When I started in UX, I was obsessed with my "hard skills." I spent nights mastering Figma shortcuts, learning the latest animation plugins, and perfecting my gradients. I thought that being a better designer meant being a better pixel-pusher.

But my career didn't truly take off until I realised that the industry is saturated with people who can make things look pretty. What is rare—and what companies actually pay for—is Clear Thinking.

1. The Problem with "Designing First"

Earlier in my journey, I would jump straight into mockups the moment I got a requirement. I was designing solutions for problems I didn't fully understand. Clear thinking forced me to slow down. Now, I don't move a pixel until I can articulate the "Why" behind the "How."

2. UX is Logic, Not Just Aesthetics

Clear thinking is the ability to strip away the noise. It’s about looking at a complex user flow and identifying the shortest path to value.

• A decorator asks: "What color should this button be?"
• A clear thinker asks: "Does this button even need to exist?"

3. Communication is the Real Work

As a designer, you are constantly "selling" your decisions to stakeholders and developers. If your thinking is muddy, your presentation will be too. Clear thinking allows you to justify every spacing, every hierarchy, and every flow with logic rather than "gut feeling."

4. Reducing Cognitive Load

The ultimate goal of UX is to make the user’s life easier. You cannot create a simple experience for a user if your own internal process is complicated. Clear thinking is the filter that removes confusion, effort, and cognitive load from the final product.

Conclusion

Tools will change. Figma might be replaced tomorrow, just as it replaced Sketch and Photoshop. But the ability to think clearly, solve problems logically, and prioritize the user's needs is a timeless skill. If you want to accelerate your career, stop focusing on the toolbar and start focusing on your mind.