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Hey designer friend! Let me share a short story with you.
For the longest time, I had a hard time sending out newsletters. Even though my newsletter sign-up form had been active for over 3 years, I convinced myself that I didn't have time for it, that it wasn't the right season, or any excuse I could think of.
The truth is, I was intimidated.
Do you ever feel like that? Like you're not good enough, you don't have anything interesting to say, or that people won't care about what you have to offer? It's called imposter syndrome. The term has become a bit of a buzzword but it’s real and it's something that plagues many of us in the design industry.
But here's the thing: you are more than those voices in your head telling you that you can't do that thing. You have so much to offer, and that's why I've gathered 5 resources that might help you care less and do more. These are things I've used myself to change my mindset, stop that negative self-talk, and push myself out of my comfort zone.
First up, check out Mel Robbins's podcast episode called "4 Simple Ways to Stop Giving a Sh*t About What Other People Think of You." It's both inspiring and hilarious, and it might just be the kick in the pants you need to get started.
You might be thinking, "A Figma plugin?! What does it have to do with imposter syndrome?" Updating your website or portfolio is often one of those tasks that designers tend to procrastinate the most. But fear not, this plugin can save you time and make the process more efficient. This mockup plugin for Figma allows you to place your work directly into mockups. Check it out!
If you're feeling stuck in your work, try this 30-day design challenge that I recently finished. I'll share more details soon, but in the meantime, you can check out the projects I did and try to recreate them yourself. I designed websites and apps that TV characters would use, just for fun. It gave me a chance to flex my creative muscles and break out of the client work rut.
By the way, I'm not sharing this to brag but to show you that if I can do it, so can you. Sometimes committing to a challenge helps you build little habits that you forgot along the way.
For those of you who have trouble making decisions, the BRIDGeS framework might be just what you need. It's typically used for team decision-making, but you can use it for anything while having fun. And if you need a place to start, the Railsware team has created a Figjam template for you to use.
Finally, check out this inspiring talk by Paula Scher called "Great design is serious, not solemn." I absolutely love her approach to design and the way she breaks the rules with confidence.
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That's it for now. I hope you enjoy this list and give it a try. DM me on Instagram to let me know how it goes.
