How do you keep your design skills and knowledge up to date in a fast-changing industry?

1 Understand the goals and expectations

The first step in any onboarding process is to understand the goals and expectations of your role, your team, and your organization. What are the main objectives and challenges of your project? What are the key performance indicators and deadlines? How do you communicate and collaborate with your colleagues and stakeholders? What are the standards and guidelines for your design work? How do you receive and give feedback? These are some of the questions you should ask and clarify as soon as possible to align your vision and actions with the rest of the team.

2 Learn the tools and workflows

The next step is to learn the tools and workflows that you will use in your daily work. Depending on the type and size of your project, you may need to familiarize yourself with different software, platforms, and systems. For example, you may need to use design tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD, prototyping tools like InVision, Marvel, or Framer, collaboration tools like Slack, Trello, or Asana, and testing tools like UserTesting, Hotjar, or Google Analytics. You should also learn how to access, organize, and share your files and assets, how to document and present your work, and how to follow the design process and methodology of your team.

3 Research the users and the market

The third step is to research the users and the market that you are designing for. As a designer, you need to understand the needs, preferences, behaviors, and pain points of your target audience, as well as the competitive landscape, the industry trends, and the best practices. You can use various methods and sources to gather and analyze user and market data, such as interviews, surveys, personas, user journeys, benchmarks, reviews, and reports. You should also review the existing design work and feedback, and identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats for your project.

4 Explore the ideas and solutions

The fourth step is to explore the ideas and solutions that you can offer to your users and your project. This is where you can unleash your creativity and apply your design skills and knowledge to generate and evaluate different concepts and alternatives. You can use techniques like brainstorming, sketching, wireframing, mockups, and prototypes to visualize and test your ideas, and get feedback from your team and users. You should also consider the feasibility, viability, and desirability of your solutions, and how they fit into the overall strategy and vision of your project.

5 Implement and iterate the design

The fifth step is to implement and iterate the design that you have chosen and validated. This is where you turn your ideas and solutions into reality and deliver the final product or service to your users and your project. You should follow the design specifications and guidelines, and ensure the quality and consistency of your work. You should also monitor and measure the performance and impact of your design, and collect and analyze the data and feedback. You should then use the insights and learnings to improve and refine your design, and repeat the process as needed.

6 Grow and develop your skills

The sixth and final step is to grow and develop your skills as a designer. Onboarding is not a one-time event, but a continuous learning opportunity. You should always seek to expand your knowledge and expertise, and keep up with the changes and innovations in your field. You can use various resources and activities to learn and grow, such as online courses, books, podcasts, blogs, newsletters, webinars, events, communities, mentors, and peers. You should also reflect on your achievements and challenges, and set goals and plans for your personal and professional development.