How I Explain Design Decisions to Non-Designers (Without Losing Them)

Explaining design isn’t just about sharing your decisions it’s about translating them into someone else’s language.

When I talk to non-designers, I try to avoid jargon. Instead of saying "visual hierarchy," I might say, "We want to make sure the most important thing is what people notice first." I focus on the why, not just the what. And I try to anchor everything in the user: "Here’s what we heard from testing, and here’s how this change helps."

My goal isn’t to win an argument it’s to create shared understanding. Because when everyone feels included in the design process, the final product is always stronger.