Rosenverse

Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.

Log in Create free account

100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.

The Trials and Tribulations of Directors of UX
Thursday, July 13, 2023 • Enterprise Community
Share the love for this talk
The Trials and Tribulations of Directors of UX
Speakers: Peter Merholz
Link:

Summary

Directors of UX are navigating an overwhelming set of explicit and implicit expectations in their work, leading to frustration, anxiety, burnout, and leaving the field altogether. In this freewheeling discussion with guest Peter Merholz, organizational consultant and leadership mentor, we’ll address how we got into this situation (layoffs requiring those who remain to manage more people; botched agile transformations requiring UXers to lean into product management; immature organizations not knowing how to value the work), and identify paths forward out of this mess.

Key Insights

  • UX directors face burnout from increased responsibilities and lack of support due to organizational downsizing.

  • Middle management is often undervalued, yet is crucial for bridging gaps in workflow and communication.

  • There is a notable trend of design executives who are not adequately prepared to support their teams.

  • Directors often manage multiple roles, which can dilute their effectiveness and contribute to burnout.

  • The frustration among UX teams is often driven by a gap in understanding the organizational landscape and setting realistic expectations.

  • Many product managers lack a solid understanding of product development processes, leading to UX designers stepping in to fill that gap.

  • UX teams often struggle to demonstrate their value in a language that resonates with business leaders, complicating advocacy for design.

  • The relationship dynamics between design, product, and engineering teams heavily influence the success and acceptance of UX initiatives within the organization.

  • There is a need for better frameworks to assess organizational and design maturity to inform strategic alignment.

  • Leaders must recognize and navigate the irrational decision-making processes within their organizations to effectively position the value of UX.

Notable Quotes

"Middle managers are often seen as pulling in all directions and don't get the credit they deserve until their absence is felt."

"The job of a UX director is not just about managing design but also about managing up and across the organization."

"Directors are often left unshielded from organizational insanity when their design executives don't do their jobs."

"The real work of UX is not just tools and methodologies but figuring out how to operate effectively within organizations."

"When you find yourself doing what isn't defined in your job, you're likely doing the work of leadership."

"You can't just follow methodologies and expect them to be effective without addressing underlying organizational challenges."

"Organizations that don’t know how to measure value have a harder time recognizing the impact of UX efforts."

"There is a significant satisfaction gap between UX professionals and their peers in other functions."

"Building trust with cross-functional partners is key to successful UX advocacy and collaboration."

"Playing politics in a way that is ethical but strategic is essential in advancing your UX agenda."

More Videos

Jacqui Frey

"Don't try to solve for the system, try to understand the request."

Jacqui Frey

Flow and Superfluidity for Design Orgs

November 7, 2018

Laura Gatewood

"The words we use should enable clear paths of understanding so recipients know their role."

Laura Gatewood Laine Prokay

Beyond Buzzwords: Adding Heart to Effective Slack Communication

September 23, 2024

Johanna Kollmann

"Confirmation bias makes it harder to be open-minded when interpreting research data."

Johanna Kollmann

Insights-Driven Product Strategy: Get your Research to Count

December 6, 2022

Bria Alexander

"If you have a question for a specific speaker, every talk is going to have a thread associated with them."

Bria Alexander

Day 3 Welcome

September 25, 2024

Billy Carlson

"Designing for an edge case can benefit everyone."

Billy Carlson

Ideation tips for Product Managers

December 6, 2022

Catherine Dubut

"It's easy to stay immersed in digital, but physical contexts matter immensely for designing multi-channel experiences."

Catherine Dubut

Bridging Physical and Digital Spaces: Approaches to Retail Service Design

March 18, 2021

Kim Holt

"Trust is the foundation of our team's culture and needs to be maintained during changes."

Kim Holt Emma Wylds Pearl Koppenhaver Maisee Xiong

A Salesforce Panel Discussion on Values-Driven DesignOps

September 8, 2022

Adrian Howard

"When you experience problems with different disciplines, keep Sturgeon's biases in mind."

Adrian Howard

Sturgeon’s Biases

September 25, 2024

Asia Hoe

"I've learned to ask, to be invited to key stakeholder meetings."

Asia Hoe

Partnering with Product: A Journey from Junior to Senior Design

November 29, 2023