The network for creativity
Join 1.25M professional creatives like you
Connect with clients, get discovered, and run your business 100% commission-free
Creatives on Contra have earned over $150M and we are just getting started
Back to feedPost
Over the years, these are five simple rules that helped me level up my designs:
I always choose clarity over creativity
I’ve learned that if users don’t get it immediately, the design has already failed, no matter how good it looks.
I design with one clear goal per screen
Anytime I try to do too much on one screen, the UX suffers. One screen, one message, one action.
I pay extra attention to hierarchy
I ask myself: What should the user see first? Size, spacing, and contrast help me answer that.
I intentionally use whitespace
Empty space isn’t empty.
I stay consistent, even when I want to experiment
Consistent fonts, colors, and components make users feel safe and confident using the product.
Hard truth I learned:
If I need to explain my design, then the design didn’t do its job.
The network for creativity
Join 1.25M professional creatives like you
Connect with clients, get discovered, and run your business 100% commission-free
Creatives on Contra have earned over $150M and we are just getting started
Related posts
Good design isn’t decoration — it’s communication.
I focus on clear layouts, thoughtful UX, and subtle motion that makes products feel premium without trying too hard.
Currently taking on new UI/UX projects 🚀
The "The Perfect Home" hero is stunning, that mountain backdrop combined with the interior mockup preview is a great way to sell the experience.
One month after launching my new portfolio, I’m redesigning it. Here’s why.
I published a site I was proud of (1st photo). It was visually striking and leaned into my graphic design roots. I followed good practices, but after reviewing the analytics, the numbers proved my approach wrong.
It was a tough pill to swallow, but it reminded me: evolution happens when your brain does the work, not your ego. My design was loud, fighting for attention instead of showcasing the work. So I started over.
I pivoted to a simpler interface (2nd photo). I stripped heavy graphics, shifted to lighter tones, and focused on UI/UX. The goal was a clear structure, letting my projects speak for themselves.
I’m putting the finishing touches on this minimal version.
Design is an infinite process. We test, we learn, we drop our egos, and we iterate.
Love this mindset.
That transition from “visually proud” → “performance-aware” is where real product thinking begins. Analytics often tell a very different story than aesthetics.
Curious what patterns stood out most.
How do you explore ideas without fully committing to building them? 👀
I used Figma Make to quickly generate a website layout and then test two different color directions on top of it.
For early exploration, having a solid base to experiment on makes conversations much clearer and helps move decisions forward.
If you’ve been curious about Figma Make, this could be a simple way to bring it into your process. 🙌
Just started my Figma course early this year, and whenever I see exciting projects like this, it just keeps me motivated 🙌.
Trending
maxearnings
The next frontier of payments is live on Contra. How are you maximizing revenue?
micrographics
Micrographics started as utility - barcodes, packaging, instruction labels. How would you use them?
aidesignflow
AI tools are redefining how designer work. What does your workflow look like?
aivideo
AI video tools are moving at warp speed. What tools are you using?
whennotai
As AI accelerates, creative judgment matters more. What part of your work stays human?