Have you ever wondered how to learn a new craft? In this session, Tiantian will share her knowledge on mastering a new craft using the 100-day-project format. You will learn about how to set up a daily routine, apply deliberate practice, and eventually become a better designer in 100 days.

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

21. 100 Days of Lettering | Day 91 100 Days of Lettering | Day 94 100 Days of Lettering | Day 97

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

23. 100 Days of
Watercolor
Apr 2016 – Sep 2016
Medium: Watercolor and paper
Hashtag: #100DaysofColorbyTX

24. 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 1 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 7 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 9

25. 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 51 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 58 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 74-75

26. 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 92-93 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 98 100 Days of Watercolor | Day 99

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

28. 100 Days of
Vector
Illustration
Jan 2017 – May 2017
Medium: Sketch App
Hashtag: #100DaysofVectorbyTX

29. 100 Days of Vector Illustration | Day 6-13 | Tutorial written by Andrei Stefan

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

33. 100 Days of
Motion
Design
Aug 2017 – Apr 2018
Medium: Sketch App, Principle App,
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects
Hashtag: #100DaysofMotionbyTX

34. 100 Days of Motion | Day 1-2 100 Days of Motion | Day 3-4 100 Days of Motion | Day 11-12

35. 100 Days of Motion | Day 43-44 100 Days of Motion | Day 59-60 100 Days of Motion | Day 69-70

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

38. 100 Days of
3D Design
Nov 2018 – Present
Medium: Blender
Hashtag: #100Daysof3DbyTX

39. 100 Days of 3D | Day 1 100 Days of 3D | Day 2 100 Days of 3D | Day 3-4

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

41. 100 Days of 3D | Day 56-59 100 Days of 3D | Day 74-76 100 Days of 3D | Day 77-79

42. 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?

43. 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.

44. 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?

45. 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.

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

47. 01
02
03
04
Choose a subject
Start with the basics
Climb the learning curve
Create from the heart

48. 01
02
03
04
Choose a subject
Start with the basics
Climb the learning curve
Create from the heart

49. 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/

50. 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

51. 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

52. 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

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

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

55. 01
02
03
04
Choose a subject
Start with the basics
Climb the learning curve
Create from the heart

56. 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

57. 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

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

59. 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

60. 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

61. 01
02
03
04
Choose a subject
Start with the basics
Climb the learning curve
Create from the heart

62. 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

63. 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

64. 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

65. 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

66. 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

67. 01
02
03
04
Choose a subject
Start with the basics
Climb the learning curve
Create from the heart

68. 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

69. 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

70. 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

71. Reflections

72. 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

73. 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

74. 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

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

76. 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

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