Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
The Next Generation in DesignOps Toolsets
Summary
Ask any DesignOps practitioner to name their “go-to” tool and you’re likely to hear them wax poetically of their love for spreadsheets. We get it – the spreadsheet is a reliable workhorse with a number of tricks up its sleeve. But, it’s not the only game in town. In fact, if you haven’t ventured outside of Excel lately, you may be surprised to learn that there are a number of nifty new tools in town, and we’ve got the perfect opportunity for you to get a taste of what they can do.
Key Insights
-
•
Traditional tools like Excel and Confluence are inadequate for modern knowledge sharing due to lack of integration and collaboration.
-
•
Notion and Coda represent the next generation of knowledge management tools that combine documents, relational databases, and integrations.
-
•
Relational databases in these tools allow creating multiple synchronized views tailored to different teams, improving data accessibility and usability.
-
•
Automations and templates enhance workflow efficiency, such as onboarding checklists that ensure consistent processes.
-
•
Both Notion and Coda support embedding third-party tool data, e.g., syncing Jira issues and showing Figma previews within documents.
-
•
Coda’s pricing model charges only document creators (makers), making it more scalable and affordable for large organizations compared to Notion’s per-editor pricing.
-
•
The emergence of document architects as a role reflects the complexity and opportunity in designing interconnected knowledge systems in these tools.
-
•
Community marketplaces enable users to both share and monetize custom automations, templates, and integrations.
-
•
Integrating cloud tools with automations creates unified dashboards aggregating metrics across product, design, and engineering teams.
-
•
Even non-engineers like Scott can build complex, connected systems using formulas, packs, and automations in these tools.
Notable Quotes
"Excel is a little bit outdated; more advanced cloud tools help us co-create and collaborate in real time."
"Notion really became a single source of truth where you can go for any context around the work."
"In Coda, you can create different views for the same data, like one for designers and another for engineers, and all stay synchronized."
"Coda doesn’t charge for editors, only for document makers, making it much more affordable to scale in large organizations."
"You can embed Jira issues into Notion databases and have them automatically synced, which is really handy for tracking sprint tasks."
"Automations and template buttons in Notion enabled us to build consistent onboarding workflows that are reusable and interactive."
"There is an emerging role of document architects who design how information is interconnected and triggers workflows in these platforms."
"You can connect tools like Zapier or Integromat to Coda packs to automate processes and integrate with external systems."
"Community-built packs and templates allow users to make money by sharing their automations and workflows."
"Even as a designer, I was able to learn how to build formulas and automations — the tools are quite accessible."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Creating frameworks helps identify responsibilities, dependencies, and critical handoffs across disciplines."
Natalie DunbarDesignOps and Content Strategy: Envisioning the Future Together
October 1, 2021
"Tools like Mural are great for remote real-time sticky note brainstorming and affinity mapping."
Andrea GallagherThe Problem Space
May 16, 2019
"By embedding themselves in environments, the product team underwent a fundamental shift in perspective."
Deanna MitchellDesigning with culture: Unlocking impactful insights for Product and UX
March 12, 2025
"Regenerative design is about healing and nourishing instead of exploiting and destroying."
Meghan Hellstern Joanne DongThe Next 100 Years of Civic Design: How Might We Better Rise to Meet the Challenges of Today and Tomorrow?
December 10, 2021
"The researchers' role includes coaching, mentoring, and leading research efforts, not just doing research ops."
Smitha Papolu Nova Wehman-Brown Melissa Schmidt Adam MenterTheme 3 Discussion
June 4, 2019
"Research is not just delivering insights out there in a transactional model, but in a dialogic model."
Robin BeersBeyond Insights: Researchers as Organizational Change Catalysts
March 25, 2024
"The risk is that AI will cut designers out of decision making because it’s perceived as cheaper or faster."
Cennydd Bowles Dan Rosenberg Lisa WelchmanDay 1 Panel
June 4, 2024
"Aim to work with at least one person on each platform your product supports, because assistive tech varies."
Sam ProulxPrototype Reviews, People With Disabilities, and You
December 8, 2021
"We need distributed, shared, and participatory technologies for common good outcomes."
Dan HillDesigning for the infrastructures of everyday life
June 4, 2024
