One common mistake I see among new product designers is over-referencing existing successful products.
When apps like Uber or Airbnb use minimalist icons, most users understand what they mean, because they’ve spent years using those products.
But if you’re building something new, your users are starting from zero without any prior context. You need to design as if your users are seventh graders encountering your product for the first time.
Many designers fall into this trap because we all love clean, minimalist design. But remember, you’re not Uber or Airbnb yet – clarity should always come first, even if doing so might hurt clean, minimalist design.