More Than Just Looks: Design as the Product's Essential Bassline

I write this piece from a dusty room during the biggest pandemic my generation — and the previous — ever lived. With a lot of time in my hands, I decided to invest in some hobbies I always wanted to pursue, but never had the time. Writing, as you may imagine is one of them and as the title suggests, playing bass is the second. While learning the fundamentals of the importance of the sound of a bass in a song, I started to see some similarities with my work as a Product Designer in a multidisciplinar team.

The Bass provides the rhythmic foundation of a song

It sets the groove, establishes the tempo, and provides the essential pulse that other instruments build upon. Without a solid bassline, the entire musical structure can feel unstable and lack coherence. Similarly, in a product team, a designer should strive to be the rhythmic foundation. This doesn’t mean dictating every move, but rather providing the consistent, reliable, and foundational elements that enable others to perform their best. This foundation can manifest as a well-defined user journey, a consistent design system, or a clear understanding of the user’s needs.

Supporting the Melody

Beyond the rhythm, the bass supports the melody, adding depth and richness to the overall sound. It fills in the gaps, harmonizes with the other instruments, and provides a sense of fullness. In a product team, this translates to supporting the product vision and ensuring that the user experience is both functional and delightful. Designers should not only focus on the visual aspects but also consider the emotional impact of the product.

Similarly to a good design experience is smooth, so does a good bassline sounds. The bass is the instrument of smoothness. So is a designer. Just as a bassline can smooth out the transitions between musical phrases, a well-crafted design can smooth out the user’s journey, eliminating friction and creating a seamless experience.

Knowing When to Lead, When to Follow

A great bass player knows when to take the lead and when to provide subtle support. They understand the dynamics of the song and adjust their playing accordingly. Similarly, a product designer should be able to navigate the complex dynamics of a product team. Sometimes, they need to take the initiative and drive the design process forward. Other times, they need to step back and support the decisions of others. This requires a balance of confidence and humility. Designers should be confident in their expertise but also open to learning from others.

They should be able to advocate for the user while also considering the needs of the business and the technical constraints of the project. Like a bass player who knows when to play a driving riff and when to lay back and provide a steady groove, designers should be able to adapt their approach to the situation at hand. I have a based on-nothing theory that bassplayers are often overlook but once the baseline is good it’s impossible not to groove from it. In the same way, a designer’s crucial role in maintaining consistency and usability can often be underestimated, but the absence of their steady hand is immediately felt when the product falters.

The “groove” of a good design – the intuitive flow and enjoyable experience – is built upon that very foundation.

No Big Bangs, Just Small Bets: A Personal Journey in Continuous Improvement

A glimpse into the detailed world of "Tiny Bang Story".

My life has been enriched by a variety of hobbies, a tendency I likely inherited from my mother. Writing is one that brings me joy, and I intend to nurture it further. I've also explored the worlds of the flute, guitar, and bass, each providing unique experiences. A year ago, I returned to painting. While my current abilities are still evolving, I now allow myself the freedom to paint without the pressure of immediate perfection. One memorable project was painting one of my cats, a skill I'm actively developing: observation painting. The final result on the canvas differed from my initial vision. I carefully observed the reference and made a few adjustments. I recall getting quite absorbed in the details of one cat's mouth, and while I eventually felt satisfied with it, the intensity of that focus led me to move on from the piece. I've noticed a pattern in my life where I sometimes aim for meticulous control in creative endeavors, only to see the final result take its own path. It's a curious observation.

The connection between our professional and personal selves is undeniable. The impact of a thoughtless comment from a relative can sometimes mirror the discomfort of critical feedback from a colleague during an early meeting. I've sometimes held back on sharing redesigns, proposals, and new concepts, perhaps concerned they wouldn't align with some ideal. This tendency to avoid imperfection has occasionally prevented me from fully realizing my ideas.

Back at one offsite from a company I used to work, I had the opportunity to follow a course from a product lead I appreciate. Teresa Torres has a good perspective on continuous discovery habits, one that resonates deeply with both my personal life and product development. It highlights the importance of focusing on clear outcomes and embracing small, iterative experiments. It’s about breaking down large goals into manageable steps and learning from each attempt, even when things don’t go perfectly. Just as with my painting, any hobby, or even the daily complexities of work and life, continuous growth comes from consistent effort and an openness to experimentation.

At the same company, a while later, we started using Shape Up (https://basecamp.com/shapeup). I found that the concept of betting on "appetites" rather than fully scoped projects also translates surprisingly well to personal challenges. Instead of trying to overhaul my entire routine at once, I learned to place smaller "bets" on specific areas, like committing to 30 minutes of writing a few times a week, or focusing on one small improvement in my painting technique during a session. This approach, much like trusting a team to deliver within a defined scope and time, allowed me to make progress without getting bogged down in the overwhelming details of a grand plan. It fostered a sense of momentum and reduced the fear of failure, as each small bet offered a contained opportunity for learning and adjustment.

The principles from both these experiences have been incredibly helpful, providing me with a framework for approaching challenges with a more experimental and accepting mindset, both professionally and personally.