From Critique to Commit: What Graphic Design Taught Me About Writing Code 🎨🧑‍💻

You don’t usually hear “graphic design” and “software engineering” in the same sentence unless someone’s trashing frontend work. But I spent years in design before switching careers, and let me tell you: the overlap is real.

Here’s a look at the lessons that made the leap with me—because clean code and clean layouts aren’t all that different.

🎯 Take Criticism Without Crumbling

Design reviews teach you quick: if you can’t take feedback, you’re in the wrong room.

Same thing with code reviews. You’re not your code. You’re not your design. If someone spots a better way, that’s not failure—it’s collaboration.

The goal isn’t praise. It’s progress.

🧠 Listen to What They Want — Give Them What They Need

Clients would say things like “Make it pop” or “Use Comic Sans,” and your job was to decode what they really meant.

In engineering, it’s stakeholders asking for a dashboard when what they need is better visibility or faster feedback. It’s our job to understand the problem behind the ask—and build for that, not just follow orders.

🛠️ Offer Options—But Only Good Ones

Designers know: don’t show anything you’re not okay with going live. That “just in case” mock? That’s the one they’ll pick.

Same in code. If you’re proposing solutions, make sure every one of them is something you’re actually willing to build and support. Don’t pad your options with junk to make your favorite look better. It’ll backfire.

🔁 Expect Revisions. Always.

Every designer expects changes. New direction. New feedback. New constraints. You build that into the process.

In software, we call it iteration. Refactors. V2. The sooner you accept that the first version won’t be the final one, the better your mindset—and your product—will be.

👀 People Don’t Know What They Want Until They See It

This one’s universal.

You show someone a blank canvas and they freeze. You show them something—even rough—and suddenly the ideas come out.

Prototypes, early builds, wireframes—these are conversation starters, not just deliverables. Build just enough to make the invisible visible.

🧱 Bad Structure Always Bubbles Up

In design, if the grid’s off or spacing’s inconsistent, the whole thing feels messy—even if you can’t explain why.

Same with code. Weak abstractions, unclear naming, inconsistent patterns—they quietly infect the rest of the system. Eventually, they get loud.

Bad decisions compound. Clean it up early, or pay the price later.

✂️ Keep It Simple

Overdesigned layouts are like overengineered systems—impressive on the surface, but exhausting to maintain.

In both cases, less is usually more. The real skill is knowing when to stop. Focus on clarity. Nail the basics. Fancy comes later (if ever).

🧽 Don’t Overwork It

There’s a point where more effort doesn’t make it better—it just makes it different. And maybe worse.

Whether it’s a landing page or a feature branch, stop polishing when the value stops increasing. Done is better than perfect. Let it breathe. Ship it. Revisit if needed.

Final Thoughts

Design trained me to think in systems, to communicate visually, and to iterate fast. Engineering taught me to be precise, test everything, and build for others.

The bridge between the two? Clear thinking, good instincts, and the willingness to throw out your favorite idea when something better comes along.

Two fields. Same muscle.