Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Summary
In her talk, Kim Annex shares her experiences leading Zendesk's product design organization, a team spread across multiple countries and time zones. She reflects on the evolution of remote work technology and how it has transformed collaboration in distributed teams. Kim emphasizes the importance of building trust, fostering strong partnerships, and encouraging open communication among team members. She provides practical tips for managing global teams, including maintaining asynchronous communication, respecting cultural differences, and investing in design quality through collaboration and specialized roles. She also highlights the significance of personal connections, suggesting that informal interactions, such as team off-sites and shared interests on social media, contribute positively to team dynamics. Kim's framework advocates for a holistic approach to design that embraces both individual projects and the overall product experience, encouraging creativity and innovation even in the face of challenges.
Key Insights
-
•
Trust and strong partnerships are the foundation of successful distributed teams.
-
•
Effective communication is critical; leveraging digital tools helps mitigate misunderstandings.
-
•
The evolution of technology has enabled better collaboration in global teams.
-
•
Fostering a culture of humility and confidence promotes open dialogue and innovation.
-
•
Regular co-located workshops and social interactions build stronger team bonds.
-
•
Asynchronous communication is essential for working across multiple time zones.
-
•
Celebrating cultural differences enhances empathy and collaboration among team members.
-
•
Investing in specialists (e.g., user research, design systems) is crucial for maintaining design quality across products.
-
•
Encouraging team members to take risks and challenge the status quo drives creativity.
-
•
A shared vision and values help align cross-functional teams towards common goals.
Notable Quotes
"Nothing can get done without fostering and building trust."
"Design is really a team sport."
"We should be designing for experiences first, not just products."
"Breaking bread together makes a difference."
"Instagram fulfills a role in maintaining personal connections."
"It's essential to celebrate cultural differences and empathize with one another."
"We set expectations and figure out who's responsible and who's contributing."
"Asynchronous behavior is really important to just embrace it."
"Everyone should describe their work preferences and their hours and expectations."
"You're not going to get an answer quickly; things take longer."
More Videos
"Disability isn't a problem with a person; it's about the systems and environments we create."
Samuel ProulxInvisible barriers: Why accessible service design can’t be an afterthought
December 3, 2024
"Whenever we converse, there’s an opportunity for conversion."
Victor UdoewaTheme One Intro
March 27, 2023
"We must transform our success into the language of the highest level to quantify our contributions."
Gonzalo GoyanesDesign ROI: Cover a Little, Get a Lot
September 8, 2022
"Designers need to understand the role of policy to address technology harms effectively."
Alexandra SchmidtWhy Ethics Can't Save Tech
November 18, 2022
"Results don't speak for themselves; we speak for what we do."
Jose CoronadoFrom Zero to Hero
September 8, 2022
"I'm paving the path for neurodiversity in design."
Pippa LomasPaving the Path for Neurodiversity in Design
October 4, 2023
"The skills designers possess can be incredibly valuable in climate tech, even in unexpected ways."
Louis Rosenfeld Matt Jones Olga Khroustaleva Michael Leggett Karol MunozDo you want to work on climate? (Climate UX Discussion Series)
November 15, 2023
"A designer juggling multiple teams has to decide which two people am I going to piss off today."
Jeff GothelfThe Intersection of Lean and Design
January 10, 2019
"We gotta sit through two hours a day of gray; the answer is no, you don't have to sit through two hours."
Dave GrayGroup Activity: Making Sense of DesignOps
November 7, 2017
