Hey Designers 👋

My name is Egor Krasnoperov. I'm a co-founder of https://mockin.work/ and work as a Design Director at different companies. And I want to share my approach to building a professional development plan. This template has been shaped over the past five years and has already helped many designers grow in their careers. I hope it will be just as useful for you!

Here’s an interesting insight I’ve discovered—no matter how strong your motivation is, without a plan, it risks going unrealized. On the flip side, even the most ambitious idea can become achievable with the right plan in place.

Overview

• Purpose: Outline your professional development goals, gather feedback, and track your progress.
• Duration: Ideally 6–9 months (not longer than 12 months) to maintain focus and motivation.
• Frequency: Regular check-ins (e.g., weekly or monthly) and a final Performance Review at the end of the period.

1. Define Your Outcome Vision

The "Outcome Vision" is a clear, descriptive picture of where you want to be by the end of the development period. It should detail the type of work you want to do, the projects you aspire to handle, and the skills you want to master.

Instructions:

• Describe Your Ideal Role: What responsibilities and tasks do you want to be handling?
• Visualize Success: How will your work impact the product and team? What does success look like for you?
• Write a Mission Statement: Summarize your professional goals and aspirations.

Example:

"I envision myself leading a project that involves end-to-end design, collaborating closely with product and engineering teams. I want to master user research, interaction design, and visual storytelling to deliver intuitive, user-centered interfaces."

2. Gather Stakeholder Feedback

Collect input from those who evaluate your work—such as your manager, design director, or product owner—to understand key areas for improvement.

Instructions: