Some people will try to convince you there’s “one design process” you are supposed to follow every time. There isn’t.

Let’s dig into that.

Design is not for the faint of heart. It takes discipline and focus to achieve the best outcomes. Luckily, design methods can help. These techniques are invaluable for investigation, exploration, or validation. But with so many methods out there, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. Don’t be fooled by promises of easy fixes — that’s just not how design works. Instead, focus on finding the right problem, exploring feasible solutions, and translating everything you learn into a design that works. Keep pushing forward and trust the process.

The most important thing to remember is that design is about problem-solving. The most strategic designers understand that they need to deeply understand the problem (and bring others along on that journey) before jumping to conclusions.