1.
Growing as a
Designer:
How to
Master a Craft
in 100 Days
Tiantian Xu
Senior Product Designer, Uber

2.
01
02
03
A G E N D A
My creative journey
How to master a craft
using the 100-day project
Reflections

3.
Tsinghua University
B.E in Automotive Engineering
2006–2010
Full-time UX designer
Lab49, Keas, Duetto, Amazon, Uber
2012–present
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction
2010–2012
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y

4.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
I have been looking for
the best way to learn
graphic design.

5.
100 Days of Chinese Painting | Yuan Wang

6.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
What is
#the100dayproject?

7.
Michael
Bierut
Yale School of Art
T H E 1 0 0 D A Y P R O J E C T

8.
Elle Luna
The Great Discontent
T H E 1 0 0 D A Y P R O J E C T

9.
T H E 1 0 0 D A Y P R O J E C T
#The100DayProject is
a free art project that
takes place online.

10.
T H E 1 0 0 D A Y P R O J E C T
Rule #1:
Choose a creative task
and do it everyday for
100 days.

11.
T H E 1 0 0 D A Y P R O J E C T
Rule #2:
Share your process on
Instagram with the hashtag
#The100DayProject.

12.
Image source: Elle Luna | The Great Discontent

13.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
I just want to doodle.

14.
100 Days of
Doodle
Aug 2015 – Nov 2015
Medium: Pen and paper
Hashtag: #100DaysofDoodlebyTX

15.
100 Days of Doodle | Day 63 100 Days of Doodle | Day 64 100 Days of Doodle | Day 75

16.
100 Days of Doodle | Day 82 100 Days of Doodle | Day 92 100 Days of Doodle | Day 94

17.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
I want to draw letters.

18.
100 Days of
Lettering
Nov 2015 – Mar 2016
Medium: Pen and paper
Hashtag: #100DaysofLetteringbyTX

19.
100 Days of Lettering | Day 2 100 Days of Lettering | Day 28 100 Days of Lettering | Day 35

20.
100 Days of Lettering | Day 91 100 Days of Lettering | Day 94 100 Days of Lettering | Day 97

21.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
I want to explore color.

22.
100 Days of
Watercolor
Apr 2016 – Sep 2016
Medium: Watercolor and paper
Hashtag: #100DaysofColorbyTX

23.
100 Days of Watercolor | Day 1 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 7 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 9

24.
100 Days of Watercolor | Day 51 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 58 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 74-75

25.
100 Days of Watercolor | Day 92-93 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 98 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 99

26.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
I want to create
vector illustrations.

27.
100 Days of
Vector
Illustration
Jan 2017 – May 2017
Medium: Sketch App
Hashtag: #100DaysofVectorbyTX

28.
100 Days of Vector Illustration | Day 6-13 | Tutorial written by Andrei Stefan

29.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
I want to animate
vector illustrations.

30.
100 Days of
Motion
Design
Aug 2017 – Apr 2018
Medium: Sketch App, Principle App,
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects
Hashtag: #100DaysofMotionbyTX

31.
100 Days of Motion | Day 1-2 100 Days of Motion | Day 3-4 100 Days of Motion | Day 11-12

32.
100 Days of Motion | Day 43-44 100 Days of Motion | Day 59-60 100 Days of Motion | Day 69-70

33.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
I want to create
3D artwork.

34.
100 Days of
3D Design
Nov 2018 – Present
Medium: Blender
Hashtag: #100Daysof3DbyTX

35.
100 Days of 3D | Day 1 100 Days of 3D | Day 2 100 Days of 3D | Day 3-4

36.
100 Days of 3D | Day 21 100 Days of 3D | Day 39-40 100 Days of 3D | Day 54-55

37.
100 Days of 3D | Day 56-59 100 Days of 3D | Day 74-76 100 Days of 3D | Day 77-79

38.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
How has the 100-day
project helped me grow
as a designer?

39.
Develop new skills
The 100 Day Project is a great
way to learn a new skill or
freshen up on a technique that
I’ve been wanting to master.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
Discover great designers
and get inspired
The 100 Day Project has
introduced me to many amazing
designers and artists. Their work
has motivated me to become a
better designer.
Enjoy the joy of creation
The 100 Day Project has
reignited my passion for
creativity. I was able to form the
habit of learning and express
myself through art.

40.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
Why do I choose the
100-day project over
other learning methods?

41.
It tracks your progress
The 100 Day Project has a start day and an
end day — you can track your progress and
feel motivated to finish it.
M Y C R E A T I V E J O U R N E Y
It forces you to deliver results
The 100 Day Project asks you to share your
daily progress — you are forced to create
something new everyday.
It’s flexible
The 100 Day Project can be done anywhere
and anytime — you can even pause it for a
few days and pick it up when you are ready.
It’s (almost) free
The 100 Day Project can be as affordable as
you want it to be — most learning resources
are free and can be found online.

42.
How to master a
craft using the
100-day project?

43.
01
02
03
04
Choose a subject
Start with the basics
Climb the learning curve
Create from the heart

44.
01
02
03
04
Choose a subject
Start with the basics
Climb the learning curve
Create from the heart

45.
C H O O S E A S U B J E C T
Choose a subject you want to learn
100 Days of Framer | Tony Jing100 Days of UI | https://www.dailyui.co/

46.
C H O O S E A S U B J E C T
Choose a subject you are
passionate about
100 Days of Disco Icon | Tom Wahlin 100 Days of Felt Face | Becky Margraf 100 Days of Haiku | Courtney Symons

47.
C H O O S E A S U B J E C T
Make sure it’s realistic for your
current skill level
100 Days of Doodle
Storyboarding
2015
100 Days of Color
Color
2016
100 Days of Lettering
Typography
2015-2016
100 Days of Vector
Vector Illustration
2017
100 Days of Motion
Motion Design
2017-2018
100 Days of 3D
3D Modeling
2019

48.
C H O O S E A S U B J E C T
Make sure it’s flexible in terms of
daily deliverable
100 Days of Lettering | Day 6 100 Days of Lettering | Day 62

49.
C H O O S E A S U B J E C T
Add some creative constraints
600x600 artboard

50.
C H O O S E A S U B J E C T
Add some creative constraints
Pre-defined color palette

51.
01
02
03
04
Choose a subject
Start with the basics
Climb the learning curve
Create from the heart

52.
S T A R T W I T H T H E B A S I C S
Follow beginner tutorials
Adobe Illustrator Beginner Tutorial | Nataliya Dolotko 100 Days of Vector Illustration | Day 3-5

53.
S T A R T W I T H T H E B A S I C S
Copy for practice
Font Book 100 Days of Lettering | Day 28

54.
S T A R T W I T H T H E B A S I C S
Collect inspirations

55.
S T A R T W I T H T H E B A S I C S
Collect ideas
100 Days of Vector Illustration | Ideas 100 Days of Motion | Sketches

56.
S T A R T W I T H T H E B A S I C S
Share your work
100 Days of Doodle | Day 13–14 100 Days of Doodle | Day 56

57.
01
02
03
04
Choose a subject
Start with the basics
Climb the learning curve
Create from the heart

58.
C L I M B T H E L E A R N I N G C U R V E
Watch tutorials in 1.5x and create
from memory
Smoke Animation Tutorial | Gigantic 100 Days of Motion Design | Day 53-54

59.
C L I M B T H E L E A R N I N G C U R V E
Rebound other people’s work
Ducky Walk Cycle | Tony Babel 100 Days of Motion Design | Day 25-26

60.
C L I M B T H E L E A R N I N G C U R V E
Re-apply previously learned technique
100 Days of Motion Design | Day 33–34 100 Days of Motion Design | Day 39–40 100 Days of Motion Design | Day 83–84

61.
Participate in community challenge
100 Days of Lettering | Alphabet 100 Days of Vector Illustration | Dog Alphabet
C L I M B T H E L E A R N I N G C U R V E

62.
C L I M B T H E L E A R N I N G C U R V E
Read book to connect the dots
Thinking with Type | Ellen Lupton Vector Basic Training | Von Glitschka After Effects CC Classroom in a Book | Lisa Fridsma

63.
01
02
03
04
Choose a subject
Start with the basics
Climb the learning curve
Create from the heart

64.
C R E A T E F R O M T H E H E A R T
Create fan art
100 Days of Motion Design | Firewatch 100 Days of Motion Design | Monument Valley 100 Days of Motion Design | Beauty and the Beast

65.
C R E A T E F R O M T H E H E A R T
Revisit your old work
100 Days of Watercolor | Day 100 100 Days of Motion Design | Day 100

66.
C R E A T E F R O M T H E H E A R T
Express yourself
100 Days of Lettering | Day 98 100 Days of Motion | Day 61-62 100 Days of 3D | Day 35-36

67.
Reflections

68.
R E F L E C T I O N
Daily effort leads to mastery
100 Days of Doodle | Day 44 100 Days of Motion Design | Day 25-26

69.
R E F L E C T I O N
Stop comparing yourself to others
100 Days of Vector Illustration | Day 75 James Gilleard | https://www.behance.net/jamesgilleard

70.
R E F L E C T I O N
Do the work that feeds your soul,
not your ego
100 Days of Motion Design | Day 13-14 100 Days of Lettering | Day 15

71.
R E F L E C T I O N
Be the 1% people who create content
1% Rule (Internet Culture)

72.
R E S O U R C E S
Books
Steal Like an Artist | Austin Kleon The Creative’s Curse | Todd Brison Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance |
Augela Duckworth

73.
Thank you!
@tiantianxu
INSTAGRAM/TWITTER/DRIBBBLE/MEDIUM