The Hybrid Note-Taking
A Small-Scale Survey Study- 11/12/2024
As a UX/Product designer, I am in search of efficient ways to document my work and thoughts. While traditional handwriting has its merits, the digital age demands more flexible solutions. This curiosity led me to conduct a small-scale survey among 15 designers to understand how they manage their note-taking processes in today’s design environment.
Below are the survey Questions:
1. What is your job title, your level, and your specialty? (Experience Level)
2. What is your primary method for taking notes as a UX designer?
3. How does your note-taking method contribute to your UX design process?
4. Why do you prefer your chosen note-taking method?
5. How often do you refer back to your notes during the design process?
6. Have you switched between physical and digital note-taking methods in your career? If so, what prompted the change?
7. If you use digital tools for note-taking, which one(s) do you primarily use?
8. What are the main reasons you prefer digital tools for note-taking?
9. Are you open to chatting more about this for a follow-up?
Preferred Methods and Tools
The survey revealed that most designers, about two-thirds of participants, prefer a hybrid approach combining both digital and physical note-taking methods.
Only a third of designers use exclusively digital tools. Among digital tools, Figma, Notion, Miro, and interestingly, Apple Notes emerged as the most popular choices, with designers appreciating their versatility and ease of use.
“I love using Fireflies.ai for automatic note-taking during client calls and team meetings since their platform also provides a summary with automated to-do’s.”
Usage Patterns and Preferences
When it comes to referencing notes, most designers reported checking their notes several times per week, rather than daily.
Physical Tool Selection
Physical notes are particularly valued for ideation and deep thinking processes, while digital tools become essential for meetings, documentation, and team collaboration. This pattern suggests that different methods serve distinct purposes in the design workflow.
“I’m a tactile learner, so I prefer to use pen and paper. I feel like I absorb information better this way.”
“There were times I couldn’t afford to pay for a digital note-taking subscription. Or I had to move countries and couldn’t take my physical notes with me.”
Digital Tool Selection
The selection of digital tools appears to be driven by practical considerations. Designers consistently mentioned the importance of easy organization, searchability, and the ability to access notes across different devices. The collaborative features of digital tools also played a significant role, especially for portfolio documentation and team projects.
“I use digital notetaking for case studies and performance reviews.”
“It helps my productivity and prioritization, and also helps me to ensure not to miss anything important.
“Digital notes are quicker, eventually synthesis is done digitally, so it saves time on transferring them.”
Experience Level Impact
An interesting pattern emerged when looking at experience levels. Senior designers typically demonstrated more structured and systematic note-taking approaches, while entry-level designers showed more willingness to experiment with different methods. However, regardless of experience level, the hybrid approach remained consistently popular, suggesting its effectiveness across different career stages.
“I use two different methods for notetaking. One is with my Remarkable, which is a mix of both digital and physical notetaking. I write by hand, and it instantly converts it into a digital version that I can store on my devices. The other way I take notes is by using task management apps like Trello or Asana to stay organized and track my tasks.”
Conclusion
While this study’s sample size is small, it reveals an interesting trend: the hybrid approach to note-taking appears to offer the best of both worlds. Physical notes help with creative thinking and learning, while digital tools excel at organization and collaboration. As our field continues to evolve, finding the right balance between traditional and digital methods remains crucial for effective UX design work.