What if the most powerful skill you could develop as a designer has nothing to do with Figma or AI? In this episode, we explore why writing is the ultimate meta-skill—sharpening your thinking, influencing decisions, and accelerating your career in unexpected ways. |
Is writing the most underrated design skill of all time?
Most designers practice their craft in Figma.
Very few practice with words.
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But here’s the thing: writing is like mental strength training.
When you sit down to write, even for five minutes, you force yourself to clarify your ideas. You find the gaps in your thinking. You learn to explain design decisions in a way that actually makes sense to someone else.
That’s why Thijs Kraan treats writing like going to the gym.
One post a day. Every day. For years.
In this week’s episode of Beyond UX Design, we talk about:
➡️ How a 30-day challenge turned into a writing streak that changed his career
➡️ Why clear writing = clear thinking
➡️ The three buckets of writing every designer should practice
➡️ When AI helps your writing, and when it makes you worse
If you’ve been struggling to build momentum in your career or sharpen your influence, my conversation with Thijs will give you a habit worth trying.
🎯 Here are some key takeaways from our chat |
1️⃣ Build writing into your daily routine: Writing doesn’t have to mean starting a blog or cranking out LinkedIn posts. It can be as simple as a daily list, a weekly reflection, or a brief note before work. The point is to make writing a habit. By starting small and attaching it to something you already do, like your morning coffee, you’ll reinforce consistency without overwhelming yourself.
2️⃣ Treat writing as thinking: If your ideas aren’t clear on paper, they aren’t clear in your head. Writing forces you to identify gaps, refine your logic, and make your thinking more precise. Use writing as a tool to clarify your own thoughts before you ever present them to others. That clarity will carry over into your design work and decision-making.
3️⃣ Separate writing buckets: Not all writing serves the same purpose. Thijs breaks it down into three categories: business writing (emails, memos, Slack), expert writing (essays, case studies, documenting your expertise), and copywriting (persuasion and influence, whether for clients or stakeholders). Knowing which mode you’re in helps you sharpen your approach.
4️⃣ Use writing as a feedback loop: Publishing your thoughts, even in small ways, creates opportunities for feedback. Sharing posts, memos, or even Slack updates lets others spot holes you missed. That input becomes fuel for refining your ideas and improving faster than you could on your own.
5️⃣ Don’t outsource your thinking to AI: AI can be a useful tool for generating prompts, brainstorming alternatives, or finding the right word, but it should never replace your own thinking. If you let AI write for you, you risk producing average, generic work, and you completely lose the benefits of writing.
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You iterated, pivoted, circle-backed, and made it out of Q2 (barely).
You’ve earned a Merit-ish Badge!
Choose from three sets:
• Soft Skills, Sharp Tongue
• Cult of Figma Initiation
• Pixel Pusher Survivor Kit
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They don't teach this stuff in school
Learn the things they left off the syllabus.
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