Designers, stop cooking and start tasting.

The way to being a great chef is the same as being a great designer — building taste by trying a lot of things.

🧑‍🍳 Chefs don’t just cook all day. They sample. They eat at restaurants, test different cuisines, compare variations of the same dish. They ask: Why is this delicious? What did the chef do here?

Digital product design is no different. Food is a product, after all.

I’ve even seen this play out with my own coaching clients. One of the designers I coached was even a former chef who transitioned into product design. His ability to judge food and results of others transitioned well into evaluating digital products.

One of the first things I work on with all my designer clients is actually using lots of products. Not just scrolling Dribbble, Behance, or Mobbin.

👉 Sign up for the app.

👉 Try to accomplish a task.

👉 Notice where it excels and where it drags.

👉 Try a similar one and compare it.

That’s how you build your palate for product design.

❌ Bad design: Meets the request, but misses the point. It “works” in the most literal sense, but it’s clunky, confusing, and often forces users into awkward workarounds. It gets you fed, but it feels like a fight.

✅ Good design: Reduces friction. It helps you accomplish the task more smoothly, maybe even suggesting shortcuts along the way. It was the meal you expected, but you'll forget about it next month.

🌟 Great design: Eliminates the problem altogether. Anticipates your needs, feels inevitable, and even delights. It’s the restaurant you recommend to friends and can’t stop thinking about.

Everything around you is a product — your water bottle, backpack, the apps on your phone, LinkedIn as you read this post. Designers should make judgments every day. Is this good design? Why? How could it be better?

Chefs build their craft by refining their palate. Designers do the same. Taste is what helps you tell the difference between bad, good, and great. Have opinions on the products you use and consume.

And just like in cooking, the more you taste, the better you’ll get at creating things worth serving.

If this helped—or if you want someone in your corner—I’d love to chat.
Reach out at chris@thedesign.co for career coaching at The Design Co, or connect with me on LinkedIn.