97 Things Every UX Practitioner Should Know

Chapter 42. Make Learning a Part of Your Design Process

Michelle Morgan

Most people focus on learning from mistakes, but the bulk of our daily work comprises things we consistently do right, things that are neither right nor wrong, things not yet done, and new things that resulted in successful experiences. As UX practitioners, if we take time to reflect across all aspects of a project—the good, the bad, and the meh—we can exponentially increase our learning and self-improvement. Here are some ways to incorporate learning into your work:

1. Keep a daily work journal: Jotting down a few notes at the end of each day creates a habit of review and assessment with low effort. Use a specific notebook that nothing else goes in and keep the questions to a standard sprint framework:

   • What happened today—tasks by project, unusual events, insights?

   • What should I stop doing? Continue doing? Start doing?

   • What do I need to learn?

2. Analyze a recently completed project: Before a sprint or project retrospective, take 20–30 minutes to review and identify significant events. Start with your calendar to establish a chronology. After noting what happened and when, ask yourself a few questions:

   • What was great or fell flat?

   • How did the client react?

   • What would I do differently?

   • How is similar work in the office going?

3. Review a coworker’s projects: Have someone review their project with you. Take time ...