Designer Mindset
The Art of Timeless Human Skills for Creatives (eBook + Audiobook + Community + Workshops + Bonuses)
Prologue
We are designers. We love and care deeply about our craft.
When people ask us what we do and when we say "We are designers", they often think of visual outputs such as websites, logos, billboards, and so on. They think this is all that being a designer is, that it's all we do and that it's all that's required to be one, drawing shapes and colouring them. Honestly, I can’t blame them since many designers themselves also think, communicate and act in the same way!
However, being a designer requires more than producing pretty pixels on a screen.
Let me rephrase that;
Being a good designer
with a growth mindset
requires more than producing
pixels on a screen.
Growth and success in this field involve various qualities, including confidence, time management, negotiation, critical thinking, empathy, effective communication, decision-making, patience, self-discipline, and the list goes on...
It doesn't matter how great your design looks if you can’t present it effectively to get your team on board to build it.
It doesn't matter how much compensation you think you deserve for your beautiful design if you can’t negotiate for what it's worth.
It doesn’t matter how hard you work on it if you can’t deliver it on time.
It doesn’t matter how shiny your design is if…
You got the point.
Yes, the design output is undeniably important. There are so many courses out there teaching the technical side of design. Go, take them. Master the technical side of design, and have the capability of creating what you imagine. Understand the process. Appreciate the craft.
This will get you a place where the vast majority of designers are today. Able to get some work, lose most, create trendy designs but struggle to find high-value clients, earn a high income, and have an intellectual discussion about design, but still able to pay bills and live a standard life which is great if it is what you are seeking.
However, if you are seeking for peace of mind, financial freedom, the ability to work with your dream teams on your dream projects, and get satisfaction from your work, you can not stop there like many other designers do.
No, the answer is not in your Figma. You can get all these and more by growing your human skills.
These human skills, also known as soft skills, are often overlooked by many designers because they take time, patience and effort. They go against the norm of today's instant gratification-seeking environment. They are not easy like learning how to animate your buttons or formulizing your rounded corners…
They are hard to develop. Yet they are the key component to make you stand out from the sameness of designers.
These human skills are timeless qualities that will carry you for your whole life. They will only compound for better, unlike technical skills that become irrelevant with every new software and tech.
These are the skills we will be covering in this book. We will question the norms here. We are not here to better what you currently have.
We are here
to gain a completely
new perspective, a new mindset
in how you see design, life, business, yourself...
You will probably feel the resistance, perhaps it will not make sense at first, but I need you to be patient and open-minded.
I have experienced first-hand the undeniable benefits of these skills in my nearly 25 years journey as a designer from being a freelancer in a small town in Turkiye designing leaflets for a few dollars to being a Senior Vice President of Design, Manager, Lead in a Tier 1 Investment Bank in London for projects that generate billions of dollars annually and earned me millions of dollars along the way.
I have every confidence you will see similar results when you apply the teachings in this book.
Let's get started!
Areas of Growth:
- Confidence
- Communication
- Negotiation
- Self Learning
- Relax Attitude (be the calmest person in the room)
- Critical Thinking
- Collaboration, Teamwork
- Questioning
- Conflict Resolution
- Decision Making
- Empathy
- Leadership
- Listening
- Patience
- Problem-Solving
- Project Management
- Resilience
- Strategy
- Time Management
- Curiosity
- Bonus
Who is this book for?
You are a designer who wants to grow the satisfaction you get from the design work you do and the income you earn from it, so;
✅ You learn all the tricks in Figma, Framer...
✅ You work hard.
✅ You reach out to companies.
🛑 You get stuck in your growth!
The answer is not hidden in your design software, nor in the time/effort you put into your technical design work.
You as ___ (please let me know what your goal is.)
The Designer Mindset book is all about you, as a product designer who is looking to enhance human skills, increase value, and succeed in your career.
Throughout this book, we'll be covering a range of topics that are crucial for your growth and development as a designer, including confidence, communication, leadership, problem-solving, and more. Our goal is to provide you with practical strategies and techniques you can apply to your work immediately.
Whether you're just starting or you're a seasoned professional, this book is for YOU. I want to help you take your skills and expertise to the next level and give you the tools you need to thrive in the design world.
So, if you're ready to invest in your professional development, learn from industry experts, and join a community of like-minded designers, then Designer Mindset is the perfect source for YOU. Let's get started on this exciting journey together!
What about AI? Are the learnings in this book will be irrelevant tomorrow?
There is no better time to focus on Human Skills in the world we live in with the rapid advancement of AI.
Every day we witness how AI tools are getting better at technical deliveries by designing icons, flex layouts, and more.
We are advancing to a tomorrow where 1 designer will be able to do 10 designers' jobs with the help of AI tools.
The question is; Are you going to be the designer who benefits from the AI tools or being replaced by them?
Human skills (aka soft skills) + Technical skills (design) = Success
Combine your human skills with AI tools, you will be the 1 designer whom all teams will be after.
Oykun? Who are you?
I'm glad you asked : )
I've been in this tech world professionally since 1999! Damn, time flies!
I started my career as a full-stack developer and designer, then I decided to fully focus on Design. I also took my role in marketing, managing and more. Today I'm a full-time Designer with experiences from those various roles in my belt that help me to understand and empathise with all these parties' roles in the product development cycle.
I worked in any environment you can imagine from 1 man start-up as a sole designer and developer to the world's largest investment bank as a Senior Vice President of Design, Design Lead, Manager and everything in between.
I have been through a lot and I have seen a lot!
I mentored a lot of designers at any level from Juniors to Seniors.
Now I want to widen my circle and help more designers in their career journey via online efforts like my newsletter, ebooks and courses.
Wait! Before you spend your hard-earned money on it, there is a catch.
Let's be clear – there's no magic pill when it comes to developing your human skills as a designer. But I can show you the way, based on my own experiences and the insights I've gained from helping countless designers like yourself in my nearly 25 years of experience in the field.
To truly improve your skills, you'll need to be open to change and willing to put in the work. You'll need to adopt a new philosophy on design and develop your human skills in addition to your technical abilities.
We are not here to add to your existing skills but to gain a new philosophy on how you
- view the design
- approach businesses
- see yourself as a designer
- and more
But don't worry – I'll be here to support you every step of the way. I have every confidence that you can succeed and achieve your goals as a designer. So let's work together to unlock your full potential and take your career to the next level!
OK. Now you are ready to join us 👇
eBook + Audiobook + Community + Workshops + Bonuses
The original price after the release will be $99
You will get access to:
- eBook (soon)
- Audiobook (soon)
- Early access to an exclusive Discord server for a year (soon)
- Exclusive access to workshops for a year (soon)
- Free copy of Tough Love Letters from a Designer eBook (today)
- Priority access to me for your questions (today)
eBook
The original price after the release will be $39
You will get access to:
- eBook (soon)
- Priority access to me for your questions (today)