Module 1: Understanding Yourself as a Designer
Start here: Listen to the lesson's introduction
In this lesson, we’ll dive into one of the most enlightening aspects of self-discovery: understanding your personality type. This is more than just an introduction to a personality test—it's a gateway to uncovering how your unique traits shape your design approach, collaboration style, and career trajectory.
We’ll explore a Personalities Test to help you identify your type. We’ll discuss how this knowledge can be a game-changer at the start of your design career, and can influence your design work, from how you approach problem-solving to how you manage feedback and collaborate with colleagues. You’ll learn practical strategies for leveraging your personality strengths and addressing potential challenges, setting you up for success in the dynamic field of design.
How to use your personality in your job search?
Key tips
Tailored Job Search: By knowing your personality type, you can identify the types of roles, teams, and company cultures where you’re likely to thrive. For example, if you're more introverted, you might seek out workplaces that value deep, focused work rather than constant collaboration. On the other hand, extroverts might prefer dynamic environments with lots of teamwork and client interaction.
Highlighting Strengths in Interviews: When you understand your strengths and weaknesses, you can articulate them clearly in interviews. You’ll be able to confidently explain how your unique traits, like being detail-oriented or a strong communicator, make you the perfect fit for a particular role.
Effective Collaboration: Knowing your personality type helps you understand how you interact with others. Early in your career, this self-awareness can guide you in building effective working relationships. You'll be better equipped to manage conflicts, communicate your ideas, and collaborate with diverse teams, which is crucial when you're just starting out.
Personal Growth and Development: Recognizing areas where you might struggle allows you to proactively seek growth opportunities. For instance, if you tend to be more reserved, you might focus on developing your communication skills, or if you're highly analytical, you might work on balancing that with creative thinking.
Building Confidence: Starting out in the design field can be overwhelming. Understanding your personality type provides a foundation of self-assurance, helping you navigate uncertainty with confidence. You’ll know how to leverage your strengths and how to approach challenges, making the transition into your career smoother.
Let’s start by diving into something incredibly valuable for your design journey: understanding your personality. The 16 Personalities Test is a fantastic tool based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It breaks down your personality into one of 16 types, each with its own unique traits and preferences. Think of it as a mirror reflecting your natural tendencies and preferences.
Once you’ve got your results, take a deep dive into your personality type. For instance, if you’re an INTJ (Architect), you might discover that you’re a strategic thinker who loves to solve complex problems independently. If you’re an ENFP (Campaigner), you might find that you’re a creative, outgoing person who excels in collaborative settings. Each type has its own set of strengths and ways of working, so understanding these can help you play to your strengths and manage areas that need improvement
What personality type do you have?
How to take the test
Visit the Website: Go to 16personalities.com or a similar site.
Complete the Questionnaire: Take your time to answer each question thoughtfully. It’s not a race—be honest about how you feel and think in different situations.
Review your results: After completing the test, you’ll get a detailed description of your personality type. This profile includes insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and the types of work environments where you’ll thrive.
In the world of design, you’ll often find yourself working with a variety of people, each with their own personality type. Understanding these differences can help you navigate teamwork more smoothly.
How can personality impact your career?
Macro personalities
Extroverts might thrive in environments with lots of collaboration and frequent brainstorming sessions.
Introverts might enjoy setting up a serene workspace with minimal distractions.
Sensing Types: They might excel in creating detailed user interfaces based on specific requirements.
Intuitive Types: They may be better at envisioning innovative concepts and exploring broad design possibilities.
Micro personalities
For Judging types (J): When working with someone who likes structure, be sure to provide organized briefs and stick to timelines.
For Perceiving types (P): When working with those who prefer flexibility, be open to changing plans and adapting as needed.
For Feeling types (F): Show empathy and consideration in your interactions, especially during feedback sessions.
For Feeling types (F): Provide clear, logical arguments and data to support your design choices.
How can you leverage strengths and manage weaknesses?
Leveraging strengths and managing weaknesses is crucial for maximizing your effectiveness as a designer.
Leveraging Personality Strengths
Identify Your Strengths: Start by understanding what you excel at. Whether it’s a particular design skill, like UX research, or personal traits, such as creativity or problem-solving, knowing your strengths helps you focus on what you do best.
Align Projects with Strengths: Seek out design projects or roles that align with your strengths. For example, if you’re particularly good at visual design, you might take on projects that allow you to showcase your skills in creating compelling visuals.
Showcase Your Strengths: Use your strengths to stand out in job applications and interviews. Highlight specific examples where your strengths have led to successful outcomes or improvements. This not only demonstrates your value but also helps potential employers see where you can make an impact.
Develop Specialization: Consider specializing in areas where you have strong skills. This can help you become known as an expert in a particular niche, making you more attractive to employers or clients looking for specific expertise.
Seek Feedback and Refine: Continuously seek feedback on your strengths to refine and enhance them. For instance, if you excel in user interface design, ask for critiques to fine-tune your approach and keep improving.
Managing Personality Weaknesses
Acknowledge and Accept: Recognize and accept your weaknesses without self-criticism. Understanding your limitations is the first step to addressing them constructively.
Develop Skills: Work on improving areas where you’re less strong. For instance, if you struggle with time management, consider using tools or techniques to better organize and prioritize your tasks.
Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to seek help from colleagues or mentors in areas where you’re weaker. Collaborating with others can provide you with valuable insights and support, helping you grow in those areas.
Delegate and Collaborate: When working on a team, delegate tasks that align with others' strengths and where you might have weaknesses. Effective collaboration allows you to focus on what you do best while relying on others to handle areas where you might not be as strong.
Use Weaknesses as Opportunities for Growth: View weaknesses as opportunities for growth rather than barriers. Setting specific goals to improve in these areas can turn them into new strengths over time.
Wrap-up
In this lesson, we explored the profound journey of discovering your personality type and how it influences your path as a designer. Understanding your unique traits is not just about taking a personality test—it's about gaining deeper insights into how you approach design, collaborate with others, and navigate your career.
By recognizing your strengths and areas for growth, you can tailor your design process to align with who you truly are. This self-awareness will empower you to make more informed decisions, build stronger relationships, and carve out a career path that reflects your individuality. Embrace your personality type as a powerful tool in your professional arsenal, guiding you toward a more authentic and fulfilling design journey.
Hands-on Practice
How to take your personalities test
Step 1: Visit the Website
Go to 16personalities.com or a similar site.
Step 2: Complete the Questionnaire
Take your time to answer each question thoughtfully. It’s not a race—be honest about how you feel and think in different situations.Step 3: Review your results
After completing the test, you’ll get a detailed description of your personality type. This profile includes insights into your strengths, weaknesses, and the types of work environments where you’ll thrive.
Deep prompts
How will your personality traits influence your job search and application process?
Reflect on how your unique qualities might influence the way you search for jobs, write your resume, or prepare for interviews. Consider how you can use your strengths to stand out to potential employers.
Which personality strengths can you highlight to potential employers, and how will you showcase them?
Identify which of your traits align well with the demands of a design role and brainstorm ways to present these strengths clearly and confidently in your application materials and during interviews.
What challenges might your personality present in a team, and how can you address them?
Even if you haven't worked in a team yet, consider hypothetical scenarios where your personality traits could lead to challenges. Plan how you might handle these situations positively in a professional environment.