Summary
On the second day of the Design Operations Summit 2022, Bria, the host and curator, guides attendees through the conference structure and logistics, emphasizing the importance of community participation and inclusivity. She details how to navigate the program page, outlines the separation of main and sponsor sessions, and encourages attendees to invite others to sponsor talks, which are free and content-rich. Bria thanks sponsors like Verizon, SpokenWheel, and Balsamiq for their essential support and shares information about the digital swag bag via a QR code. She highlights Slack as the core platform for discussion, questions, and support, stressing the importance of thread organization for efficient communication. Bria also explains the value of cohorts—small groups of attendees engaging deeply with the content—and encourages first-timers to join them in future conferences. She introduces David Nicholson as the scribe responsible for session notes and resources, assuring attendees that note-taking is unnecessary. Finally, Bria reminds the community about the code of conduct and support channels to ensure a positive virtual experience. The session closes with a preview of the final panel featuring curators, where attendee input via FigJam will shape the conversation about the future of design operations.
Key Insights
-
•
The Design Operations Summit divides content across main and sponsor programs, with sponsor sessions free and non-overlapping to increase accessibility.
-
•
Slack is the central hub for community interaction, speaker Q&A, and customer support during the conference.
-
•
Organizing questions in speaker-specific Slack threads helps manage the high volume of inquiries and maintains productive conversations.
-
•
Cohorts of 14-15 attendees foster deeper engagement and are among the conference’s most valued experiences.
-
•
Digital swag bags provide tangible attendee benefits even in virtual conference settings, replicating physical event perks.
-
•
Real-time note-taking is unnecessary as detailed session notes, sketches, videos, and resources are promptly published post-session.
-
•
Sponsors ranging from Verizon to Balsamiq play a critical role in enabling the conference, highlighting the value of industry partnerships.
-
•
The conference maintains a strong community focus by enforcing a code of conduct and providing dedicated help channels to ensure safety and inclusivity.
-
•
Time zone adjustments on the program page help global attendees avoid missing sessions, emphasizing inclusivity and convenience.
-
•
The final panel is designed to synthesize learnings from the two-day event and incorporate participant feedback via collaborative tools like FigJam.
Notable Quotes
"We could not have this conference without you all — the curation team relies heavily on audience participation."
"Sponsor sessions are not sales pitches; they are content-rich and free to anyone who wants to attend."
"Take advantage of the digital swag bag — it’s our way of replicating in-person perks in a virtual world."
"Slack is the heart and soul of this conference — that’s where you ask questions, get help, and connect with others."
"Please keep your questions within the speaker’s thread so we don’t lose track of them in the busy chat."
"Cohorts are consistently one of the highest rated parts of the conference — they’re a fantastic way to learn together."
"No need to take notes — our scribe David Nicholson is capturing detailed session notes and insights for you."
"Respect and kindness are mandatory; please read our code of conduct to ensure a positive community experience."
"The program page has a time zone selector so everyone can attend sessions on their local time without confusion."
"The final panel will be grounded in your input from this summit — we want to hear from you in the FigJam link."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"There’s no faking it with this crowd."
Doug PowellClosing Keynote: Design at Scale
November 8, 2018
"Sometimes with kids, you just have to get artifactual data or creative outputs because they can’t always articulate."
Mila Kuznetsova Lucy DentonHow Lessons Learned from Our Youngest Users Can Help Us Evolve our Practices
March 9, 2022
"Signals are something that’s happening at the horizon, percolating at the fringes of society or in a narrow subset of the population."
Sarah GallimoreInspire Progress with Artifacts from the Future
November 18, 2022
"The ultimate measure is bringing value so people invite you back to work with them again and again."
Lada Gorlenko Sharbani Dhar Sébastien Malo Rob Mitzel Ivana Ng Michal Anne RogondinoTheme 1: Discussion
January 8, 2024
"It is our job to lead and transform with empathy and heart because there’s fear in everyone."
Alnie FigueroaThe Future of Design Operations: Transforming Our Craft
September 10, 2025
"You shouldn’t send another survey unless you’ve implemented changes and allowed time for behavior to adapt."
Landon BarnesAre My Research Findings Actually Meaningful?
March 10, 2022
"In public radio, your listener can’t rewind. We have to design for thoughtful user progression."
Emily EagleCan't Rewind: Radio and Retail
June 3, 2019
"Managing resistance is mental; customers might resist because they've learned workarounds with legacy systems."
Malini RaoLessons Learned from a 4-year Product Re-platforming Journey
June 9, 2021
"Building rapport and rituals helped our remote team foster camaraderie and trust."
Asia HoePartnering with Product: A Journey from Junior to Senior Design
November 29, 2023
