Join 20k+ people who love good design. Get my best tips, resources, and strategies to elevate your design skills and grow your business.
Charting Your Own Course
A couple of years ago, I hit the reset button on my design business and my life. Back then, I felt stuck. Like many, I believed success meant building a perfect business — hiring a team, scaling up, and making detailed plans for the future. I was caught up in doing what I thought I was supposed to do. Every step was about reaching some industry standard, not about what I really wanted. The joy of designing, my true passion, was getting lost in the noise of ‘business growth’. That’s when I decided to change course. I shifted my focus back to what I loved the most — designing. I started building my business around my passion, not what looked best on paper. Sure, my approach isn’t the most optimized or fanciest out there, but it’s mine and brings me joy. Since then, I’ve been focusing on enjoying my work, learning new things, and growing in the design space. It’s not about the rat race anymore; it’s about loving what I do daily. I consciously chose not to grow my business (8px.studio) beyond what I needed. It’s okay to stay small. This decision has brought me more peace and satisfaction than any big-scale operation could. It’s a reminder that sometimes, success is about being content with where you are and enjoying the journey. As we enter a new year, we naturally feel the urge to catch up, compare, and compete. I want to encourage you to pause for a moment and consider what you can change this year. Take better care of yourself and begin by charting your own course. Here are a couple of tips on how to reset yourself in 2024: Reflect on the past, but don’t dwell on it.Start by reflecting on the past year - what worked, what didn’t, and what lessons you learned. Use these insights as stepping stones, not as anchors. Remember, reflection is a tool for learning, not a dwelling place for regret. Set your own pace.It’s easy to get lost in the noise of what everyone else is doing. This year, make a conscious effort to set your own pace. Your journey as a designer is unique. Embrace it. Set goals that align with your personal growth and professional aspirations. Choose your goals wisely.Be selective about the goals you set. Choose ones that genuinely excite you and align with your long-term vision. Once set, break these goals down into achievable steps. Remember, flexibility in approach is key. Be ready to adapt and evolve your strategies as you progress. Inspiration, not imitation.While it’s important to stay updated with the latest in design, it’s more important not to lose your unique voice in the process. Draw inspiration from others, but forge your own path. Your individuality is your greatest asset as a designer. Trust yourself and embrace mistakes.One of my biggest lessons in this journey is to trust myself more. Sure, making mistakes can be scary, but they’re also crucial to growth. It’s better to take action, even if it leads to a few stumbles, than to get stuck in the loop of overthinking and never launching anything. Every mistake has been a stepping stone, teaching something valuable. I’m still learning, but the truth is that, just like in design and business, perfection is a myth. What’s more important is your ability to take action, learn, and adapt. So, what path are you taking on in 2024? Tip of the weekEmbrace Keyboard Shortcuts in FigmaMastering keyboard shortcuts in Figma is a game-changer for any designer looking to speed up their workflow. Why is speed crucial? Well, in design, time is indeed money. The faster you work, the more iterations you can create and the more you can experiment with your designs, leading to innovative and refined outcomes. Some of my favorite Figma-specific shortcuts that have significantly boosted my efficiency include:
What got me inspiredflyhyer.comI came across this beautiful design while doing research for one of our design studio's clients (8px.studio). I admire the clever use of white space, modern typography, and grid-based layout. It reminds me of the Swiss style design. Take the Next Step
Thank you for your support! |
Rafal Tomal
Join 20k+ people who love good design. Get my best tips, resources, and strategies to elevate your design skills and grow your business.
Design Through Fast Iterations We often dive deep into design theory and spend hours on tutorials learning new skills. But I don’t think we focus enough on practical techniques that actually help us achieve the best results. You can have all that design knowledge, but you still need a process that helps you stay creative, make those little decisions at every step, and find the best solution. When I first started designing, I’d often stare at a blank page, unsure of where to begin. My usual...
Auto Layout in Figma: to use or not to use? Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the debate around auto layout in Figma. On one side, you’ve got designers who say skipping auto layout makes their work faster—they don’t have to get bogged down in the details, and it speeds up their process. On the other hand, some argue that auto layout is essential for efficiency, helping to maintain consistent spacing, reposition elements easily, and ensure everything is pixel-perfect. Personally, I’ve...
It’s Typespiration Time! Lately, I've been feeling a bit nostalgic for the days when design was just pure fun—no business plans, no client deadlines, no specific goals, just the joy of creating. So, I decided to revisit one of my older side projects, Typespiration. It reminded me of a time when I could simply create, share, and not worry too much about anything else. For those of you who haven't heard of it before, Typespiration is a collection of simple designs that play with different sets...