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
-
•
The transition from waterfall to Agile has transformed how product designers and product managers collaborate.
-
•
Designers often face misconceptions about their roles, leading to underappreciation in their contributions.
-
•
It's crucial for designers to engage early in the product development process for better alignment and outcomes.
-
•
Feedback cycles and iterations are vital to the design process, driving continuous improvement.
-
•
Understanding business goals is key for designers to align their work with company objectives.
-
•
Building rapport within the team enhances collaboration and trust, resulting in better project outcomes.
-
•
Effective prioritization is essential in managing design workloads against engineering timelines.
-
•
Fostering a user-centered mindset helps designers advocate for client needs throughout the lifecycle of a product.
-
•
Documentation of design decisions is vital for creating transparency and clarity within cross-functional teams.
-
•
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."
More Videos
"I came from Atlanta, and I know I saw a bunch of y'all on the flights here."
Jacqui FreyFlow and Superfluidity for Design Orgs
November 7, 2018
"Communication can either be sustenance or nourishment for you and your teams."
Laura Gatewood Laine ProkayBeyond Buzzwords: Adding Heart to Effective Slack Communication
September 23, 2024
"Metrics are crucial; they tell us what people pay attention to."
Johanna KollmannInsights-Driven Product Strategy: Get your Research to Count
December 6, 2022
"If you have a question for a specific speaker, every talk is going to have a thread associated with them."
Bria AlexanderDay 3 Welcome
September 25, 2024
"Designing for an edge case can benefit everyone."
Billy CarlsonIdeation tips for Product Managers
December 6, 2022
"The most underutilized asset in a retail environment is the store employees themselves."
Catherine DubutBridging Physical and Digital Spaces: Approaches to Retail Service Design
March 18, 2021
"The values we uphold guide how we experience and influence team dynamics."
Kim Holt Emma Wylds Pearl Koppenhaver Maisee XiongA Salesforce Panel Discussion on Values-Driven DesignOps
September 8, 2022
"Be curious, understand what other people's experiences have been."
Adrian HowardSturgeon’s Biases
September 25, 2024
"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."
Asia HoePartnering with Product: A Journey from Junior to Senior Design
November 29, 2023
