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Summary
Designers are known for their ability to make connections—to take in a wide variety of diverse data points and find meaning through patterns and associations. As designers in enterprise, we can use this ability to be more effective partners and leaders. In his journey with design at ExxonMobil, Nick Cochran has thrived on finding and making these organizational connections. This talk highlights how he has used this ability, featuring examples of connections made and some he wished were made sooner. He also shares some practical methods to collect these data points so that more valuable connections can be made.
Key Insights
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Making personal connections can significantly impact career growth and opportunities.
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Designers are uniquely equipped to bring clarity to chaotic enterprise environments.
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Engagement is essential in large organizations, where silos can hinder collaboration.
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Building a community of practice can nurture talent and create pipelines for new designers.
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Investing in design can yield significant positive outcomes in organizational productivity.
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Leaders play a vital role in encouraging connections by creating spaces for communication and collaboration.
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Understanding the organization’s vision is crucial for aligning design efforts with business goals.
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Every conversation is a potential opportunity for connection if approached with curiosity.
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Practical actions, such as introducing colleagues based on shared interests, can enhance collaboration.
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Continuous learning and engagement are key to growing a robust design practice.
Notable Quotes
"Making a simple connection at age 14 helped me fund my college education."
"Working in Enterprise can feel like chaos."
"Isn't this the kind of challenge design is uniquely equipped to tackle?"
"Chaos, like we experience working in the Enterprise, allows design to shine."
"Design synthesis is about finding clarity in complexity."
"A motivated continuous effort to understand connections is essential."
"Every conversation is an opportunity to make new connections."
"Don't discount those hallway conversations; they can lead to significant insights."
"Leaders need to create opportunities for conversations within their teams."
"It's not enough for connections to exist only in your head; they must be acted upon."
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