Design in Progress
July 16, 2025
As designers, we seem to have trained ourselves to over-refine. Taught to perfect before we share, to present the final file, the flawless mock, the case study where all the messy parts got cleaned up. That instinct makes sense; we want to look competent, thoughtful, and in control. But here’s the truth: the work that resonates most, the work that builds trust and community, often isn’t the final product; it’s the process.
The work that builds trust and community, often isn’t the final product; it’s the process.
Building in public invites people into the making, instead of hiding the journey and only showing the destination, you let others see the decisions, pivots, and experiments that lead to strong design. This isn’t only about openness or transparency, it can be a strategic way to grow faster, build community, and attract meaningful opportunities.
People are curious about how great work happens. Sharing your process helps others learn. It turns your portfolio from a gallery into a learning space. Designers who build in public position themselves as thinkers and collaborators, not just executors. Platforms like Figma Community, Are.na, Substack, and Instagram Stories are filled with creatives who share works-in-progress, sketches, and early ideas. That transparency builds credibility more powerfully than a finished mock ever could.
People are curious about how great work happens. Sharing your process helps others learn. It turns your portfolio from a gallery into a learning space.
Clients and collaborators want to see your thinking, not just your deliverables. The final outcome shows what you can do. The process shows how you approach problems, how you navigate challenges, and how you respond to feedback. When people see that, they trust you with more complex, more rewarding work. And that’s the work that leads to growth.
Sharing work-in-progress creates connection rather than applause. When you post only completed projects it’s easy to fall into the pattern of chasing approval. Sharing the process shifts the goal. You’re inviting dialogue. You’re saying, “Here’s where I am; what do you think?” That kind of openness brings real critique, ideas you hadn’t considered, and collaborations that matter.
Building in public can feel risky, you might worry about someone taking your idea. You might feel vulnerable showing work that’s not fully developed. And yes, you might get fewer likes. But your idea isn’t what sets you apart. How you bring it to life is what makes it yours. Designers who share their thinking aren’t giving away value, they’re increasing it. Likes might drop, but trust will rise. And trust leads to opportunity.
Likes might drop, but trust will rise. And trust leads to opportunity.
If you’re ready to start, keep it simple. Honestly, we are also about to go all out on this to continue to empower our community. We already have our Office Hours, on a daily basis, which allows us to collaborate and lovingly critique whatever any member of the team is building, but we intend to do more. If you read this far, you too can start by sharing a screenshot of an early wireframe or a sketch. Write two sentences about a design choice, why that grid, why that color, why that layout. Share the option you discarded and explain why. Ask for input that helps you grow. Pick platforms that match your communication style. Use Stories for informal shares, Threads for quick thoughts, or a newsletter for deeper reflection.
Building in public isn’t showing off, it's inviting others in. And in a world full of finished products, that’s what makes your work stand out.
Here’s to designing in public!
Peace!
