One of the talks that really made me think differently at this year’s WebExpo was Jan Řezáč’s presentation: 12 Core Design Skills. It wasn’t about shiny tools or the newest design trends. Instead, it focused on the skills that actually help designers succeed in the real world.
A big idea from the talk was this: Figma is not where design starts. Jan said that Figma is simply a place to document our design decisions, not where the design thinking happens. This hit me hard. Many of us spend so much time in design tools, but the real work starts much earlier—with ideas, research, and understanding problems.
He also warned about falling into what he called the “second diamond trap.” This means focusing only on the final stages of the design process—like making screens and prototypes—while ignoring the important early phases like research and problem definition. Skipping those steps can lead to pretty designs that don’t solve real issues.
One of my favorite takeaways was how important it is to design with intention. Every step we take should have a clear reason behind it. Jan talked about design as a form of creative problem-solving—not just making things beautiful, but making them work better.
Another important skill Jan talked about was facilitation. As designers grow in their careers, it’s not enough to do good design work alone. We also need to bring people together, lead workshops, and help teams think clearly. That means using techniques that create structure and trust in group settings.
But maybe the strongest point of the talk was this: stakeholder management is the most important skill a designer can have. You’re not just designing for users—you’re also working with managers, developers, and other teams. Jan said something that stuck with me: “Your real designer is your manager.” If they don’t support your work, it’s very hard to make an impact.
Jan also gave some advice on research. He said that during the research phase, designers should talk less and listen more. The goal is to make sense of what users and teams are saying. This skill—making sense of data and feedback—is something we should use all the time, not just during big research moments.
He also reminded us that most products—around 95%—fail. That’s a huge number. To avoid being part of that statistic, designers need to test ideas often and be open to learning, not just polishing.
Finally, Jan recommended watching a great video by John Cleese about creativity. I watched it after the talk—it really helped me see creative work in a new way.
This session made me reflect on my own work. Am I just moving shapes on a screen? Or am I solving the right problems in smart, intentional ways? Thanks to Jan’s talk, I feel more focused on what truly matters in design.
