This week, we talk about how to become a more strategic designer: what should you be doing day to day, or thinking about more often? In The Sidebar, we talk about the downsides of using metaphors to describe the role of designers in building software.
Golden Ratio Supporter:AroundThank you to Around, a better way to video call. The product is designed specifically to make it easier to gather small groups to collaborate in real time, without all the distracting and frustrating interfaces that comes with most video chat software. We love the small floating heads and emphasis on making it easy to work alongside the video call, rather than constantly having to app switch.
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Main Topic:Jessica Tong asks on GitHub:
I work at a small startup with less than 15 people and I'm the only designer. Recently, I've had a performance review and my manager, who is the Head of Product has recognised that I am lacking in "strategy skills". I seem to mostly come up with short term ideas. eg. we have a problem regarding X, so i am able to come up with multiple solutions, etc. I've also been to a job interview where they said I was lacking high level, strategy skills. I am unsure as to how to develop this skill and think of my work more in the long term and plan for the long term. My manager has suggested a book called "Good Strategy/Bad Strategy" by Richard Rumelt but other than that, he does not know how to help - probably because he is from a product management background, and I should be developing a UX strategy skills. Do you have any advice, or resources you can point me to where I can grow in this area as a product designer?
Byeee!
404: Visual Design and Craft ft. Justin Stahl
403: The Confidence Gradient
402: Margin Considered Harmful
401: Three Dots
400: Is Software Ever Finished?
399: Strong Opinions, Weakly Held
398: Proof of Curiosity
397: Customer Feedback vs. Team Intuition
396: Career Cheat Codes
395: Config 2021
394: Open Source Design ft. Joey Banks
393: The Not-So-Humble Button
391: Portfolio Review Tips for Senior Designers
390: Building Design Infrastructure ft. Kathryn Gonzalez
389: Better Design Reviews
388: Design Tips and Tricks, Part 2
387: Design Craft Tips & Tricks
386: Designing with Grid Systems
385: Raising Your Team’s UI Bar
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