Throughout my career, I’ve observed a stark contrast between the work of junior, mid-level, and senior SaaS product designers.
The most impactful designers don’t just create beautiful interfaces—they shape entire experiences, influence business strategies, and build ecosystems that resonate with users.
Here are the Nine habits that set top performers apart and actionable insights to help you adopt these practices in your work.
Are you tired of losing customers due to clunky, outdated designs?
I specialize in transforming B2B SaaS products into intuitive, user-friendly experiences that attract and retain customers.
1
Decade of Experience
Leveraging over 12+ years of experience, I streamline self-serve sign-up processes, enhance onboarding flows, and minimize user friction to accelerate their journey toward that crucial “aha” moment.
2
Problem-Solving Thinking
By identifying and addressing critical design flaws, I provide actionable plans that optimize your product’s user experience, ensuring it’s not only easy to learn but also genuinely enjoyable.
3
Let’s Collaborate
Let’s collaborate to elevate your product’s design and drive sustainable growth.
1. They Design for Deletion ❌
Great designers don’t stop at onboarding—they plan for a product’s entire lifecycle, including how users leave it.
Why it matters: Allowing users to exit gracefully builds trust. For example, Slack lets teams deactivate accounts while preserving data for future reactivation. Spotify simplifies subscription cancellations but offers personalized playlists to win users back.
Actionable steps:
- Design intuitive data export tools (e.g., Google Takeout).
- Include reconsideration prompts during offboarding (“Are you sure? Here’s what you’ll lose”).
- Audit deletion flows to remove friction—fewer clicks mean fewer frustrated users.
2. They Master the Art of Saying “No” 🙅♂️
Top designers resist the temptation to cram every stakeholder request into a product.
Why it matters: Feature bloat dilutes user value. Instagram’s early success stemmed from its simplicity—a photo-sharing app that resisted becoming a “Swiss Army knife” of social media.
Actionable steps:
- Use frameworks like RICE (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) to prioritize features.
- Frame pushbacks around user goals: “Adding this feature might delay solving [core user problem].”
- Collaborate with stakeholders to align on a shared vision.
3. They Prototype Relentlessly 📲
Static mockups are table stakes: the best designers prototype interactions, edge cases, and system logic.
Why it matters: A Figma prototype revealed that users struggled with Airbnb’s booking calendar, leading to a simplified “single-scroll” design.
Actionable steps:
- Use Figma’s interactive components to simulate flows (e.g., error states, loading screens).
- Test prototypes with real users—tools like Maze or UserTesting uncover hidden pain points.
- For complex logic, code prototypes in Framer or React to mimic real-world behavior.
4. They Treat Microcopy as Design ✍
Words are UX. Effective designers own every text element, from error messages to tooltips.
Why it matters: Mailchimp’s playful error messages (“Ruh-roh!”) turn frustrations into moments of delight.
Actionable steps:
- Write clear, empathetic copy (e.g., “Payment failed. Let’s try another card” vs. “Error 402”).
- Collaborate with writers early—don’t leave text as an afterthought.
- A/B test microcopy to optimize clarity (e.g., “Submit” vs. “Get Started”).
5. They Think in “Jobs to Be Done” 💼 (JTBD)
Interfaces are tools—what matters is the problem users hire your product to solve.
Why it matters: Uber didn’t design a “taxi app”; they solved the job of “getting a ride quickly.”
Actionable steps:
- Frame user stories around JTBD: “When [situation], I want to [action] so I can [outcome].”
- Conduct user interviews to uncover hidden jobs (e.g., “I use Notion to feel organized, not just take notes”).
- Prioritize features that directly address core jobs over “nice-to-haves.”
6. They Optimize for Speed 🚀, Not Perfection
Effective designers ship fast, iterate faster, and avoid polish paralysis.
Why it matters: Dropbox’s MVP was a video demo—no code—to validate demand before building.
Actionable steps:
- Build a design system with tokens, auto-layouts, and reusable components.
- Use “ugly” prototypes for early testing—focus on functionality, not aesthetics.
- Set time limits for explorations (e.g., 45 minutes per screen).
7. They Balance Data 👨🏻💻 with Intuition 🧿
Metrics guide decisions, but great designers also trust their gut.
Why it matters: Airbnb’s “wish list” feature succeeded despite low initial engagement because the team believed in its emotional value.
Actionable steps:
- Pair quantitative data (A/B tests, heatmaps) with qualitative insights (user interviews).
- Ask: “Does this feel right?” when data is inconclusive.
- Advocate for emotional design (e.g., Duolingo’s celebratory animations) alongside usability.
8. They Collaborate Across Disciplines 🧩
Great designers don’t work in isolation. They collaborate with developers, marketers, and product managers to ensure alignment. They know that successful product design requires a shared vision and open communication across teams.
9. They Continuously Learn and Adapt 📚
The best designers never stop learning. They stay updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and evolving user behaviors. Through online courses, attending design conferences, or engaging with the design community, they continuously refine their skills to stay ahead.
The Bigger Picture: SaaS Designers as Ecosystem Architects
The best product designers don’t just craft screens—they shape business strategies and ecosystems. Consider how Apple’s designers integrate hardware, software, and services into a seamless experience. To thrive:
- Think cross-functionally: Partner with engineers, PMs, and marketers early.
- Map ecosystems: Visualize how your product fits into users’ broader workflows.
- Advocate for ethics: Design for sustainability (e.g., reducing digital carbon footprints).
What habit transformed YOUR design practice?
Was it learning to say “no” to scope creep? Prototyping interactions early? Share your story below! 👇
Design isn’t just about pixels—it’s about impact. Adopt these habits, and you’ll create better products and elevate your role as a strategic leader. ✨