Designing Your Life

How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life

by Bill Burnett, Dave Evans

4.5(5,464 ratings)

14 min read

Brief overview

This book explores how the principles of design can be applied to shaping a meaningful and fulfilling life. It emphasizes practical action and experimentation, encouraging you to become curious and try small prototypes before making big changes. By focusing on personal growth and reframing problems, the result is a life that aligns with your values and goals.

Introduction

Life can sometimes feel like a puzzle with no clear picture on the box. Many of us follow a predetermined path only to realize the pieces just don’t fit. In these moments, it helps to take a fresh approach that doesn’t revolve around having perfect answers. That’s where the concept of life design enters the picture.

Designers tackle challenges by investigating user needs, brainstorming many ideas, and then testing these ideas in small steps. When we treat our lives like a continuous design project, we experiment, learn, and adapt. Instead of fretting over one “correct” plan for the future, we practice curiosity and open-mindedness.

Through mindful action, we discover surprising paths that better fit who we are. As you read on, you’ll learn strategies to uncover engaging activities, prototype possible careers or personal aspirations, and move forward without letting fear of failure hold you back.

A well-designed life is built, not found, through consistently testing what resonates with you.

Shifting to a Designer's Mindset

Designers begin with curiosity. They ask questions without worrying about whether they sound naïve or silly. When we apply this to life, curiosity leads us to explore new possibilities and stay open to unexpected pathways.

Another key shift is developing a bias to action. Rather than endlessly analyzing or hoping for an ideal future plan, designers jump in and do something—no matter how small. If you’re stuck in a career rut, you could talk to people in unexpected fields or try volunteering in a new area. Any step you take, big or tiny, provides real-world feedback.

Finally, designers excel at reframing. Problems that seem impossible to fix might actually be workable if we shift how we see them. You might think you hate your current job, but maybe all you really dislike are the routine tasks. In that case, you’d focus on redesigning your day rather than throwing away the entire profession.

Instead of planning a flawless future, nurture a mindset of constant discovery and playful innovation.

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What is Designing Your Life about?

Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans presents an innovative approach to personal development through the lens of design thinking. The book articulates a methodology by which readers can apply design principles—like problem-solving, prototyping, and iteration—to construct a fulfilling and joyful life. With a focus on action and real-world testing, the authors encourage individuals to explore life’s possibilities, find balance, and unlock creative solutions to everyday challenges.

Central to the book's value is its emphasis on reframing obstacles and embracing experimentation as a way to smooth life transitions and gain a clearer sense of purpose. By guiding readers to map their personal interests, energy levels, and aspirations, it provides tangible means to explore various career paths or life choices before making significant commitments. Its impact lies in transforming abstract desires into deliberate directions, fostering both personal growth and aligned living.

This book stands out not only for its practical advice but also for its optimistic perspective, illustrating that anyone can become the architect of their ideal life. As readers follow its teachings, they often find themselves more resilient in the face of failure and more open to iteration and change, ultimately leading to a harmonious existence that reflects their core values.

Review of Designing Your Life

Designing Your Life brilliantly marries design principles with the journey of self-discovery and intentional living. One of the book's standout strengths is its practical framework, which empowers readers to navigate life circumstances with the tools typically reserved for design professionals. Through insightful exercises such as the 'Good Time Journal' and 'Mind Mapping,' it equips individuals with the skills to discern what truly energizes and depletes them, paving the way for more informed life choices.

The authors adeptly blend theory with real-life application, stressing the importance of prototyping life experiences before committing entirely. This iterative approach not only mitigates fear of commitment but encourages experimentation, offering readers a way to explore new directions safely. The writing remains clear and engaging, with a conversational tone that enhances accessibility without sacrificing depth.

This book is particularly adept at appealing to those at a crossroads, whether adjusting their careers, reassessing life goals, or seeking general fulfillment. By championing a mindset that embraces failure as a pathway to learning, Burnett and Evans present a compelling case for lifelong growth and adaptability. For anyone seeking to navigate uncertainty or build a life imbued with purpose, Designing Your Life is a highly recommended read.

Who should read Designing Your Life?

**Career Changers**: Individuals considering a shift in their professional paths will find strategies to assess new opportunities without committing prematurely.
**College Graduates**: Recent graduates can apply design thinking to explore various career paths, mitigating decision anxiety.
**Mid-Life Seekers**: Those reevaluating life goals can gain insight into creating balanced and fulfilling lives through proactive exploration.
**Creative Professionals**: This book equips creatively-inclined individuals with structured processes to enhance personal and professional growth.
**Personal Development Enthusiasts**: Readers passionate about self-improvement will appreciate the actionable steps and mindset shifts for crafting an intentional life.

About the author

Bill Burnett and Dave Evans are the co-authors of "Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life". Bill Burnett is the Executive Director of the Design Program at Stanford University and holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering and Product Design from Stanford. Dave Evans is a Lecturer in the Product Design Program at Stanford, a management consultant, and co-founder of Electronic Arts, with a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford. Together, they have extensive experience in design thinking and have developed a life design approach that emphasizes iterative processes, community engagement, and personal growth.