Design intelligence works much like emotional intelligence.
They both rely on a keen awareness of surroundings, empathy for others, and an unrelenting desire to make things better.
The habits of a design-intelligent person aren’t loud—they’re quiet, thoughtful, and sometimes even a little funny.
You know you’re onto something when someone offers unsolicited advice about your couch arrangement at a dinner party.
Here are 15 of those “silent” habits—and some stories to keep things relatable (and possibly annoying to others).
1. Observing how people move through spaces
Ever noticed someone instinctively rearranging chairs at friend’s dinner party. That’s a designer at work. They’re mentally reconfiguring the living/dining area for a big crowd for their friend’s successful event. At parties, they’re the ones thinking, “This would work better if the snacks were closer to the drinks.”
2. Carrying a sketchbook everywhere
A designer might whip out their sketchbook mid-conversation because the perfect solution to a problem just struck them. Once, I sketched a better café layout on the back of a receipt, handed it to the barista, and left. The next week? New table arrangements.
3. Collecting seemingly random objects
Beach pebbles, fabric scraps, or that weirdly shaped paperclip—it’s not clutter; it’s a “design library.” Once, someone saw the growing collection on my desk and asked, “Are you ever going to clean your desk?” They didn’t understand it then, but now that pebble is a texture inspiration for a project.
4. Reading about everything
Designers read voraciously—fiction, biographies, city planning reports (ok, maybe not the report). Not only the stack of magazines I read, but I enjoy reading(?) the free Canadian Tire broschures.
5. Noticing the smallest details in everyday objects
The spoon that doesn’t scoop well, the door handle that pinches your hand—they always notice. If you hear a loud sigh in a poorly designed space, chances are there’s a designer nearby. I once spent 10 minutes silently battling with a soap dispenser in a public restroom before realizing everyone was watching.
6. Quietly rearranging things to make them more functional
Every home office I’ve ever visited is a personal challenge. I once “innocently” suggested to a friend that I could help rearrange their furniture. “You’re such a designer,” they laughed. Five minutes later, I was moving their bookshelf for better lighting. Designers can’t just sit there—we fix things.
7. Always asking “why”
“Why is this chair so uncomfortable?” “Why does this room feel so cramped?” Design intelligence means questioning everything, often out loud. Once, at a restaurant, I asked why the ceiling pendent lights were hanging so low, and the waiter joked, “To highlight the food you are going to enjoy”.
8. Feeling deeply annoyed by bad lighting
Another lighting story…Harsh LED lights? Bad lighting is like nails on a chalkboard to designers. Once, I offered to replace the bulbs at my friend’s house because “it does not have warmth.”
9. Carrying tools that surprise you
A tape measure, architectural scale, or a flashlight—it’s not weird; it’s practical. I have been carrying a big, heavy tape measure from my architecture school days for “just in case” moments.
10. Analyzing how things are built
Touching walls, examining seams of chairs, or tapping on glass—it’s a compulsion. Noticing how things made and how I could do it better is definitely a silent comment I make.
11. Taking the scenic route
I don’t always do this…but I like the idea of it. Designers take the long way home—not for the view but to check out new buildings or a quirky mural. Once, I added 20 minutes to a walk because I wanted to see the back of a building.
12. Rearranging furniture in their mind
I can’t help but reimagine spaces. A friend once caught me staring at their living room and asked, “What are you thinking?” Before I could stop myself, I said, “You’d have more space if you rotated the sofa.” The next week, they actually did it.
13. Being sensitive to sounds
Designers notice the acoustic qualities of a space—the hum of an HVAC system or the echo of a room. Once, I suggested a friend to leave a cafe because the sound quality was unbearable. My friend wanted stay for the food over sound quality.
14. Having a love-hate relationship with trends
Designers appreciate trends but approach them skeptically including yours truly. Remember when everyone painted their walls gray? A designer was the one thinking, “Will this look outdated in five years?”
15. Feeling joy when others connect with their designs
Seeing someone light up in a space they designed is the ultimate reward. I once overheard someone compliment a building I worked on. I didn’t say anything, but inside I was screaming, “Thank you!”
Final Thoughts
Design intelligence doesn’t come with a loud proclamation.
It’s revealed in quiet moments—like rearranging your friend’s bookshelf or noticing how a park bench feels “off.” Much like emotional intelligence, it’s about seeing what others miss and finding ways to make life better.
So, the next time you catch yourself subtly judging the layout of a restaurant or mentally redesigning your friend’s kitchen—you might just have design intelligence.
Life Outside of Design Studio 