The Role of Intuition in Design

The role of intuition in design, RZN8 Media

Written by Jen Baers

Jen Baers is a creative strategist, storyteller and problem solver. Guiding clients to trust their intuition and create from a place of resonance.

February 24, 2023

Intuition + Design

What guides you?

Do you tune into your inner voice, or do you go outside yourself and listen to external forces? The digital age is moving at lighting speed. There is so much information coming at us from all angles, and it is truly overwhelming. We end up jumping from one external thing to the next. Events, information, purchases, opinions, and it’s like being the ball in a pin ball machine. 

As a graphic designer I rely on my intuition as a tool that guides me in my work. In this blog post we’re going to talk about the role of intuition as a guiding force in graphic design work. My hope is to remind you to listen to that inner feeling. When you tune in, those instincts can guide you to make clear decisions from a place of inner knowing.  

Intuition means learning from within. It is a sense of knowing or understanding something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning or evidence. It’s a feeling, a hunch, or a gut instinct that arises from the subconscious mind and guides us in making decisions or taking action.

Intuition is an entire system in your inner being that is guiding you and it can manifest in different ways. It can be a physical sensation, such as a feeling in the pit of the stomach or a fluttering in the chest. It can also be a mental impression, such as a sudden insight, a flash of inspiration, or a sense of clarity.

Intuition is often associated with creativity, problem-solving, and decision-making. It’s a valuable tool for designers, artists, writers, and other creative professionals, who rely on it to make informed and innovative choices.

While intuition is often thought of as a mysterious or mystical force, there is a growing body of research that suggests it’s rooted in our brains’ ability to process and store vast amounts of information. Our brains are constantly gathering data from our senses, experiences, and memories, and intuition may be a way of accessing this information quickly and unconsciously.

Intuition is not infallible, and it’s important to balance it with critical thinking, research, and analysis. When you tap into this guidance, intuition can be a powerful tool for navigating the world and leading you into making life choices that resonate. Intuition is an inner knowing. Tuning into your intuition can lead you to more purpose and meaning. Before making any decision, I ask myself, “how will this make me feel?”

As a designer, I rely on my intuition to guide me in creating effective and visually appealing designs. Intuition allows me to create through color, typography, imagery and layout.

5 ways I use my intuition as a graphic designer:

One

Trusting my gut

When faced with a design problem, my first instinct is to trust my gut. I have learned over the years that my intuition is usually right, even if I can’t explain why. Trusting my gut allows me to make decisions quickly and confidently, without overthinking or second-guessing myself.

Two

Using visual cues

Visual cues play an important role in helping me make design decisions. I pay attention to the way elements interact with each other and I use my intuition to determine what feels right. For example, I might adjust the spacing between elements or change the color of a button until it feels balanced and visually appealing.

Three

Drawing on past experience

Another way I use my intuition is by drawing on experience. Over the years, I have developed a sense of what works and what doesn’t work in design. When faced with a new design problem, I can draw on my past experience to make decisions quickly and effectively.

Four

Being open to inspiration

Intuition is not just about relying on past experience or visual cues. It’s also about being open to inspiration and new ideas. I often find that my best design decisions come from a moment of inspiration or a sudden insight. By being open to new ideas to tell a visual story, I can tap into my intuition and come up with truly innovative designs.

Five

Seeking feedback

Finally, I use my intuition to guide me in seeking feedback. When someone gives me feedback on a design, I rely on my intuition to determine whether their suggestions are valuable and relevant. I trust my gut to help me filter out feedback that doesn’t align with my vision for the design.

Intuition plays a vital role in making design decisions. As a designer, I use my intuition to trust my gut, use visual cues, draw on experience, be open to inspiration, and seek feedback. By relying on my intuition, I can create designs that are effective, visually appealing, and innovative.

Whether you are a designer or an accountant, listen to your intuition, and let your inner guidance lead you. #intuition #trustyourgut #creativity #decisionmaking #confidence #purpose #followyourdreams #leapoffaith

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