Summary
By focusing on key operational concerns like methodology, tooling, design systems, org models, and business rationale, DesignOps helps evolving design orgs succeed at their core purpose: Making the Experience. But there’s an important and sometimes overlooked flip-side to that operational coin: The Experience of Making. How do you keep teams inspired, engaged, and intrinsically motivated to deliver meaningful, resonant, innovative work? Miles Orkin, UX Vision and Culture lead for Google Cloud, will describe (and maybe even demonstrate) some key ingredients for cultivating culture.
Key Insights
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Culture is hard to define and often measured by feelings rather than strict processes.
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Fun is essential for team engagement and should be integrated into daily work life.
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Every employee contributes to design and culture, not just those with the 'designer' title.
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Authenticity in leadership encourages team members to be their true selves at work.
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Cultural infrastructure can support creativity but should not stifle organic development.
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Effective workplace culture requires acknowledging and managing a full spectrum of emotions.
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Personal connections and compassion among team members enhance workplace culture.
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Creating emotional safety is crucial for maximizing employee potential and innovation.
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Cultural initiatives must be fun and engaging to foster genuine participation.
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Questioning and reflecting on workplace culture can lead to meaningful improvements.
Notable Quotes
"I focus on organizational narratives and helping define a vision for a team."
"Culture is like poetry; when it's working, you don't even know why."
"If we want to be great at making the experience, we have to feel great about the experience of making."
"If you want culture to thrive, you need to recognize this full spectrum of feelings."
"You can’t just say, “Let’s not get our feelings involved.” What the hell?"
"You have to think about it and fertilize it."
"If we try and bracket culture, we won’t end up with an authentic culture."
"Emotion is your gut, you have to trust yourself with it."
"Almost nothing is better than avoiding a tough situation altogether."
"The best answer to cultivating culture is to ask more questions."
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