Summary
Starting DesignOps at an org feels exciting and daunting at the same time. People who’ve given you the green light are as excited as you - so there’s a bit of pressure to make this work well! In this talk, Michelle will provide a “starter kit” of 10 tips for beginning a DesignOps program—the 10 foundational things she's learned from establishing DesignOps at her org. Michelle includes how to prepare the program, manage expectations, ensure your success, and keep things sustainable for the long term.
Key Insights
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Establish clear decision-making responsibilities to avoid confusion.
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Communicate regularly across formats to ensure transparency and alignment.
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Start with small pilots to test ideas before scaling them up.
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Create and manage a backlog to prioritize tasks effectively.
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Use templates to streamline workflows and enhance efficiency.
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Build trust and confidence in the Design Ops practice by celebrating team wins.
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Be adaptable in decision-making based on project context and urgency.
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Involve stakeholders in discussions to clarify roles and expectations.
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Foster open lines of communication through regular one-on-ones.
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Be proactive in identifying pain points and addressing them strategically.
Notable Quotes
"Deciding on decision-making responsibilities clears up gray areas."
"Communicate everything, especially when operating in uncharted territory."
"Start small and scale up, that gives you flexibility to mess up."
"A backlog helps pace and define the design ops practice."
"Creating templates on the fly streamlines workflows."
"Mentoring and supporting team members is crucial for growth."
"Celebrate your team wins to maintain motivation and trust."
"People will be more willing to try new processes if they know it is a pilot."
"Being approachable encourages questions and boosts collaboration."
"Templates don't have to be masterpieces; they should be functional."
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