How to become a successful INFJ designer?

As a UX/UI designer, I’ve always been passionate about understanding human behavior, habits, motivations, and preferences, as well as self-discovery. Recently, I took the MBTI test again and was surprised to find myself transitioning from an INFP to an INFJ, a Mediator to an Advocate. This result made me think about how might this personality change affect my journey as a UX/UI designer and a new studio founder.

Intro to INFJ

For my audience who may not be familiar with MBTI, I’d like to provide a simple explanation of what INFJ represents. If you are already familiar with MBTI and INFJ, you can jump over to the next section.

INFJ is one of the 16 personality types defined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). It stands for Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging. Here’s a brief breakdown of what each of these traits entails:

1. Introverted(I) means that INFJs tend to focus their energy inward, preferring solitary activities or small group interactions over large social gatherings.
2. Intuitive(N) means they rely on their instincts and imagination to interpret information and make decisions rather than solely relying on concrete facts and details.
3. Feeling(F) means that INFJs are guided by their emotions and values when making decisions, prioritizing harmony, empathy, and compassion.
4. Judging(J) means INFJs prefer structure and organization in their external environment, often planning ahead and making decisions promptly rather than leaving things open-ended.

If you are curious about your MBTI, please find more information and the personality test at https://www.16personalities.com/infj-personality

INFJ Strengths That Make Me a Good Designer

Empathic & Insightful

INFJs are drawn to professions where they can evaluate problems on a human level, employing their empathetic nature to provide comfort, understanding, and solutions for those facing hardships or conflicts.

As an INFJ designer, one of my greatest assets is empathy — the ability to understand and resonate with the emotions and experiences of others. This means I’m able to put myself in the shoes of the users I design for, enabling me to create emotionally resonant designs.

In addition, INFJs possess a natural ability to see beyond the surface and uncover underlying patterns and connections. This intuitive insight enables me to anticipate user behaviors, preferences, and trends, guiding my design decisions in a direction that aligns with users’ intrinsic motivations.

I definitely understand the importance of testing and data, which we need to back up and provide evidence for our design decisions. But by leveraging my empathy and intuitive insight as an INFJ, I can have a good starting point, an initial design assumption, which allows me to effectively get on the right path of addressing users’ pain points.

Creativity & Passion

INFJs embrace their creative side, always on the lookout for opportunities to express themselves and think outside the box.

Creativity is a very important part of the INFJ personality. As an INFJ designer, creativity shapes my approach to design, problem-solving, and self-expression. It is a driving force for me that fuels my passion for innovation and the desire to make a positive impact in the world. With a creative mindset, I can approach design challenges with fresh perspectives and innovative solutions, pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

Moreover, I can tell that creativity is not limited to my professional endeavors but also extends to my personal passions and interests. I always find satisfaction and fulfillment in artistic pursuits such as music, visual arts, and writing. These mediums are my way of expressing myself — much like I’m doing through this blog right now.

Perfectionistic

Perfectionism is seen as a weakness for INFJs according to the MBTI website. But for a designer, I believe it can be a valuable asset. While I wouldn’t consider myself a perfectionist, I do get annoyed if I feel my designs aren’t good enough. This always pushes me to deliver high-quality work for my clients.

When doing design, I’m detail-oriented. From typography and color schemes to user flows, I pay close attention to the details that contribute to a seamless and polished user experience and interface. By upholding high standards of quality and precision, I can deliver designs that exceed users’ expectations.

I must admit that perfectionism sometimes leads me to spend more time on unnecessary details, which may cost me extra time spent on a project. However, since I’ve recognized this drawback, I can intentionally control myself and push myself to move to the next step. One way I overcome this issue is by frequently seeking feedback from my clients and always testing my designs with potential users. In this way, I can determine where to stop iterating and move forward.

Collaborative Engagement

INFJs prefer to see everyone as equals and encourage others to think and act independently. We respect others’ perspectives and decisions, and we believe that empowering individuals to express their thoughts freely is essential. We tend to foster an open and inclusive environment in the workplace, encouraging others to showcase their unique talents and viewpoints rather than trying to control or guide their actions.

As a UX/UI designer, collaborative engagement allows me to leverage the diverse perspectives and expertise of others, whether it’s clients, co-workers, or stakeholders. By actively involving different voices in the design process, I can gather valuable insights and create solutions that better meet users’ needs.

Additionally, actively involving my clients in the design process makes them feel heard and builds a sense of ownership. Soliciting their feedback and encouraging their participation will strengthen the relationship between my clients and me over time.

Final Thought

The only thing that doesn’t change is change itself. MBTI is just a tool to help me understand myself, and it is not the only way to define what kind of person I am. I will never label myself and will remain open to the possibility of personality change.

People change all the time, just like I did when I went from being an INFP to an INFJ. I still can’t tell the exact reasons for this transformation. I guess it could be because of the need for a more rational approach in establishing my design studio, which gradually shifted my personality towards “judging.”

Moving forward, I guess one thing that won’t change easily is my curiosity about people, which will always be a significant part of my work as a designer.