Well, hello there, designers and product people! It’s been a hot minute since the last post, hasn’t it? I hope this post finds you well, caffeinated, and ready to dive into some real talk about product design and how not to get fired as a product designer in a startup or in small teams. Today, we’re going to get a bit unstructured and personal as we explore some crucial insights I’ve gathered over the years. So, grab your favorite beverage, get comfy, and let’s dive in!
A 2024 Perspective
Recently, I took a trip down memory lane and revisited some of my old posts on this website. But this wasn’t just a nostalgia trip – I gave these posts a 2024 makeover. Why? Because despite the rapid changes in tech, I kept seeing the same core challenges popping up for junior UX designers, especially those working in startups or small teams.
Check out the updated posts:
- “Becoming a Product Designer in South Africa 2024”
- “Hiring UX Designers – A Guide for Startups and New Product Teams”
These pieces touch on two conversations that are at the heart of what I do every day: nurturing junior designers and guiding early-stage companies. Today, we’re going to unpack some key points from these posts and dive deeper into what it takes to not just survive, but thrive as a junior UX or product designer in the fast-paced world of startups and small teams.
Time is Money: Understanding the Startup Runway
Let’s start with a hard truth: in the world of startups and small teams, time is quite literally money. Every project has a runway, and in many cases, that runway is directly tied to the company’s survival. As a UX designer, especially a junior one, it’s crucial to understand this reality.
Here’s the deal: that beautiful, pixel-perfect design you’ve been crafting for weeks? It doesn’t mean squat if the company runs out of cash before it can be implemented. This doesn’t mean you should do sloppy work, but it does mean you need to be mindful of timelines and resources.
Practical Tips:
- Always ask about project timelines and budgets upfront
- Learn to prioritize features based on business impact, not just user delight
- Get comfortable with the idea of “good enough for now” – perfection can come later
The Process Trap: Adapting UX Frameworks for the Real World
Now, let’s talk about all those UX processes and frameworks we learn in school or bootcamps. Don’t get me wrong – they’re valuable. They work. But (and this is a big but) you need to be smart about how you apply them in the real world.
I’ve seen too many junior designers get caught up in following every step of a process to the letter, losing sight of the bigger picture. In a startup environment, that can be a career-limiting move.
How to Avoid the Process Trap:
- Understand the core principles behind UX processes, not just the steps
- Be flexible – adapt your approach based on project needs and constraints
- Focus on outcomes, not outputs – what’s going to move the needle for your product?
- Communicate with your team about which parts of the process are crucial and which can be streamlined
Prototypes vs. Products: The Shipping Mindset
Here’s another truth bomb for you: prototyping is not the same as building or releasing software. I’ve watched countless junior designers get stuck in an endless loop of tweaking and perfecting their prototypes. Remember, what really counts is getting actual software into users’ hands.
The mantra here is simple: Ship fast, launch, and learn. It’s okay if it’s not perfect – in fact, it probably won’t be. But that’s how you grow and improve.
Embracing the Shipping Mindset:
- Set clear goals for your prototypes – what are you trying to learn or validate?
- Time-box your prototyping phases
- Work closely with developers to understand technical constraints early
- Get comfortable with the idea of launching MVPs (Minimum Viable Products)
- Develop a system for quickly gathering and acting on user feedback post-launch
The Never-Ending Cycle: Product Development in the Real World
Here’s a secret that many junior designers don’t fully grasp: building products isn’t about achieving perfection – it’s an iterative process that never really ends as long as your product is in the market. You’re constantly improving, shipping features, and learning from real user feedback.
This can be both exciting and exhausting. The key is to find joy in the process, to celebrate small wins, and to always keep pushing forward.
Thriving in the Cycle:
- Develop a growth mindset – every “failure” is a learning opportunity
- Stay curious about your users – their needs and behaviors will evolve over time
- Keep up with industry trends, but don’t chase every shiny new thing
- Build strong relationships with your product and development teams – you’re all in this together
Bridging the Gap: From Theory to Practice
Look, I get it. When you’re fresh out of school or bootcamp, armed with all these ideals and processes, it’s easy to think that following them to the letter is the key to success. But the real world is messy, fast-paced, and full of constraints.
Your ability to adapt, to understand the business side of things, and to contribute to actually shipping products – that’s what’s going to set you apart and keep you employed.
Key Takeaways for Junior UX Designers:
- Stay flexible in your approach to UX processes
- Understand the business context of your projects
- Focus on shipping real products, not just creating beautiful mockups
- Embrace the iterative nature of product development
- Never stop learning and adapting
Wrapping Up: The Journey Continues
Stay curious, stay humble, and always keep pushing to get real products into users’ hands. That’s how you grow, that’s how you learn, and that’s how you build a successful career in UX design.
If you want to dive deeper into these topics (and trust me, there’s always more to learn), sign up for to out newsletter and get insights directly in your inbox every two weeks. I’m constantly adding new insights based on what I’m seeing in the field, and I’d love to continue this conversation with you there.
Until next time, keep designing, keep shipping, and above all, keep learning. The world of UX is waiting for you to make your mark!
