Overcoming My Biggest Design Struggle

Mentoring is often seen as a way to give back, but what if I told you that it could also be a way to overcome personal challenges? During my time mentoring students at Elenasy BootCamp, I had one such experience that completely shifted my perspective on user research.

User research had always been one of my biggest struggles as a designer. Despite taking courses, seeking guidance from peers, and asking mentors for advice, I still found myself feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to approach it effectively. It was a gap in my skill set that I constantly wrestled with.

Then came the day I was tasked with teaching user research to a group of students. The irony wasn’t lost on me—I was about to teach something I had struggled with for years. But instead of backing down, I saw it as an opportunity. I gathered everything I had learned over time—bits of advice, insights from articles, and lessons from trial and error—and structured it into something digestible for the students.

To reinforce the lesson, I assigned them a task: choose a research method and gather insights based on it. Wanting to lead by example, I decided to complete the assignment alongside them.

The Unexpected Breakthrough

As I worked through the exercise, something clicked. For the first time, user research no longer felt intimidating. Instead, it made sense. By breaking it down into manageable steps—starting with just one open-ended question at a time—I discovered techniques that felt natural and effective. The process that once felt complex and overwhelming suddenly became an intuitive part of my design approach.

That moment was a turning point for me. Not only did I finally grasp the true power of user research, but I also realized how it fosters empathy and enhances the design process. More importantly, I no longer felt incomplete as a UX or product designer. Teaching others had given me clarity on something I had struggled with for years. It reinforced a lesson I’ve come to deeply believe: the best way to learn is by teaching.