Information Diet for Creative Minds
Drowning in hundreds of design accounts but feeling less inspired? Learn how to curate sources that transform your thinking, not just fill your feed, and develop stronger creative instincts.
There’s so much content out there these days that it feels hard to imagine a world where we didn’t have access to information so easily, especially now with AI tools like Perplexity ready to answer your questions in a blink. For us curious types, it’s a dream come true!
At the same time, there’s so much content out there these days that it can be daunting. You can follow thought leaders, content creators, and newsletters; before you know it, you’re drowning in a sea of information.
Although I’m a curious and lifelong learner, I know that if I didn’t approach my information diet intentionally, I could easily become overwhelmed by the amount of information at my disposal. It would no longer be fun learning.
How are we supposed to purposely learn and develop taste when drowning in everyone else’s opinions and hot takes?
The evolution of content consumption
The early days of my career were an organic discovery journey of constant learning. Since everything was new to me, my initial criteria for consuming content was fairly simple: Is it related to web or mobile design? If yes, I would read it, watch it, or listen to it.
This technique worked for a while, taking me down a few rabbit holes and expanding my horizons, but after a few hundred bookmarks, it became unsustainable to grab everything with a UX tag on it. My bookmarks looked like an encyclopedia, but lacked a clear direction, almost like going to a supermarket without a budget or a menu. I was collecting everything, but only extracting specific bits of information when I wanted a technical or theory refresh, instead of having a constant value stream.
Over time, I naturally developed a more focused consumption based on broad domains I wanted to master. I went through various phases like Design Systems, DesignOps, leadership, and business acumen. I learned immensely during those phases, both with theory and practice, but something else was still lacking.
Each phase taught me different things, but when trying to develop better taste, you must be selective beyond just themes or skills. I thought I was developing taste by consuming more, but I was becoming a repository of other people's opinions. That’s when I realized I needed better criteria to select my learning sources in a way that would directly inform my opinion.
A forward-looking taste development
Taste has become a buzzword these days: Fuzzy, flashy, and yet hard to put into words. In a practical sense, it’s a skill that can be learned, but you need to nurture it, and it doesn’t happen with mere execution. How do you develop good taste? I could try hundreds of wine varieties, but that exercise on its own doesn’t mean I’ll become a wine connoisseur.
Veteran PM and startup advisor, Shreyas Doshi, explained how you decide the content you consume and, most importantly, the value you attribute to the source of this content. In other words, it’s up to you to decide how much influence each source of knowledge will have in shaping your judgment. It makes you question: Which voices in your feed shape your thinking versus just filling time?
With this in mind, I reverse-engineered my judgment criteria when I’m encountering a new source, and found myself asking the following questions:
Does it demonstrate critical thinking? Or is it just an echo chamber?
Anyone can put a hot take out there and get attention, but if self-reflection and a learning mindset aren’t present, I won’t trust their perspective.
Did it make me reflect, learn, or get inspired?
Whenever I encounter an idea that re-shapes and expands my perspective, it creates a natural excitement to evolve. Bonus points if it makes me eager to build or write about it.
Is this pushing my character arc forward? Furthermore, do I want to pursue this story?
Having a North Star of what type of professional I want to become makes it easier to identify which types of learning and niche topics help me advance. I am also open to having side quests as part of my non-linear career path.
While none of these questions are a simple yes or no, I can look at each piece of content through these lenses to decide whether to save it, follow this source, or even build on top of it. I’m looking for insights I can easily revisit during my next project, career pivot, or even years in advance when touching on an adjacent subject, like nurturing a garden of ideas for my future self. High-value sources aren't just informative, they transform how you think.
The intentional curation system
One of my favorite questions to ask designers during interviews is where they find inspiration and learning. Sometimes, they share specific accounts or publications, and on rare occasions, they include a podcast or a YouTube channel. This question isn’t intended to collect sources, although it’s a nice way to find new sources I might check out later. I’m interested in the intentionality behind their source selection, to know if they seek them or passively consume whatever happens to appear on their social media feed that day.
I like to see this practice as filtering the signal through the noise. It’s an ongoing practice that will make it easier for me to “stumble upon” high-value content, instead of giving in to FOMO and chasing every top article out there, but feeling empty. Here’s how:
Step 1: Define your taste profile
What kind of creative work makes you stop scrolling and say "whoa”?
Think in general terms, with openness to explore other creative fields outside of yours.
What problems are you genuinely curious about solving?
Be honest about which industries or problem spaces you naturally gravitate to, which can be as niche or broad as you want, as long as you put it into words.
Whose work do you admire, not just for outcomes but for approach?
I did this exercise a while ago, of decoding the people whose perspectives I valued the most. I came up with a few adjectives that resonated the most, which makes it easier to compare against the next time I might enter a rabbit hole of someone else’s body of work.
Step 2: Curate your influences
Insightful sources.
Based on the problems you enjoy, look for individuals, publications, or shows that have built a reputation in that space, the ones that spark ideas whenever you check their content.
Active practicioners.
Theory is fantastic, but combining that with practice is a much more powerful combo. Look for those experimenting and having fun while doing it, especially those sharing their roadblocks and how they overcame them.
Adjacent explorers.
I can’t stress enough the value of allowing inspiration and learning to come from other fields that are closely related or even outside of yours. It’ll enrich your perspective more than you might expect.
Step 3: Active taste development
Always-on radar.
Once you trust a source, be open to taking side quests when they recommend other content or individuals, which can lead to unexpected but delightful learnings along your journey.
Quarterly purge.
Unfollow/unsubscribe based on value delivered, consciously refining your inbox or daily feeds.
Annual Reflection.
How has your taste evolved? What patterns emerge that weren’t there a year ago? This can also lead to a pivot based on evolving goals.
To put this in context, I want to share two sources that have yielded high value for me over the years: the Today in Design newsletter and the Dive Club podcast. Both are curated by designers in the loop of the most relevant industry topics and the most impressive work getting shipped out there. Following both creates new avenues for high-quality content worth your time.
If you make it this far in the article, here’s a treat for you. I’ve received occasional requests to share my “must follow” recommendations, so I’ve finally assembled a starter pack for designers with over 100 individuals worth following. I guarantee you won’t be short on learning and inspiration with the quality of their work. Check it out here.
Parting thoughts
With how limited and valuable time is, don’t you think we can invest in curating the information we’re exposed to? “Taste” doesn’t happen overnight, nor does it happen without intention and investment, and selectively filtering the signal through the noise of your daily feed is an investment with compounding effects. Just like an outcome-driven diet will make you feel healthier, this practice will directly shape your future self because you choose who influences your creative instincts.
There’s more content and channels to consume now than it used to back when I started. The difference is that now that I’m putting the FOMO aside and focusing on quality over quantity, I feel more energized, inspired, and challenged than ever. The goal isn't to know everything, it's to know what matters for the creative you're becoming.
Shortcuts
How to Remember What You Read, by Farnam Street
Do I actually have good taste?, one of four questions Shreyas wishes he’d asked himself sooner
Most People Don't Have Good Taste — And What You Can Do About It, also by Shreyas
It's always more fun to learn with others than doing it alone, so don't hesitate to reach out on Twitter or Bluesky if you want to continue the conversation. If this article has been helpful, share it with a friend!
Over and out,
Laura ✌️