Summary
As product designers and product managers, working with each other can be confusing, frustrating, and sometimes causes conflict, especially as corporate expectations evolve and our roles increasingly overlap. How do we each play to our strengths, and still find a way to meet at the focus of our product; our users? In this talk, we will learn how our disciplines are both the same and differ, and how to become trusted partners towards our common goals, at any stage of our career.
Key Insights
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The transition from waterfall to Agile has transformed how product designers and product managers collaborate.
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Designers often face misconceptions about their roles, leading to underappreciation in their contributions.
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It's crucial for designers to engage early in the product development process for better alignment and outcomes.
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Feedback cycles and iterations are vital to the design process, driving continuous improvement.
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Understanding business goals is key for designers to align their work with company objectives.
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Building rapport within the team enhances collaboration and trust, resulting in better project outcomes.
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Effective prioritization is essential in managing design workloads against engineering timelines.
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Fostering a user-centered mindset helps designers advocate for client needs throughout the lifecycle of a product.
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Documentation of design decisions is vital for creating transparency and clarity within cross-functional teams.
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Emphasizing curiosity over ego can lead to more innovative solutions and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Notable Quotes
"Good time zone everyone."
"I taught myself graphic design and HTML and CSS, and that choice to be on Neopets in my space at the time really launched my career as a designer."
"I learned that design is a spoke on a wheel and that I had to stick to the brief, obey the chain of command and deliver polished pixel perfect designs."
"Designers can be a little enigmatic and protective of our work."
"I've learned to ask, to be invited to key stakeholder meetings."
"It's important to assume positive intent."
"Our work can't be evaluated in the same way that engineering work can."
"Design is often the first gig up for elimination."
"Collaboration means involving design early and often."
"We learned to better work more synchronously as opposed to having a meeting for everything."
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