Summary
Have you ever wondered, “what is the value of design?” In this talk, Shahrzad will not answer that question. Instead, she’ll share the mistakes she made while chasing the question of value across both consulting and in-house design. Through these embarrassing stories, she’ll share lessons learned for how designers and design leaders can own and deliver on their value.
Key Insights
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Recognizing your value as a designer is essential to contributing effectively in team environments.
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Designers often face challenges when client expectations do not align with design principles.
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Identifying the real motives behind hiring decisions can inform better project outcomes.
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Understanding the broader context of your role can empower you as a designer, even if it's small.
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Not all situations are worth saving; knowing when to step back is crucial for personal value.
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Creating tangible outputs is the key to demonstrating value as a designer, even without full context.
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Frustration can cloud one's ability to see the support from stakeholders, impacting relationships negatively.
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Building personal connections with team members fosters collaboration and understanding.
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Proving the value of design to skeptics is less effective than consistently delivering value over time.
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Instilling a culture of making enhances learning and growth within design teams.
Notable Quotes
"I have had a lot of jobs, something like 25 at last count."
"My definition of design is quite broad."
"What I’m here to talk about is my value, your value as individual designers and design leaders."
"The client had a really clear picture in their minds of what they wanted the product to look like, but it was bad design."
"We were a pawn, and if the game is chess and you're playing darts, no one is going to think you have any value."
"Some situations are not worth saving."
"As designers, we create value by making artifacts and experiences."
"If we aren't making, we actually have no value at all."
"Proving the value of design is a fool's errand."
"Find the people who support and appreciate you; partner closely with them."
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