Feeling like a fraud

When I first started working as a junior designer, I had major imposter syndrome. Even though I had managed to secure a full-time position at one of the largest software companies in the world, I felt like a total fraud that had tricked them into thinking I was some kind of impressive designer.

During the first few months of the job, I feared that my skills weren’t living up to the expectations of the senior designers and managers that interviewed me. I was unfamiliar with how designers collaborated with stakeholders as I hadn’t learned it in school.

On top of all that, my team worked on business analytics products that required a deep understanding of managing and visualizing complex data. I felt so lost as I sat quietly in meetings, trying to wrap my head around what was going on.

Takeaway #1: Gain more exposure

Imposter syndrome affects most early-career designers simply due to lack of experience. By gaining exposure to different scenarios and different outcomes, you will start to learn how things will play out.

For example, if you don’t feel confident conducting user interviews, work with your research team to participate in more of them. Learn how to introduce yourself and the testing scenario to the user, how to ask follow up questions and how to facilitate the conversation to keep the user focused.

The more scenarios you are exposed to, the more comfortable they will feel the next time they happen. Practice makes perfect, repetition builds confidence.

Lacking self-confidence

I worked with a senior designer on a daily basis who assigned me tasks. Not wanting to make a bad decision or bad impression on my colleagues, I asked a lot of questions. Every time I felt like a kid asking my parents for permission to do something. I second-guessed many decisions that I made and questioned if I was good enough to work there.

I was unsure of myself and lacked the confidence to make my own decisions. My anxiety levels were through the roof during my first year of working.

Takeaway #2: Be driven by outcomes, not emotions

A good approach to making decisions is to be driven by user outcomes instead of emotions. What is the user outcome you are trying to achieve? Does this decision align with that outcome? By working with your research and PM team, gather insights and test your designs so that your decisions can be made based on data instead of emotions. This will help build your case when convincing stakeholders.

Leading my first project

The first project that I was apart of was a new mobile application that was to be released to the iOS and Google Play store. I was starting to learn a lot working with the senior designer that was leading the project.

After working for a year and a half, the senior designer left the team which unexpectedly left me in charge of design for the mobile app. I viewed this as an opportunity to prove that I was ready to become more independent as a designer.

As I worked closely with a team of developers and a product manager, they had many questions regarding my design decisions for different features. Without having the guidance of a senior designer over my shoulder, I had to back up my decisions with a mix of research and trusting my gut.

I often referred to design systems such as IBM’s Carbon Design System and Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines to ensure that I was following proper mobile and accessibility best practices.

This eventually led to discussions and debates over the designs for certain features. I won some and lost some, but knowing that I followed design guidelines and user insights made me feel more confident if someone were to challenge my decisions.

Takeaway #3: Make mistakes, early and often

Learn to make your own decisions instead of waiting for someone’s approval in order to proceed. Before you can learn from your mistakes, you have to be able to make them.

A few bad decisions won’t break your career. So if data is not available, trust your gut instinct and make mistakes early and often. Continuously improve each time from your last mistake. Things can usually be adjusted later on through user testing.

Achieving success

Eventually, our app shipped and I was able to add “designed a mobile app for iOS and Android” to my list of accomplishments. It boosted my confidence knowing that I was able to lead design and operate independently while having the support of an amazing team.

But this feeling faded as I began to focus on all the things that could be improved. I knew that this was a big milestone in my career, but I couldn’t help but critique my work harshly. I remember thinking that if any other designer on the team was in charge of the project, they would’ve done a much better job than I did.

Takeaway #4: Reflect on your accomplishments

It’s important to reflect on and feel proud of your accomplishments, no matter how big or small, in order to gain self-confidence. Acknowledge the “small wins” as they can snowball into a major accomplishment.

Whenever I started feeling imposter syndrome creep up again, I tried to remind myself of how far I’d made it. Someone saw potential in me and I proved myself during the interview process that I am competent and able to learn.

There is a reason why you are in your current position, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Your accomplishments got you to where you are today.

Seek mentorship

I wouldn’t have been able to grow and develop my skills and confidence as effectively without the mentorship of other designers. I’ve had great managers and senior leaders that were able to help me navigate my career early on.

Reach out to someone you think you can learn from and book some time with them. Mentors can be great for providing guidance when you are unsure about how to do something or giving their perspective on how they overcame obstacles in their career. By sharing knowledge and experiences with one another, we can all help our fellow designers grow and evolve into better versions of themselves.