Constraints

Goals without the right constraints often lose direction.

To explain this, let me share a story that will feel very familiar to designers.

You want to create a portfolio!

This is one of the first times you’ll run into overwhelm. It’s a big goal. You want something that represents you, a site that shows all your work. You’ve done dozens of projects that could fit. So you start making lists: what the site will include, the details you’ll write about yourself, the animations you’ll add, the clients you’ll showcase. And it feels exciting just to plan it all out.

At first, your motivation is sky high, and you can’t wait to start. But after a day or two, the energy fades. What felt so urgent slowly drifts into the background.

Why does this happen?

Usually, it’s the result of big, open ended goals without constraints. Notice how this happens less when you’re working full time or on a client project. There’s a set budget, existing branding (hopefully), and clear boundaries to work within.

It’s the same when someone else manages your work. You’re handed tasks with a deadline, aiming for a specific outcome.

Goals are great, but...

When you set a goal, your head goes somewhere far from “here and now.” It feels euphoric until it doesn’t. Goals also assume nothing will go wrong, ignoring how much changes every day.

Let’s try reframing. Instead of just “I want to make a portfolio,” your goal might look like this:

I want to create a portfolio website. Within 10 days, I’ll have at least one case study ready. I’ll build it as a static site, simple enough to expand later. The first 2 days are for exploration. The rest, I’ll narrow my projects down to only those relevant to roles I want (cutting 10 down to 2–3). I’ll start by writing the intro content first, spending 1–2 days on it, and so on.

The same applies to personal branding: limiting your page count, keeping animations restrained, reducing your color options. Suddenly, things feel much more doable long term.

The point of simplifying, or in other words, setting constraints, is to help you do more with less. With endless tools at your disposal, distractions multiply. And today, it’s easier than ever to get sidetracked. New tools, new effects, new trends, new export tricks, and of course, AI.

How does this apply in design?

• Limiting your color palette

• Using an unconventional grid and sticking with it

• Cutting down type styles

• Only adding animations that actually improve the experience

• Setting short deadlines for drafts and feedback

• Blocking 30–60 minutes for exploration

• Blocking separate time for execution

• Being intentional about feedback cycles

• Letting a niche constraint be the mark of your design taste

• Using the 8-point grid system for spacing

To really land this point, it’s worth remembering:

As a designer, your role is to communicate clearly and efficiently. That means diving deep into a topic, understanding the problem, and finding clarity within constraints. An adapt-first mindset, paired with smart time management, makes this possible.

It goes beyond just design

The beauty of this approach is that it isn’t just about interfaces. It carries into life:

• Fixed times for emails

• Fewer learning sources, too many just create noise

• Following only people aligned with your goals

• Choosing essential tools and dropping the rest

• Spending less time consuming, more time creating

• Setting a start and end to your workday

• Making space to practice and fail

• Making space to do what you enjoy

In the end, goals without constraints leave you vulnerable to wishful thinking, false progress, and disappointment. You can endlessly tweak layouts, swap colors, adjust fonts, and polish your design system without making real progress. Constraints don’t stifle creativity. They shape it, clearing away distractions and setting you on a path that can sustain you for years.

Think about how applying this could reshape your day, and you’ll start to see long term results.