Summary
How do we shape design organizations to always be in service of the user? Peter Merholz talks about how everything changed when he focused on getting the organization operations correct instead of just getting the design right. Peter Merholz is the VP of Design at Snagajob and the co-author of "Org Design for Design Orgs."
Key Insights
-
•
Great user experiences stem from both effective design and well-structured organizations.
-
•
The management style and team dynamics are often more crucial than the talent within a team.
-
•
Centralized design models may restrict strategic input from design teams, leading to disempowerment.
-
•
Decentralized design teams encourage ownership but can lead to a disjointed user experience.
-
•
Embedding designers within product teams fosters immediate impact but may not leverage their strategic insights.
-
•
Presence of strong leadership is key to empowering design teams and ensuring quality output.
-
•
Teams should be organized not just around functions but around customer journeys and experiences.
-
•
Effective design can only occur when there's clarity in the organization's strategic objectives and quality standards.
-
•
Quality in design can be subjective; establishing clear quality measures can help mitigate confusion and paralysis.
-
•
Flexibility in team organization allows for better resource management and skill utilization.
Notable Quotes
"If I do my job as a designer, do my level best, talk to users, understand them, create great designs, we'll get those out in the world and all of the experiences will be great."
"You need to spend a lot of time thinking about people and their relationships."
"It's not just about having great people; you need to create the space in which those great people can thrive."
"We need to organize our teams around customers and their journeys."
"When I think about this model, I tend to think of this as short order cook."
"This is a no-win situation. Whatever they choose to do, everyone is going to die."
"It’s important as design leaders to be comfortable with the word no."
"If you guys are smart, you're going to see the impact of that great work."
"I know it when I see it. I know what I like."
"Having a clear understanding of what it is that your team is expected to deliver is essential."
More Videos
"AI should support real human research, not replace it entirely."
Noz UrbinaRapid AI-powered UX (RAUX): A framework for empowering human designers
May 1, 2025
"We can improvise the rest on top of that."
Jim KalbachJazz Improvisation as a Model for Team Collaboration
June 4, 2019
"I want to talk to you about are you really doing user-centered teamwork when you're thinking about growing a team."
Holly ColeUnderstanding Experiences: When you have to do more than work
November 8, 2018
"All the rules defined for the header apply, ensuring consistency throughout our design."
Jack BeharHow to Build Prototypes that Behave like an End-Product
December 6, 2022
"You don't want to miss out on one of the really cool parts about the conference, which is going home with a bunch of cool swag."
Bria AlexanderOpening Remarks
October 3, 2023
"Focus on destination rather than just vehicle; what are we trying to achieve with AI?"
Erika FlowersAI-Readiness: Preparing NASA for a Data-Driven, Agile Future
June 10, 2025
"Data is not just numbers; it tells us the story of student learning."
Kristin SkinnerFive Years of DesignOps
September 29, 2021
"How can a group of people come together and spontaneously create something that is legendary?"
Jim KalbachJazz Improvisation as a Model for Team Collaboration
November 6, 2017
"Diverse teams lead to better outcomes by forming teams of different experiences."
Surya VankaUnleashing Swarm Creativity to Solve Enterprise Challenges
June 10, 2021
