And if you’re a junior figuring it out too, I hope this helps you explain your design decisions a little better.
Also Read: UI Design 101: 7 Essential Tips Every Designer Should Follow
The ‘Why This?’ Moment
There is always that one moment, when you present your design, you zoom in a little, then someone (usually design lead & seniors) asks, “So… Why this?”.
At that moment, my brain feels like it stopped functioning. I know there was a reason. I just hadn’t prepared to explain it properly, like a thesis.
I used to think it was a test, like there was a correct answer I was supposed to give. But I don’t think that’s it. I think they’re just trying to understand how I think.
The thing is, putting that thinking into words on the spot is harder than it sounds
Sometimes I wish Figma could speak and explain my design to me. Click a frame, and it just says: “This reduces confusion, the design also aligns with user expectations. Thank you.” End of discussion.
But instead it’s me saying “Um… It’s more intuitive (i think?)”. Which is a very confident word for something I haven’t fully put into words yet.
The Comfort of “Best Practice”
No one tells you that UX is basically: Explaining your decisions, and then explaining the explanation.
And when I don’t really have a strong reason? “Best Practice“ is my favorite excuse. Because it sounds solid and no one wants to argue with it.
But sometimes it just feels like I didn’t question the choice far enough, that I didn’t think about it seriously. So, I think using “Best Practice” carelessly is just fear with fancy names.
Lately, I’ve noticed how often everything comes back to “Why”. Why this flow? Why this order? Why does this even exist?
And if you keep going, sometimes you don’t have the answer yet. Sometimes it’s just “This is how it’s usually done”. Which isn’t really an answer at all.
Even Einstein Started Somewhere
There’s that Einstein quote: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough”. I think I understand my design, just not simply yet.
Someone once told me that even Albert Einstein, before relativity theory and all that, he was an ordinary guy with an ordinary office job. And right now I’m an ordinary designer at an agency.
Which is weirdly comforting, like everyone is just figuring things out before they “understand” something.
AI Can’t Save You Here
Figuring-out is the one part you can’t outsource. Not even AI can do that for you.
Sure, it can help you generate layouts, or give a very logical explanation like it knows exactly what it’s doing. But AI doesn’t know your context.
AI doesn’t sit in your meetings. It doesn’t read between the lines, and definitely it won’t save you from your senior quietly raising an eyebrow at your “nice try” answers.
Also Read: The Era of Artificial Everything: Balancing AI and Human Creativity
What I’m Learning to Do
I’m still figuring this out, but here’s what I’m working on:
- Stop saying “it feels right” like it’s a strategy
Because what does that even mean. A feeling isn’t a reason. - Treat “best practice” as a starting point
Sometimes “Best Practice” isn’t enough. Use it, sure, but at least question it once. - Explain the process, not just the pretty screen
No one cares if it looks clean if you can’t explain your decision. - Stop treating “Why this why that” like an attack
It’s uncomfortable being questioned over and over again, but it isn’t personal. - Use simple language over “smart” language
Not everyone needs the UX terms, sometimes they just want to understand what’s going on. - Get comfortable saying “I don’t know yet
In my opinion, “I don’t know yet” is better than empty excuses and answers.
Turns out designing isn’t the hard part. Knowing why is, and explaining that clearly is a whole different skill I’m still learning.