Table of Contents
- How I broke free from design-only thinking
- The problem with consuming only UX content
- Resources that changed the game for me
- How to filter out useless design content
- Content formats for different learning styles
- Using content to improve your design work
- Why you need knowledge beyond design
- Great design starts beyond design
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So you've been gorging on design podcasts and devouring UX articles.
That’s fine for the basics, but if you limit yourself to only design content, you're putting a ceiling on your potential.
How I broke free from design-only thinking
When I started out, I was obsessed.
Design Details podcast on repeat, Medium UX articles bookmarked by the dozens, and Brad Frost's Atomic Design permanently open on my tablet. I thought mastering design meant absorbing every pixel-pushing tip I could find.
But as my career grew, I noticed something: designers who made a real impact weren’t just design nerds. They understood business, psychology, and systems thinking. They knew how to sell their ideas, communicate vision, and navigate company politics.
So I shifted my focus.
Now my content diet is only about 20% pure design. I spend the other 80% on business strategy, sales techniques, marketing psychology, AI developments, and leadership skills. I watch more videos, read fewer blog posts, and seek diverse viewpoints instead of niche design debates.
The problem with consuming only UX content
Most design content still focuses on tools, UI trends, or "breaking into UX". But the best designers don’t just push pixels; they solve business problems. They make an impact beyond the interface.
If you want to grow, you need to expand your input sources.
Naval Ravikant calls this specific knowledge. Alex Hormozi calls it skill stacking.
It’s about acquiring unique insights and skills that cannot be easily replicated or commoditized. It’s also the foundation of a T-shaped designer; someone with deep expertise in one area but broad knowledge across multiple domains.
IDEO and McKinsey & Company popularized the term, emphasizing that strong designers need both deep expertise and broad knowledge. That means understanding adjacent fields like business strategy, psychology, and technology—not just design.
Resources that changed the game for me
I’ve wasted a lot of time figuring things out the hard way (no regrets though).
If you want to skip some of that trial and error, these books and resources will change the way you approach UX—just like they did for me. They helped me think bigger, work smarter, and actually make an impact instead of just pushing pixels.
- Sales Strategies: Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy — The psychology of persuasion in its rawest form.
- Marketing Psychology: Made to Stick by Chip Heath & Dan Heath — Why some ideas spread and others die.
- Behavioral Science: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman — A must-read for understanding human decision-making.
- Negotiation Tactics: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss — Practical negotiation lessons from an ex-FBI hostage negotiator.
- Storytelling Techniques: The Storytelling Animal by Jonathan Gottschall — How narratives shape the way people think and act.
- AI Developments: The Age of AI by Henry Kissinger, Eric Schmidt, and Daniel Huttenlocher — How AI is reshaping industries and human behavior.
How to filter out useless design content
Not all content is created equal. And with the internet drowning in UX hot takes, the real challenge isn’t finding content—it’s filtering out the junk.
Here’s how I separate valuable insights from recycled fluff:
- Check the source: Does this person actually design things, or just talk about design?
- Read the comments: Community reactions often reveal if something's legit.
- Compare with trusted sources: Does it align with what proven experts say?
- Try it yourself: If it doesn’t work in practice, it’s just theory.
If content doesn’t make you think differently or push you to try something new, it’s background noise.
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Content formats for different learning styles
The best format depends on how you learn and, more importantly, what pushes you to take action.
Personally, I gravitate toward podcasts and videos. They’re engaging, efficient, and often packed with real-world experiences. That said, nothing beats hands-on learning.
Here’s my breakdown:
- Podcasts & Videos: Great for trends and interviews, perfect for multitasking.
- Books: Deep learning, but only if you actually read them instead of letting them collect dust.
- Articles & Newsletters: Quick insights, but easy to forget after endless scrolling.
- Hands-on Practice: The only thing that actually makes you better. Reading about design isn’t designing.
Pick whatever format pushes you to actually do something with what you learn.
Using content to improve your design work
Good content should change how you work. When I hear about team dynamics or product strategy, I immediately think about applying it to my current projects.
But context is everything.
What works for a 500-person tech company might fail at your startup.
Use content as a starting point, not a rulebook:
- Does watching a design sprint video make you an expert? No.
- But good content gives you mental frameworks and fresh perspectives.
- Smart designers don’t copy-paste methods—they adapt ideas to their unique situations.
Why you need knowledge beyond design
If you’re only consuming design content, you’re limiting your perspective. Some of the most valuable lessons come from outside the field.
History proves this.
- Steve Jobs credited a college calligraphy course for shaping the Macintosh’s typography—teaching him the nuances of serif vs. sans serif and what makes great type.
- Indra Nooyi’s business acumen, shaped by her Yale management degree, redefined PepsiCo’s strategy.
- Ursula Burns, an engineer-turned-CEO, championed STEM education and proved that technical expertise fuels strong leadership.
The best leaders—designers included—pull insights from unexpected places. They prove that cross-disciplinary knowledge sparks innovation.
By embracing a diverse learning approach and drawing inspiration from a wide array of fields and leaders, you can enhance your design practice and make a more substantial impact in your work.
The best designers do the same. They think beyond UI.
Great design isn’t just about aesthetics or usability; it’s about impact.
The more you understand the bigger picture, the more influence you’ll have.
Great design starts beyond design
If you’re still only reading UX blogs and listening to design podcasts, you’re playing small.
Design doesn’t exist in isolation. It connects to business goals, human psychology, and cultural trends. The best designers aren’t just skilled craftspeople—they’re well-rounded thinkers who draw inspiration from everywhere.
Expand your content diet beyond design.
Your career will thank you.
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