You Are Not A Graphic Designer! 🎨
- Ibukun Ayomide-Baafog
- Dec 17, 2024
- 2 min read
It’s Page 7 of the Dear Designer blog.
Let’s talk about COLLABORATION!
Dear Designer,
If you’ve ever had someone mistake your role for “just creating pretty visuals,” I feel your pain. Let’s set the record straight — you are not a graphic designer (unless that’s your official title, of course! LOL.). Your work goes beyond aesthetic appeal; it’s rooted in strategy, user experience, and problem-solving.
So, what’s the missing link here? Your guess is as good as mine - Collaboration.
Your seat at the table isn’t optional — it’s essential. Participating in business strategy discussions allows you to help align design decisions with both user needs and business goals. While product managers focus on prioritizing features, engineers focus on feasibility, and stakeholders dream big, you are the glue that holds it all together. Great products are born out of diverse perspectives working together toward a shared goal.
How to Collaborate?
🌟 Be Proactive: Don’t wait to be invited. Join business meetings, attend sprint planning sessions, and contribute your insights.
🌟 Facilitate Workshops: Whether it’s a design sprint, brainstorming session, or retrospective, take the lead in creating spaces where ideas can flow.
🌟 Communicate Constantly: Share progress regularly and invite feedback early. Transparency avoids surprises and fosters trust.
A Quick Personal Story:
I remember a project where I initially struggled to assert my place during business discussions. The team would often decide on features without considering user pain points. One time, I advocated for a feature adjustment after conducting user research that revealed a glaring pain point we hadn’t addressed. To my surprise, that insight not only reshaped the feature but also improved the product’s overall reception.
That experience taught me the power of #collaboration — not just listening but being heard.
So, Dear Designer, You are more than just a visual artist; you are a strategist, a communicator, and a problem solver. Your work thrives in collaboration. So, don’t just design — engage, participate, and co-create.
What’s been your most fulfilling collaboration experience as a designer? Share it in the comments below. I’d love to hear your story!
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