Design Org Dimensions
The Hidden Architecture that Lets Design Thrive
Since writing Org Design for Design Orgs, I've continued to develop org design and leadership development material, either as an executive, or, over the last 6 years, for clients. While I have occasionally posted stuff on my blog, or taught a masterclass, it has not been collected and organized. I also haven't had the right platform to share more detailed and robust material.
Until now. Welcome to Design Org Dimensions, an evolving “digital book.” With subscription, you'll have access not only to a series of detailed posts on different aspects of organizational design and leadership development, but thanks to the miracle of ✨digital publishing✨, I can also include downloadable tools, templates, and even video to augment what I'm sharing.
Here's the current outline of what I will address, with active links to existing material, and status so you know what to expect. This outline will likely expand, as my thinking only continues to evolve.
| TITLE | STATUS | |
|---|---|---|
Dimension 1: Definition | ||
| Understanding Design As a Function of the Firm | Live | |
| UX/Design Org Health Assessment | Live | |
| Crafting a Team Charter | Live (to be updated) | |
Dimension 2: Structure | ||
| The Shape of Design Orgs | ||
| 1: Introduction to the Emerging Shape of Design Orgs | Live | |
| 2: Design Systems and Structural Integrity | Live | |
| 3: Creative and Strategic Leadership in Design Orgs | Live | |
| Considerations When Structuring Your Design Org | Planned | |
| The Evolution of a Design Org | ||
| Stages 1-5 | Live | |
| Stage 6: Invest in Amplification | Planned | |
| Stage 7: A World Unto Itself | Planned | |
| Organizing Leadership | ||
| The Makeup of a Design Leadership Team | Live (to be updated) | |
| The Most Important Role in Your Design Org: Team Lead | Live | |
Dimension 3: People | ||
| Flexible and Robust Career Frameworks | ||
| Supporting professional development | Planned | |
| From Ladder to Trellis: Flexible UX Career Architectures | Live | |
| Skill taxonomy, Skill rubrics | Planned | |
| Defining practices | Planned | |
| Levels Framework | Planned | |
| The Snagajob Design Levels Framework (old, but still a decent place to start) | Live | |
| Effective Recruiting and Hiring Process | ||
| Job profile and job description | Planned | |
| Solicit and screen candidates | Planned | |
| Recruiting process and interview guides | Live | |
| Design Exercises are Bad Interviewing Practice | Live | |
Dimension 4: Quality | ||
| Standards | ||
| Industry-wide | ||
| Usability heuristics and UX metrics | Planned | |
| Accessibility guidelines | Planned | |
| Company-Specific | ||
| Brand Characteristics | Planned | |
| Experience Principles | Planned | |
| Business and Product Metrics | Planned | |
| Connecting Design to what the Business Values (aka "ROI for Design") | Planned | |
| People | ||
| Who Owns What in Design Quality? | Planned | |
| A space for Psychological safety | Planned | |
| Process | ||
| Critique Practices | Live | |
| Review | Planned | |
| Measurement | Planned | |
| Open Design Sessions | Planned | |
| Training | Planned | |
| Tools | ||
| Design System | Planned | |
| Quality Heuristics | Planned | |
| Exemplars of Quality Work | Planned | |
| My original quality article | ||
| What is "good design," anyway? It's crucial for orgs to define quality | Live | |
Dimension 5: Design Management | ||
| Design Leadership | ||
| Design Leadership is Change Management | Planned | |
| The Leadership Ceiling | Live | |
| Articulate Your Agenda | Planned | |
| Craft Your Leadership Plan | Live | |
| Evolving your organization's design maturity | Planned | |
| Running the Design Org | ||
| Plans and Planning | Planned | |
| Develop a Meeting Architecture | Planned | |
| Performance Management | Planned |