Design is a relatively new discipline, filled with people without formal training in the job, and I have observed that many design directors have built processes from first principles, while a handful of studios have rolled out design processes they’ve thrashed out themselves, to varied success.
Unlike engineering, writing, art or production there isn’t a lot in the way of formal process for design leadership and management.
With the thousands of years of design experience this Project Horseshoe will concentrate in one place, I’m hoping we can establish best practices for design leadership or management (or one of these, if the participants feel both is too big a goal).
Some questions to provoke discussion:
- How do you manage designers in a way that maximises their growth, achieves your project goals, and gives them both enough direction and autonomy?
- How do you inspire teams and get everyone working towards the same goal?