UX design operations (DesignOps) is a term that describes the practice of optimizing and orchestrating the people, processes, and craft involved in creating consistent, quality designs. DesignOps aims to amplify the value and impact of design at scale by addressing common challenges such as growing and evolving design teams, finding and hiring talent, creating efficient workflows, and improving the quality and impact of design outputs.
Why is DesignOps important?
DesignOps is important because it helps designers focus on designing and researching instead of being bogged down by administrative tasks, communication overheads, or inconsistent tools and processes. DesignOps also helps designers collaborate better with each other and with other teams by establishing clear roles, responsibilities, standards, and expectations. DesignOps can also help designers demonstrate their value and influence within the organization by aligning their work with strategic goals and measuring their outcomes.
How to implement DesignOps?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to implementing DesignOps. The structure and scope of a DesignOps practice should be derived from the specific needs and objectives of each organization. However, some common steps to start or improve a DesignOps practice are:
- Assess the current state of design within the organization. Identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) related to design processes, tools, culture, skills, resources, etc.
- Define the vision and mission for design within the organization. Articulate what design means for the organization’s success and how it contributes to its goals. Create a clear statement that communicates the purpose and value proposition of design.
- Prioritize the most critical pain points or opportunities for improvement. Based on the SWOT analysis, select a few areas that have high impact or urgency for addressing with DesignOps solutions.
- Develop a roadmap for implementing DesignOps solutions. Plan how to tackle each priority area with specific actions, timelines, resources, stakeholders, and metrics.
- Execute the roadmap with an agile mindset. Implement DesignOps solutions iteratively and incrementally. Test assumptions, gather feedback, measure results, and adjust accordingly.
What are some examples of DesignOps solutions?
DesignOps solutions can vary depending on the context and needs of each organization, but some common examples are:
- Creating a centralized repository of design assets, guidelines, and best practices that can be easily accessed and updated by all designers and other teams.
- Establishing a standardized workflow for managing design projects, from ideation to delivery, that includes clear stages, roles, deliverables, tools, and handoffs.
- Developing a training program for onboarding new designers or upskilling existing ones on relevant skills, tools, processes, and expectations.
- Setting up a system for measuring and reporting on design outcomes, such as user satisfaction, engagement, conversion, retention, etc.
- Organizing regular events or activities for fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, innovation, and recognition among designers and other teams.
Conclusion
DesignOps is not just a buzzword, but a valuable practice that can help organizations scale their design capabilities and deliver better user experiences. By applying user-centered and design-thinking methods to their own processes, designers can create more efficient, effective, and enjoyable ways of working together and with others.