Opening Remarks
Summary
On the closing day of the Design Operations Summit 2021, the host warmly thanked the community, speakers, and facilitators for their contributions. Alana Washington, the curator, introduced the day's theme focused on the future of design operations. Attendees were guided to the agenda site (designopsummit.com) to navigate programming by time zones and encouraged to join both main and sponsor sessions, which were high-quality and free during breaks. Key sponsors like Verizon Design and Mural were acknowledged, with additional digital swag bags available for attendees. The community’s active participation on Slack in channels like #do-general and cohort-specific groups was highlighted as a vital aspect of the conference experience. Behind-the-scenes contributors such as sketchnote artist MJ Broadband and resource curator Lauren Cantor received special recognition for enhancing the conference content. Finally, the importance of adhering to the virtual code of conduct was stressed to maintain a safe and respectful environment throughout the event.
Key Insights
-
•
Community involvement through surveys and Slack channels is critical to the conference's success and engagement.
-
•
Providing both paid main content and free sponsor sessions creates inclusive opportunities for a wider audience.
-
•
Sponsors contribute not only financially but also with manpower and high-quality content workshops.
-
•
Digital swag bags serve as an innovative alternative to physical conference giveaways in virtual events.
-
•
Slack channels are segmented to support general discussion, specific cohorts, and help requests.
-
•
Behind-the-scenes roles like sketchnote artists and resource curators significantly enhance user experience.
-
•
Conference content and resources are quickly made available online, reducing the need for note-taking during sessions.
-
•
Emphasizing a strong code of conduct online helps ensure a safe and inclusive virtual learning environment.
-
•
Curators like Alana Washington shape the thematic focus, guiding the overarching narrative for event days.
-
•
Transparency about scheduling and time zones reduces confusion and supports global participation.
Notable Quotes
"This is our third and final day of the design operation Summit 2021."
"Our community would not be what it is without you."
"The most highly rated part of the conference every year are the facilitators making the cohorts sing."
"Sponsor sessions are not sales pitches; they are super similar to the quality of the main conference session."
"We have over a thousand members in the #do-general Slack channel, and that’s where the party is at."
"If you want to take advantage of asking speakers questions and having discussions, join our Slack."
"There is no need to take notes; session notes, sketchnotes, resource lists, videos, and decks will be shared."
"Lauren Cantor works with companies to create new business strategies by tackling human-centered design."
"Please read our code of conduct to ensure everyone can be their fullest selves while respecting others."
"If you ever feel unsafe or threatened, please let us know in the #do-help channel."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Working with designers as stakeholders means we get very direct, point-blank feedback, which makes design decisions more efficient."
Caitlyn Hampton Monica Lee Jina YoonCompass 101: Growing Your Career In A Startup World
June 11, 2021
"Until we clarify our language, we’ll agree on everything but not truly agree."
Stephen AndersonPuzzled? How to Coordinate Humans for Complex Challenges
May 27, 2021
"If you show something that looks ready to ship too early, you may miss exploring 30 other concepts quickly."
Billy CarlsonPrinciples of Team Wireframing
October 2, 2023
"We need secure defaults that protect users out of the box without them having to figure it out."
Heidi TrostWhen AI Becomes the User’s Point Person—and Point of Failure
August 7, 2025
"Design turns a 10 from an engineering team into an 11 or a 12; it turns up the volume much more."
Dave MaloufClosing Keynote: Amplify. Not Optimize.
October 24, 2019
"If design, product, and development use different tools, we end up talking past one another."
Jon Fukuda Amy Evans Ignacio Martinez Joe MeersmanThe Big Question about Innovation: A Panel Discussion
September 25, 2024
"You want to move from ‘make me a thing’ to ‘change customer behavior.’ That’s where the magic is."
Jeff GothelfThe Intersection of Lean and Design
January 10, 2019
"Conversation converts — with or alongside, it means bend or turn."
Victor UdoewaTheme One Intro
March 27, 2023
"Anyone can become a person with accessibility needs at any time, so inclusivity should be a default."
Rittika BasuAge and Interfaces: Equipping Older Adults with Technological Tools
February 23, 2023
