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Design thoughts
Can applying 10.000-hour rule theory make me a design expert?
The 10.000-hour rule theory was first introduced by Malcom Gladwell in his book Outliers. The study shows that if someone were to do one thing over and over again for 10.000 hours, they will become an expert in that field. 10.000 hours is basically 417 days, or 1.148 years. He expressed that the 10.000-hour rule is the key in attaining mastery in any skill, albeit the correct way. So if, as a designer, I dedicate 5 hours per day to practice your design skill, I’ll be a design expert in… 5–6 years?
Me, as a typical product designer, questioned a lot about this rule. Why 10,000 hours? How do you quantify expertise? Will the timeframe vary because everyone has a varied learning pace and privileges? How intense is the learning process that must be completed in 10.000 hours? Will someone who learns and practices day and night for 10.000 hours in a row achieve the same degree of skill as someone who takes it slow and achieve 10.000 hours in longer time?
