Summary
We have all heard the old saying “communication is key” but as the landscape of technology widens so do the options we have for communication tools using that technology. To talk about the challenges and opportunities that our organizations face when solving the communication conundrum, we have invited three people working in three different areas where communication is key for organizations with designers: research insights, workflow management and design systems management. Facilitated by Abby Covert.
Key Insights
-
•
Design operations suffer from too many fragmented tools and need unified systems.
-
•
Users want collaborative tools that filter noise and surface only what's important.
-
•
Collaboration in companies requires control mechanisms such as approvals and private comments, contradicting the idea of anarchy.
-
•
Integration between design and development is hindered by translation losses between design and code.
-
•
True agile and cross-functional collaboration are rare due to team turnover and lack of trust.
-
•
Collaborative tools have democratized feedback, increasing ownership across teams.
-
•
Different roles like designers, engineers, and business analysts have distinct needs from design tools.
-
•
Customization of collaborative tools and workflows is essential to fit diverse team processes.
-
•
AI and design systems combined with research can enable automated, smarter design decisions.
-
•
Future collaboration tools should respect users' focus time and reduce constant interruptions.
Notable Quotes
"There are too many things all over the place. I would like to use my magic wand for making them one system."
"A lot of these tools bring more noise into people’s day to day lives. It’s really hard to stay involved and still find time to get your own job done."
"Collaboration is actually not anarchy in companies. There’s always this need for control."
"Translation is a traitor because meaning is lost in translation between design and code."
"The dream of cross-functional agile collaboration is there, but it’s quite hard to realize that because teams don’t have enough time to build trust."
"With collaborative tools, feedback has become a democratic process, and people feel more ownership of the project."
"Design is not only limited to designers. Business analysts and engineers can design too, supported by designers."
"The hardest thing is knowing when to stop talking about something and start building it."
"Eventually, I expect AI to help create designs by combining patterns from meta design systems and research, making design more about crafting experiences."
"I want my collaboration tool to be like the Nest thermostat of my workday, knowing when I’m heads down and when I’m open to communication."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Iteration without reflection is not learning."
Jen BriselliLearning is the north star: service design for adaptive capacity
November 19, 2025
"Just tell me what you’re telling me—executives want clear and simple narratives, not complexity and jargon."
Dr. Nikki SmithResearch Strategy: Connecting Insights to Outcomes
March 12, 2025
"It’s better to err on the side of kindness and emotional support toward colleagues who might be struggling."
Louis RosenfeldWelcome / Housekeeping
June 7, 2023
"Systems Thinking can give us this new lens to think about research in the middle of complexity."
Sarah FlamionComplex Problem? Add Clarity by Combining Research and Systems Thinking
March 31, 2020
"I worked at an interactive information rich, dynamic customer relationship management firm — that was my way to explain making websites."
Husani OakleyTheme Two Intro
June 6, 2023
"Advancement in design maturity requires a tight business partnership between product management and design ops leaders."
Rima Campbell Amrit S BhachuIncrease Productivity and Drive Business Impact
September 24, 2024
"Dana is a reliable, solutions-oriented designer who prefers honest feedback but needs clear expectations."
Briana ThomasThe Quiet Force: Uncovering Hidden Leadership in High-Impact Design Teams
September 24, 2024
"A living systems lens urges us to see wholes, holes, and interdependent relationships in organizations."
Robin BeersNavigating organizational systems: Rethinking researcher’s role in driving change
March 13, 2025
"There is no need to take notes over the next few days. We have dedicated sketch notes and session resources."
Louis Rosenfeld Bria AlexanderOpening Remarks
March 27, 2023
