Design Leadership

  • People

    Care for the design team and inter-team relationships

  • Process

    Understand and guide how design team is working, design methodologies using, and general designops

  • Purpose

    Participate in co-creating strategies with product and technical partners, form design principles, and tell design team’s story

Lead through design.

I believe there are some common responsibilities and tasks that a design leader might take on when starting a project. The following are a snapshot of what I see as important.

  1. Get to know the client context and the team: In the first few weeks, the lead product designer will likely spend time learning about the company's mission, values, and products. They will also get to know the product design team, including their strengths, weaknesses, and ways of working.

  2. Define the product design vision: The lead product designer will work with product and technical stakeholders to define a product design vision that aligns with the company's overall goals. This vision will guide the product design team's work and ensure that all design decisions are aligned with the company's mission and values.

  3. Assess the team's strengths and weaknesses: The lead product designer will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the product design team members and identify areas for improvement. This may involve evaluating the team's processes, tools, and skills.

  4. Establish design processes and workflows: The lead product designer will establish clear design processes and workflows to ensure that the team can work efficiently and effectively. This may involve introducing new tools, establishing design standards, and defining roles and responsibilities.

  5. Hire and onboard new designers: Depending on the needs of the team, the lead product designer may be involved in onboarding or offboarding designers. They will also be responsible for ensuring that they are set up for success.

  6. Collaborate with other teams: The lead product designer will work closely with other teams, such as engineering, product management, and marketing, to ensure that design is integrated into all aspects of the product development process.

  7. Continuously improve the design practice: The lead product designer will be responsible for continuously improving the design practice and ensuring that the team is up to date with the latest design trends, tools, and methodologies.

Overall, the lead product designer's first 6 months to a year at a company will be focused on building a strong foundation for the product design team and ensuring that design is integrated into all aspects of the product development process.