I have worked with dozens of designers over the years and I have seen everything from the trap of beauty without usability to neglecting the product strategy, I will even show you how to spot these red flags early in the recruitment process.
1. Lack of User-Centric Focus
First up, is the lack of User-Centric focus, I remember working with a product designer, whose designs were similar to modern art, sublime, and eccentric, but they were unusable, that’s what happens when designers forget who they’re designing for—the users. Great design should solve real problems and make life easier, not just prettier.”
What can you do? Start with user research. Before you sketch your first design, talk to your users. Understand their needs, frustrations, and desires. Use surveys, interviews, and usability tests. This ensures your design is not just beautiful but truly useful.”
2. Resistance to Collaboration and Feedback
“Next, resistance to collaboration and feedback. Design is a team sport. When a designer acts like a lone wolf, refusing to play ball with others or getting super defensive about any critique, it spells trouble. Collaboration is what turns good designs into great ones.”
“if you face this problem within your team, here is what you need to do. Foster a culture of open communication and constructive criticism. Regular design reviews and feedback sessions can help. Encourage your team to share ideas and critiques in a supportive environment. You need to hammer this point home, Feedback is not personal—it’s about making the product better.”
3. Inconsistency in Design Elements
“Number three is inconsistency in design elements. I was building a CRM with a designer, and I remember him walking me through the designs, each page felt like it belonged to a different app, and he used different colors and UI elements.
I felt disoriented. Consistency in colors, typography, and UI components isn’t just about looking good—it’s about making the user’s journey feel smooth and intuitive.”
“The best way to fix this is to Create and strictly follow a design system. This includes a consistent set of colors, typography, and UI components. A design system acts as the single source of truth for your team, ensuring consistency across your product.”
4. Overcomplicating Design Solutions
“Moving on to overcomplicating design solutions. There is a popular quote by Davinci “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” That’s golden advice in design. Complex designs can look impressive, but if they confuse users, what’s the point? Simple, clear solutions are often the most effective.”
“If your designs are too complicated, here’s what to do: For every design element, ask yourself, ‘Is this necessary?’ Use clear, straightforward solutions. Simplify user flows and eliminate unnecessary steps. Keep it simple, but effective.”
5. Inability to Adapt to Design Trends or Standards
“Fifth, the inability to adapt to design trends or standards. Designers stuck in the past, ignoring current trends or guidelines, risk creating products that feel outdated before they even launch. Staying updated is key to keeping designs fresh and user-friendly.”
“the way to mitigate is by Dedicating time each week to learning. Follow design blogs, attend webinars, and participate in design communities. Updating your skills is crucial to keep your designs fresh and engaging.”
6. Neglecting the Broader Product Strategy
“And lastly, number 6—the one that gave me a real headache—neglecting the broader product strategy. I worked with several product designers whose eyes would roll every time I would mention strategy.
They just want to focus on the current task. It’s like focusing on a single tree and forgetting you’re in a forest. Designers need to see the big picture, ensuring their work aligns with the overall vision and goals of the product.”
“The way that I dealt with this situation is to maintain a regular alignment meeting between designers, product managers, and the broader team. Understand the product vision and goals. Your designs should look good and drive the product strategy forward.”
You can spot these red flags during the 3 stages of the recruitment process
1.First Stage in the portfolio interview
Review the candidate’s portfolio for clear, simple solutions to complex problems. Overly complex designs that prioritize form over function can indicate a tendency to overcomplicate.
Evaluate the portfolio for evidence of current design trends and adherence to best practices. Outdated designs or a lack of awareness about industry standards can signal a reluctance to adapt.
2. Second stage is during the interview
Ask candidates to describe how they approach design challenges and listen for mentions of user research, user feedback, and usability testing. A candidate focused more on aesthetics than user needs might not be user-centric.
Inquire about experiences working with cross-functional teams and handling feedback. Look for stories that demonstrate openness to critique and a collaborative spirit. Defensive responses or reluctance to discuss teamwork can be red flags.
Discuss the candidate’s approach to maintaining consistency across designs. Candidates who lack an understanding of design systems or who cannot articulate how they ensure consistency may struggle with this in your projects.
Use behavioral interview questions to uncover how candidates have dealt with past challenges. For example, ask them to describe a time when they had to incorporate user feedback they initially disagreed with.
If possible, involve a few team members in the interview process to assess the candidate’s fit within the team’s culture and their ability to collaborate effectively.
3. Reference checks
When speaking with references, ask about the candidate’s ability to align their designs with broader product strategies and goals. References might reveal whether the designer considers the bigger picture or focuses too narrowly on design tasks.
Bonus Tip: Consider giving a design challenge that mirrors real work scenarios your team faces. This can help you observe firsthand how candidates tackle problems, incorporate feedback, and work within a team dynamic.
The success of the product does not fall on the designer alone, Product managers and designers should know how to work effectively together to build successful products. Check out this video to find out more.
