How to improve Web Design Process

Have you ever wanted to take notes to learn new things and improve your knowledge? Traditional note-taking methods can be difficult to search and link ideas, but the Zettelkasten method is a non-linear way to take notes that is designed to be organized, searchable, and interconnected.

Solution is the Zettelkasten method solves the problem of traditional note-taking by using individual notes linked together. For example, you can take notes on a book you have read and link to other notes on the same topic. This makes it easy to find information and develop new ideas.

Instructions

Here is a comprehensive overview of what you need to get started with the Zettelkasten method:

• Record all of your notes and fleeting ideas in a “inbox” using a quick note-taking app like IA Writer, Google Keep, or Apple Notes or Reminders.
• Create a system to organize your notes using the Zettelkasten method. This involves creating "boxes" which are individual notes linked to other notes through links or tags.
• Use literature notes to summarize sources such as books, articles, or videos. These notes can be used as a reference system to remember important paragraphs or ideas from a source.
• Use permanent notes to develop your own ideas based on what you read. These notes can be linked together to create new ideas and insights.

Note-taking process

1. Setup: Choose a physical notebook or digital note-taking app like Obsidian, Notion, Apple Note, or IA Writer.
2. Smart notes: Write your thoughts and reasons for taking notes. Summarize in your own words (or use AI) with literature notes or fleeting notes.
3. Fleeting notes are jotted down quickly, while literature notes summarize the thoughts of others in your own words or with a quote.
4. Rewrite notes: Create individual linked/tagged notes. List topics with descriptions/reference sources for easy access with permanent notes.
5. Permanent notes are your own ideas based on what you read, you think.
6. Ask questions and review regularly: Use tools/software to structure your thought process and use tags/keywords for easy searching.
7. Connect the dots: Connect the dots between different thoughts/knowledge to create new ideas/insights.

Implementation

Imagine this: You're researching the UX design process, and you're taking notes using the Zettelkasten method. You create an individual note for each phase of the process: understand, research, define, design, prototype, test, and launch.

Then, you create backlinks between the notes to show how they're connected. For example, you link the "research" note to the "define" note to show that research is the foundation for defining the problem.

As you continue to research and take notes, you start to see amazing connections between different concepts. You realize that the define phase is essential for another topics like design thinking, product development, and agile methodologies. You start to deep dive into these themes, and your knowledge grows exponentially by creating another individual note.

Conclusion

Over time, your Zettelkasten will become a vast network of notes that are all connected to each other. This network of notes will help you to see the connections between different events and ideas. It will help you to develop new insights and ideas about Product Design and Development.

The Zettelkasten method can be used to learn about any topic, and it can help you to develop your own unique perspective on the world.