👋 Hey again, it’s Jaafar
Last week, we kicked off this 7-part series with Pattern 1: Tool-First Thinking and the response was wild. Turns out a lot of us are opening Figma way too fast.
If you missed it, catch up here.
This week, we’re diving into another sneaky habit that feels productive... but often just creates noise.
Pattern 2: Template Overload & Framework Hopping
Let’s be honest. Designers love a good framework.
They make things feel structured. Safe. Like we’re doing things “the right way.”
But here’s the catch. At some point, the search for the perfect framework becomes the thing we’re designing.
What is Template Overload & Framework Hopping?
It’s when you:
Collect endless UX canvases, strategy templates, and checklists
Bounce between frameworks like Double Diamond, Design Thinking, GV Sprint, etc.
Constantly switch processes mid-way through a project
Feel like you're always starting from scratch, even though you should feel more experienced
Templates and frameworks aren’t bad, but relying on them too much is where things start to break.
Why this mindset sticks
Because it feels so productive.
You’re organizing. Categorizing. Planning.
You're doing something, right?
And let’s face it. The internet loves a new framework.
"This Notion template changed how I work"
"Here’s the ultimate UX checklist you didn’t know you needed"
"Still using Double Diamond? Try this instead"
You start feeling like if you're not constantly optimizing your process, you’re falling behind.
You’re not.
What this looks like in real life
You might be stuck in Template Overload if:
You have more templates than actual completed projects
You get halfway through a framework, then switch to a new one you saw on a LinkedIn post at 3 AM
You spend more time planning how to work than actually doing the work
You feel overwhelmed by options and can’t commit to one direction
At some point, your work becomes just... rearranging the furniture instead of building the house.
What it costs you
When you're stuck in this loop:
You lose clarity
You’re always second-guessing your process instead of trusting your judgment
You stay in "prep mode" instead of solving real problems
Your work feels busy, but never deep
And when the pressure’s on, you have no real internal process to fall back on. Just a drawer full of unused frameworks.
What the research says
A 2023 paper from the Journal of Design Studies found that while frameworks help early-stage designers build structure, over-reliance on them later creates decision fatigue and weakens confidence in self-guided thinking.
NNG talks about this in their guide on UX Roadmaps. They point out that too many competing methods or tools can lead to “process paralysis” where teams get stuck choosing how to work instead of actually moving forward.
You don’t need the perfect framework.
You need just enough structure to think clearly, then move.
“But I don’t want to do it wrong”
This is the real fear, right?
"What if I pick the wrong method?"
"What if this canvas is better than the one I’m using?"
"What if I’m missing something important?"
But here’s the thing. There is no one right way.
Design is contextual. Messy. Iterative.
The best designers don’t rely on templates. They build their own processes over time, based on real experience, and they iterate on it.
Try this instead
Stick with one approach for the next project. Seriously. Just one.
Don’t jump ship when it gets uncomfortable.
Ask yourself:
"What’s the simplest structure that helps me move forward right now?"
Use templates as starting points, not step-by-step instructions.
Strip them down. Make them yours. Toss what you don’t need.
A quick reflection
Before starting your next project:
Choose just one framework
Write down why you picked it
Commit to using it from start to finish
At the end, reflect on what worked and what didn’t
That’s how you build your process. Not just follow someone else’s.
Final thought
Templates are tools, not magic spells.
The goal isn’t to follow a perfect system. It’s to make progress with purpose.
The designers who grow the most don’t rely on pre-made paths.
They know where they’re going and adjust the route as they go.
Next week: Pattern 3 – Advice Overload
Because trying to follow everyone's advice at once is a great way to get absolutely nothing done.
That’s all for this week.
See you next Wednesday!
Jaafar Khraizat
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