and are turning down job offers trading it for the places where they are more likely to feel happy, challenged and get inspired. UX design studios should take a note, and make their workplaces future ready for the employees by understanding exactly what is it that they want.