Bad Designers vs Good Designers: 9 Habits That Make the Difference
10 June 2025
No Fluff. Just Facts. And a Little Friendly Roast.
We’ve all had “bad designer” moments — rushing into Figma, ignoring feedback, or obsessing over fonts while the UX is broken. This post isn’t about shaming. It’s about growth.
Let’s break down what separates good designers from the rest — one habit at a time.
1. Who They Design For
❌ Bad Designer: “It makes sense to me.”
✅ Good Designer: “It makes sense to the user.”
Takeaway: You are not your user. Period.
2. How They Start
❌ Bad Designer: “I opened Figma.”
✅ Good Designer: “I asked why first.”
Takeaway: Good design begins with questions, not components.
3. How They Handle Feedback
❌ Bad Designer: “They don’t get it.”
✅ Good Designer: “Where did I lose them?”
Takeaway: Defensiveness blocks growth. Curiosity fuels it.
4. Their Problem-Solving Mindset
❌ Bad Designer: “Let’s add more features.”
✅ Good Designer: “Let’s simplify the flow.”
Takeaway: More isn’t better. Better is better.
5. Time Management
❌ Bad Designer: 3 hours choosing a font.
✅ Good Designer: 3 hours fixing a broken UX.
Takeaway: Design the experience, not just the aesthetic.
6. Obsession Points
❌ Bad Designer: Obsesses over spacing.
✅ Good Designer: *Obsesses over clarity.
Takeaway: Pixel-perfect doesn’t matter if the user’s confused.
7. Collaboration Style
❌ Bad Designer: “I just need devs to build what I designed.”
✅ Good Designer: “Let’s solve this together.”
Takeaway: Great designers build bridges, not walls.
8. Their Mindset
❌ Bad Designer: “I’m done once it’s approved.”
✅ Good Designer: “What can we learn post-launch?”
Takeaway: Good design listens after delivery.
9. How They Define Success
❌ Bad Designer: “It looks amazing.”
✅ Good Designer: “It works beautifully.”
Takeaway: Aesthetics get likes. UX gets loyalty.
Growth Is the Goal
Being a good designer isn’t about perfection — it’s about perspective. Learning. Unlearning. Evolving.
We’ve all been on both sides of this list. The point isn’t to feel bad — it’s to get better.
Need help growing your design process or team mindset? I work with startups and fast-moving teams to build usable, lovable products. Let’s connect →