I’m currently working as a solo product designer at my company and struggling to deliver work that sticks. A lot of the time, my designs get rejected or need rework. Could you guide me on this?

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Do not index
Do not index
Here’s some of the feedback I’ve received from my peers:
  • need more consistency in design elements.
  • my design solutions are not for the modern systems.
  • need to align the design system with the developer.
  • research before jumping into design.

Addressing feedback from peers

1. Being modern

Find out what "modern" means to the person approving your design.
To do this, create a moodboard with examples of products or brands they admire. If a moodboard isn’t clear enough, ask for a list of products they like.
This will save you time and keep you from guessing what their taste is.
Other brand exercises—like asking for a few key words that describe the brand—could also help you get on the same page.

2. Consistency and design system

Does the company have an existing design system?
If they do, they’re right to want consistency.
If not, start by collecting screenshots of the current product to understand what’s already there.
Create a library of what exists, then focus on what’s missing before introducing any new patterns.
Another trick is use Google’s Material 3 guidelines as a base to build on.

3. Research

It really depends on what they mean by "research."
Are they asking you to look at other products? If so, Mobbin is a great resource.
Or are they talking about user research, like talking to real users? Those are two different things, so make sure you clarify what they mean.
 

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