Superhuman by Design
by Donald Burlock Jr.
Key Concepts
Life as Design
Approach personal and professional challenges as design problems to be solved.
Iterative Prototyping
Continuously experiment, test, and refine ideas through rapid cycles.
Constraint Catalysis
View limitations not as roadblocks but as powerful prompts for innovative solutions.
Empathy-First Creation
Deeply understand user needs and perspectives before developing solutions.
Failure Feedback
Reframe mistakes as essential data points for learning and improvement.
Action Items
Frame personal goals as design challenges with clear user (you) needs.
Launch minimum viable experiments for new ideas, then iterate quickly.
Identify and intentionally leverage existing constraints to spark novel solutions.
Practice deep observation and active listening to uncover unspoken needs.
Conduct post-mortems on failures to extract actionable insights for next steps.
Core Thesis
Design principles are not just for products; they are powerful tools for engineering extraordinary personal and professional lives.
Mindset Shift
The book shifts one from being a passive participant to an active, intentional designer of their own potential and reality.