Summary
Airports are vital pieces of national infrastructure. They cost billions, and can take decades to design and deliver. We expect them to meet the day to day needs of millions of users, operate totally reliably, survive changing climate conditions, whilst providing a return on investment for their owners and operators. Stephen Pollard from Arup will explore the past present and future of a major airport in London, looking at challenges and successes to understand how best to manage design at the nexus of people, process, technology, and large complex assets.
Key Insights
-
•
The evolution of project aims emphasizes a shift from building delivery to national vision.
-
•
Design ops is crucial for quality and value in large-scale design projects.
-
•
Strategic influence is as important as getting the design right.
-
•
Cultural values significantly affect project success.
-
•
A diverse team of specialists enhances project outcomes.
-
•
Business-oriented thinking is essential for design professionals today.
-
•
Leadership roles for the design community are increasingly important.
-
•
Explicit cultural focus is crucial for successful delivery.
-
•
The need for effective collaboration tools has grown in design operations.
-
•
Building a better world through thoughtful design is a key goal for modern projects.
Notable Quotes
"We've moved from delivering a building to delivering a national vision."
"Design ops is at the heart of success in achieving outstanding quality."
"We need to influence strategies and think like business people."
"Cultural values are essential for ensuring project success."
"We've seen an evolution in tools and methods across our work."
"The design community plays a key role in leadership across programs."
"The focus on culture and values has been essential in successful delivery."
"Our mission is to build a better world through design."
"Collaboration with specialists drives project success."
"Innovation in design operations leads to greater project quality."
















More Videos

"Look for patterns; some of those are repeating."
Jacqui FreyFlow and Superfluidity for Design Orgs
November 7, 2018

"Human connection is a basic and evolutionary need; without it, we struggle to foster resilience."
Laura Gatewood Laine ProkayBeyond Buzzwords: Adding Heart to Effective Slack Communication
September 23, 2024

"The product leadership doesn't see the value in research and they're thinking about shutting the research team down."
Johanna KollmannInsights-Driven Product Strategy: Get your Research to Count
December 6, 2022

"We're closing out Design Ops 2024 with innovation curated by John Kuda."
Bria AlexanderDay 3 Welcome
September 25, 2024

"Designing for an edge case can benefit everyone."
Billy CarlsonIdeation tips for Product Managers
December 6, 2022

"Don’t underestimate the power of storytelling in conveying users’ needs to stakeholders."
Catherine DubutBridging Physical and Digital Spaces: Approaches to Retail Service Design
March 18, 2021

"Trust is the foundation of our team's culture and needs to be maintained during changes."
Kim Holt Emma Wylds Pearl Koppenhaver Maisee XiongA Salesforce Panel Discussion on Values-Driven DesignOps
September 8, 2022

"Those voices in a community of practice are not equally prominent."
Adrian HowardSturgeon’s Biases
September 25, 2024

"I learned that design is a spoke on a wheel and that I had to stick to the brief, obey the chain of command and deliver polished pixel perfect designs."
Asia HoePartnering with Product: A Journey from Junior to Senior Design
November 29, 2023