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
"We formed a core task force empowered to make decisions quickly, avoiding weeks of delay waiting for formal approvals."
Davis Neable Guy SegalHow to Drive a Design Project When you Don’t Have a Design Team
June 10, 2021
"The rocking chair test helps you evaluate if you’re living a life you won’t regret when you’re old."
Greg PetroffDesign is the Differentiator: Bringing New Design Innovations to a Very Antiquated and Very Large Industry
June 9, 2021
"Having a back office support in place made it much easier to convince new researchers to join the team."
Veevi RosensteinBuilding for Scale: Creating the Zendesk UX Research Practice
January 8, 2024
"We created AI OKRs allowing our team members to experiment and then share their findings with the team."
Ebru NamaldiDesigning the Designer’s Journey: Scaling Teams, Culture, and Growth Through DesignOps
September 11, 2025
"There is no one size fits all solution for screen readers."
Sam ProulxUnderstanding Screen Readers on Mobile: How And Why to Learn from Native Users
March 27, 2023
"Having sponsors who put in a good word made my hiring manager comfortable despite my lack of formal experience."
Joseph Williams Nepani Birondo Matt Readman Allison NgoUnlocking impact and influence through inclusive hiring in research
December 16, 2021
"We need to move to designing with, rather than designing for."
Jennifer StricklandAdopting a "Design By" Method
December 9, 2021
"Before you accept a mission as a changemaker, ask yourself do you have a clear directive, champion support, and the right resources?"
Maria GiudiceBecoming a Changemaker by Leading with Design
March 29, 2023
"It’s not enough to just see inputs at the altitude you’re working at; you need visibility into the inputs around you for proper context."
Ellie Krysl Jon FukudaPlanned Right. Managed Right. Designed Right.
June 6, 2023
Latest Books All books
Dig deeper with the Rosenbot
How can inclusive design principles help avoid AI bias and improve machine learning outcomes?
Why should service designers not wait for briefs before engaging with projects?
How can design leaders use reflection and conversation to balance their time, confidence, and enjoyment in leadership responsibilities?