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
-
•
Streamlining the multitude of design tools into one cohesive system is essential.
-
•
Collaborative tools often add noise, making it difficult for teams to focus on key tasks.
-
•
There is a need for control within design collaboration to ensure effective teamwork.
-
•
Integrating user research insights into design processes is crucial for meeting user needs.
-
•
The balance between optimization and innovation is key to successful design practices.
-
•
Designers are not the only users of design tools; engineers and other roles must also be considered.
-
•
The challenge of collaboration lies in knowing when to stop discussing and start creating.
-
•
Understanding what truly matters is essential in prioritizing design efforts and resources.
-
•
AI and machine learning present opportunities for more efficient design processes but require solid foundational systems to thrive.
-
•
The future of design tools will focus on enabling teams to concentrate on their goals amidst information overload.
Notable Quotes
"If I could solve one thing, it would be the amount of noise these tools bring into people's lives."
"Collaboration is not anarchy in companies; there's always this need for control."
"There's always a need for control over the collaboration process."
"The dream of Agile requires trust between team members and distant timelines."
"The biggest opportunity for collaborative tools is distilling information and filtering out noise."
"People are looking to get their job done; collaboration is a means to an end, not an end in itself."
"What matters is the biggest nut to crack in our environment."
"We are getting closer to the point where we can work together no matter what kind of role we have."
"I hope to see AI helping us make faster decisions, informed by all the knowledge our organizations gather."
"The challenge is finding the balance between optimizing current workflows and pushing for innovation."
















More Videos

"When I taught in California, I noticed issues were absent in the conversations that made me create the Critical Alphabet."
Jennifer Strickland Lesley-Ann NoelFireside Chat: How Design Addresses a World on Fire
March 18, 2022

"Design systems should accommodate both current needs and future scalability."
Jaime CreixemsBest Practices when Creating and Maintaining a Design System
June 7, 2023

"We need to question the motivation behind projects claiming to be trauma-informed."
Uday Gajendar Rachael Dietkus, LCSW Dr. Dawn Emerick Dawn E. Shedrick, LCSWLeading through the long tail of trauma
July 13, 2022

"AB tests are valuable, but they often stop at the what and don't uncover the why."
Katie HansenExperimental research: techniques for deep, psychology-driven insights
March 12, 2025

"We should think about the natural paths with the least amount of resistance."
Dave MaloufTheme 3: Introduction and Provocation
January 8, 2024

"Design thinking and cloud computing profoundly changed my approach to work."
Jeff SussnaWhat DesignOps Can Learn From DevOps
November 6, 2017

"To meet people where they are is crucial for design effectiveness."
Dave MaloufClosing Keynote: Amplify. Not Optimize.
October 24, 2019

"The typology is less about theorizing the perfect model of participation and more about mapping existing forms."
Sarah FathallahA Typology of Participation in Participatory Research
March 28, 2023

"We just can't accomplish these goals if we don't understand and appreciate the complexity of the people we're designing for"
Alba VillamilStereotyped by Design: Pitfalls in Cross-Cultural User Research
March 30, 2020