Design Rules I Broke as a Beginner (And What I Learned)

Introduction

When I first started my journey into the world of design, I was full of excitement, inspiration—and confusion. As a self-taught UI/UX designer and content writer, I dove headfirst into tutorials, blog posts, and design challenges. Everyone seemed to talk about rules—"do this," "never do that." But the truth? I broke a lot of those so-called golden rules. And surprisingly, some of those mistakes became my most valuable lessons.

In this article, I want to take you through the design rules I broke early in my career, what happened when I did, and what I ultimately learned. If you're a beginner, this might save you some frustration—or at least let you know you're not alone.

Rule #1: Always Follow the Grid System

What I Did

The first time I opened Figma and started designing a website layout, I ignored the grid system completely. I thought, “Why constrain creativity?” I placed buttons, text, and images wherever I felt they looked good.

What Happened

The result was a messy layout that looked unbalanced on different screen sizes. The alignment issues were hard to fix, and the spacing felt awkward, especially when I tried to hand off the design to a developer friend.

What I Learned

Grids are not creativity killers—they’re the backbone of a well-structured layout. They ensure consistency, visual harmony, and scalability. Now, I always start with a 12-column grid and adjust based on the project’s needs. It saves me time and elevates the overall polish of the design.

Rule #2: Keep Fonts to Two Per Project

What I Did

In my early designs, I used four or even five different fonts in a single interface. I was fascinated by typography and wanted to show off my "range."

What Happened

The result? A chaotic visual hierarchy. Nothing looked connected. My designs looked more like a poster collage than a cohesive user interface.

What I Learned

Limiting font choices forces you to focus on clarity, consistency, and structure. These days, I stick to one typeface family or pair two fonts max—usually one for headings and another for body text. I also learned to leverage font weights and sizes instead of switching typefaces.

Rule #3: Minimalism Is Always Better

What I Did

After reading multiple articles praising minimalist UI, I went too far. I stripped down my designs to the bare minimum—thinking white space, tiny icons, and low-contrast elements were “elegant.”

What Happened

My interfaces looked clean but felt lifeless and confusing. Users didn’t know where to click or what to do next. There was no personality.

What I Learned

Minimalism doesn’t mean removing all flair; it means intentional simplicity. Function should always guide form. Now I balance simplicity with usability and brand personality.

Rule #4: Design Mobile-First, Always

What I Did

I designed everything desktop-first. Mobile responsiveness? That was an afterthought. I convinced myself it was more efficient to focus on the bigger layout.

What Happened

My mobile layouts were cramped, broken, and full of usability issues. Elements overlapped or became unreadable on small screens.

What I Learned

Mobile-first design is more than just a trend—it’s a necessity. Starting small forces you to prioritize key content and interactions. It helps you create a more focused, user-friendly experience across all screen sizes.

Rule #5: Don’t Mix UI and UX

What I Did

In my mind, UI and UX were separate silos. I would focus on visuals (UI) and treat user research and flows (UX) as a later step—or someone else’s job.

What Happened

My designs looked good but didn’t solve real user problems. Clients would ask why users were still dropping off or why people weren’t converting. I didn’t have the answers.

What I Learned

UI and UX are deeply connected. Now I start with empathy maps, user flows, and wireframes before I even touch color or typography. Design is problem-solving first, decoration second.

Rule #6: Stick to Trends to Stay Relevant

What I Did

When neubrutalism, glassmorphism, and dark mode became hot topics, I jumped in without thinking. I applied trendy styles to all my projects, even when they didn’t fit.

What Happened

Some designs looked cool—but they didn’t match the brand, and some were hard to use. I realized I was designing for likes, not users.

What I Learned

Trends are tools, not rules. They should be applied thoughtfully and only when they serve the user experience and brand message. Consistency and usability always come first.

Rule #7: You Must Use Colour Theory Perfectly

What I Did

I tried to follow all the colour theory rules—analogous schemes, triadic combinations, colour wheel formulas. But I ended up with colour palettes that looked “correct” on paper but felt off in real use.

What Happened

Some colour combinations didn’t meet accessibility standards. Others lacked visual appeal on screens. It was too rigid.

What I Learned

Theory is helpful, but context is king. Testing in real scenarios matters more than textbook rules. I use tools like contrast checkers, real-device previews, and always consider emotion and brand tone.

Conclusion: Breaking Rules Is Part of Learning

Looking back, I don’t regret breaking these rules. Every misstep helped me understand the why behind the guidelines. Design is not about strict rules—it’s about making informed decisions that serve people.

So if you’re just starting out, don’t fear mistakes. Break things. Test your limits. But always reflect and learn. That’s how you grow—not just as a designer, but as a creative problem solver.

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