Summary
The design team at BBVA Mexico, with more than 170 designers, has the challenge of bringing design to the 600+ projects the organization works on at any given time for them to better achieve the goals of each project in a user-centered way. Because of the limited capacity of the design team, this meant that many projects with design needs were left unattended, managing to solve their needs with whatever resources they had at hand. To address this, Design at Scale was born, an initiative that aims to develop design capabilities in BBVA, through tools, processes and coaching that helps teams that meet certain criteria to work under a self-management model. Through their talk Nora and Giovanna will share their journey in implementing Design at Scale at BBVA.
Key Insights
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The Design at Scale initiative was developed to address the scalability issues faced by BVVA's design team.
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Developers often undertook design tasks without proper guidance, necessitating a solution that empowered them while ensuring quality.
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A new model was created to train developers in design principles and best practices, allowing for some autonomy in design work.
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Not all projects are suitable for the self-service model; a screening process helps determine the complexity of design needs.
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Design advisors play a critical role as mentors, providing resources and training to scrum teams during the design process.
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Quality assurance remains vital; design outputs are reviewed against established standards before finalizing.
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The initiative encourages a more collaborative atmosphere between designers and developers, improving mutual understanding and respect.
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Cognitive load on design advisors is a challenge; limits are established on the number of projects they can handle simultaneously.
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User-centered design is reinforced as a fundamental practice within the organization, evolving the overall design culture.
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Engagement through the self-service model can lead developers to seek further skills in design, enhancing the team's capabilities.
Notable Quotes
"Our project name, 'Design at Scale', is quite fitting considering the context of today's conference."
"We realized developers were doing design tasks without a structured approach, which raised concerns."
"We aimed to empower developers to do design better, rather than being a bottleneck."
"The self-service model allows scrum teams to tackle simpler design needs independently."
"We created training resources tailored for different design objectives and channels."
"Not every project fits the self-service model; complexity is a key factor in screening."
"We’ve learned that clear communication around expectations is vital to avoid confusion between teams."
"While the self-service model scales design, we must guard against overwhelming our designers."
"The cognitive load for design advisors managing multiple projects can be significant and must be balanced."
"Our approach has fostered a newfound respect for design among developers, enhancing collaboration."
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