What if I told you there’s a superpower some people are born with—one that many may not even realize is shaping their lives? Working in the realms of customer experience, technology, design and strategy requires people with diverse strengths and talents. You might be surprised, however, to hear dyslexia categorized as a strength or a special ability. For many, including many dyslexics themselves, dyslexia is often viewed as a learning disorder characterized by difficulties in reading, spelling and traditional learning. This limited perspective was all I knew about my dyslexia until recently. I considered myself fortunate to have found a career where I could excel, despite my all too familiar challenges.
It wasn’t until I heard Gil Gershoni interviewed on the Design Better Podcast, speaking about dyslexic design thinking based on his own experiences, that I came to understand that almost everything I’m good at is not despite my dyslexia but rather a direct result of it. As October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, I want to share a bit of my experience and what I’ve learned from this new understanding of the value of dyslexia. My hope is to encourage you to appreciate the unique strengths and abilities of those around you—dyslexic or not.
A Bit of My Story
My experience in school was somewhat confusing. On one hand, I enjoyed learning and found the concepts and takeaways of the subject matter quite interesting. But when it came to reading, test taking or note memorization, I felt blocked from fully engaging. I discovered that I learned best through auditory methods and did well in classes where the teacher lectured, but struggled to get by when comprehension and recall of textbook work was required.
After high school, I spent a year in a missional leadership training program, where two pivotal experiences occurred. First, I was assigned a data entry role processing applications. I noticed that certain applicants were required to use cumbersome paper-based applications instead of the online system. It seemed inefficient, as the main system could easily accommodate these applications with just a few procedural changes and some retraining. I suggested the solution, gained approval and implemented the changes—eliminating paper applications altogether. Looking back, it’s clear why the system patterns made sense to me, and at the time, it was my first hint of what I might be good at.
The second pivotal moment came when I saw my roommate, Caleb, sitting on the dorm room floor designing graphics in Illustrator. In that moment, I realized that I thought I’d enjoy that kind of work. After coming home from the program, I enrolled in school for graphic design. Studying design was the first time in my life where I was earning A grades. As I went through my schooling and early design career, I continued honing my skills and learned to write code for web development. As enjoyable as the artistic side of design was, I was always drawn to problem-solving, which eventually led me to user experience (UX) design—which turned out to be a perfect fit for me.
In my professional life, I’ve fully embraced both my strengths and challenges. I’ve found immense value in using text-to-speech technology for long-form reading, and I’ve come to appreciate the importance of always double-checking my spelling. Like many with dyslexia, spelling and handwriting are ongoing struggles, but I’ve learned how to navigate these hurdles to stay effective in my work.
The Hidden Strengths of Dyslexia: A New Perspective
Dyslexia is often viewed solely through the challenges it presents in reading and writing, but also brings with it several strengths and abilities. People with dyslexia often possess unique cognitive advantages that can be leveraged in various aspects of life and work. Here are some of the strengths and abilities commonly associated with dyslexia:
1. The Power of Creative and Big-Picture Thinking
Dyslexics often excel at seeing the bigger picture rather than getting lost in the details. They connect ideas and concepts in innovative ways others may overlook, making them well-suited for fields that require innovation and creativity. Many dyslexic individuals have vivid imaginations, which often translate to strengths in creative pursuits like art, design, storytelling and problem-solving.
2. Innovative Problem-Solving: A Dyslexic Advantage
Dyslexic individuals often approach problems from unique perspectives, thinking beyond conventional frameworks. This ability can make them adept at solving complex problems that require novel solutions. The challenges they face in traditional learning environments often foster resilience and adaptability, leading to strong problem-solving skills.
3. Navigating Complex Systems: A Dyslexic’s Approach to UX Design
Systems thinking is among the most valuable skills of a UX designer. We deal with systems of all kinds, from technology platforms and data sources to strategic frameworks, to brand frameworks, to cultural systems. All of these come together to form the conceptual models that shape the interactions between the user and the business. Dyslexic individuals often have a unique ability to understand these systems, recognize and overlay patterns, and explore possible solutions.
Visualization is applied in various ways, from imagining solutions to playing out scenarios. I love the way some dyslexics describe problem-solving as being able to hold a problem in your hand and rotate it to view it from all directions. Gil Gershoni described this visualization ability as another side to the same coin related to the common dyslexic experience of seeing words move around on the page. It’s as if our minds are trying to see through, between and around the words themselves, making what we see a negotiation rather than a concrete absolute. As a UX designer, I often describe the way I see a digital experience as having X-ray vision, where I see the distinct layers that I can separate: the surface-level look and feel, the interaction mechanisms, underlying code structures, data feeds, past and future events, and the psychological and emotional triggers that the user will encounter.
4. Visualizing Solutions: The Gift of Dyslexic Imagination
Dyslexic individuals frequently have strong spatial reasoning skills, enabling them to think in three dimensions. This can be particularly advantageous in fields like engineering, architecture and art. Many dyslexics also have a strong ability to recognize patterns and understand spatial relationships, which can help in areas like mathematics, design and strategic planning.
5. Collaboration and Play: Turning Weaknesses Into Strengths
While many dyslexic strengths are inherent predispositions, there are others that are learned along the way. One example from my personal experience is the ability to quickly get started and move on from the proverbial blank page. I attribute this to finding my own ways to learn. When book knowledge, note-taking and rote memory were not reliable tools in my toolbox, I found that what worked well for me was introducing what could be referred to as play. Whether it’s a project brief, research documents or simply the basis of what problem needs to be solved, I love translating the known details into sticky notes (physical or digital) and playing with the information.
While this technique or behavior was born out of necessity, I’ve found that embracing active participation and engagement is highly beneficial for everyone involved. In this era of remote and hybrid work, there’s often a tendency for people to try to solve problems in isolation. I’ve discovered great results by inviting others into my process of playing with the information—building context, sharing perspectives and exploring possibilities together.
As I’ve gained a deeper understanding of how I think and operate, it has also helped illuminate the strengths of others I work with. We all have unique gifts and ways of looking at the world. The best project outcomes and problem-solving efforts come about when teams not only understand the problem and the ideas, but also each other. Leaning into the strengths of your team has an incredible multiplying effect, where one plus one truly equals five.
6. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
Due to their unique experiences, many dyslexics develop strong emotional intelligence and empathy, which make them skilled at understanding others’ emotions and perspectives. This heightened empathy often translates into strong interpersonal skills, which are valuable in team settings and leadership roles.
Embracing Our Differences
Dyslexia is often misunderstood, seen only through the lens of its challenges. But as I’ve discovered, it’s also a source of incredible strength, creativity and innovation. My journey has taught me that what may seem like a limitation can actually be a unique superpower—a way of thinking that sets us apart and allows us to excel in ways others might not.
As we continue to understand and appreciate the diverse strengths that dyslexic individuals bring to the table, we can create more inclusive environments that celebrate these differences and harness them for greater success. So, whether you’re dyslexic or not, I encourage you to embrace your unique way of thinking. You might just find that your greatest challenges are also your greatest strengths.