Summary
Within large rigid corporate cultures, Design is encouraged to accommodate the dominant practices of business and technology. While some accommodation is necessary to successfully partner with other functions, going too far risks leeching the humanistic power from the practice, reducing Design to a mechanistic function. Design Ops may inadvertently enable this accommodation with the business demanding it focus on increasing effectiveness and efficiency. However, DesignOps is underutilized in this capacity as it is uniquely positioned to protect and advance design practices, culture and growth. In this session, we’ll advocate for how Design Ops can provide a deeper connection and commitment to championing the sparkle and verve of actualized Design practice through business and cultural practices, programs, and structures.
Key Insights
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Design teams thrive on creativity but often face bureaucratic pressures that encourage predictability.
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Shared values like empathy and generosity can create a strong design culture within corporations.
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Design operations should prioritize culture and people before implementing systems and processes.
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Ambiguity in design workflows can be leveraged as an essential feature, not a hindrance.
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Career structures in design should focus on flexible, multidisciplinary growth rather than strict paths.
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Recognizing that creativity requires uncertainty is key to fostering innovative design.
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Emotional intelligence plays a critical role in enabling effective design teams.
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Team values should resonate personally with individuals, not just be corporate jargon.
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Design leaders must embody the values they wish to instill in their teams to create an authentic culture.
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Designers should be encouraged to experiment and pilot new ideas without waiting for full approval.
Notable Quotes
"At the heart of design are rigor, tools, practices, and norms that foster an environment for humans to produce seemingly magical results."
"We are the enablers of weird."
"If you start launching design systems without having got your culture in place, you're basically just turning the design team into a factory."
"Ambiguity can be a feature."
"Creativity requires uncertainty."
"Your work is not your identity."
"Lower your expectations a little bit, and you might find more happiness in your work."
"Things move slower in corporate environments; maintain your patience."
"20% better is still better."
"Get comfortable with living in the middle of opposites."
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