My 5 key takeaways as a designer who told a story

It often takes around 2 to 4 years for a designer to grasp the significance of using design as a storytelling tool. However, even as a beginner, you possess the power to share a compelling story through your designs. I believe each one of us has a unique story waiting to be told.

Here are 5 key takeaways, I have learned through my storytelling journey from stumbling through college presentations to navigating corporate meetings,

• Always start with the context.

  • I have often made this mistake, by directly starting what I worked on, rather than sharing, where I was previously, or what changed. Over time, I realized it saves so much time in setting the stage before you show that awesome design of yours!

  
  

• Skip the overuse of jargon.

  • Chances are the person who would be influencing the decision doesn’t speak the “components” language designers are used to. Keeping the language simple goes a long way.

  
  

• The presentation deck is only an aid.

  • One can often solely rely on the deck and finish the presentation, but if we look at it objectively, the person can already read the slide. It doesn’t make it easier to read it out loud, instead use it to dive deeper into your thought process and talk about how you got there.

  
  

• Be happy to share no matter the outcome, people can sense energy.

  • Anxiety is a very human feeling. But if you aren’t excited to share your designs (even if it isn’t up to the mark) then chances are you wouldn’t be excited to talk about it either and people will be left confused at the end of the story.

  
  

• Always summarize.

  • No one likes a 3 1/2-hour movie anymore, while there might have been long days behind the designs, the point is to be brief. Additionally keeping it short leaves more room to hear different perspectives. If you have a design that you are working on for the future but is irrelevant to this meeting? Cut it short.

To close this short story, as juniors, one may be expected to keep silent or observe in meetings, but there’s always a starting point. If you’ve worked on something on your own, it means, it’s as much your story as much as the team’s. So, whether you're a junior or a seasoned pro, every design you touch tells a story. Your voice matters. Embrace it, share your story, and make every design moment count!

Happy narrating!