Working Without a Team: What I’ve Learned as a Solo Designer So Far

Being a solo designer means wearing every hat. Researcher, strategist, visual designer, prototyper, advocate. It can be overwhelming, but also incredibly empowering.

One thing I’ve learned is how important it is to document my thinking. When I don’t have a teammate to bounce ideas off, I talk to myself in FigJam or write quick design briefs to clarify decisions. I also learned to validate my work early, whether through user tests or gut-checks with friends and mentors.

Working solo has made me more resourceful, more opinionated, and more intentional. It taught me that while design is often collaborative, you can still design well with just your own curiosity, structure, and drive.