Why should an organization become Design-led?
Becoming a design-led organization is a strategic decision that can help your company stay ahead of the competition by putting user-centered design (keeping the users at the center of everything) at the forefront of your product or service offerings.
"Design creates culture. Culture shapes values. Values determine the future."
- Robert L. Peters, designer and author
Here are five key actionable things you and your team can do to become a design-led organization:
1. Foster a design culture: Encourage a culture of design thinking by promoting the value of design throughout the organization. This means creating a shared language around design, training employees in design principles, and providing access to design resources.
2. Empower your design team: Hire talented designers and provide them with the tools, resources, and support they need to do their best work. This includes investing in design software, AI tools, equipment, and training programs, as well as providing opportunities for growth and development.
3. Involve design early in the product development process: Bring designers into the product development process early on, so they can provide input on user needs and help shape the direction of the product. This helps ensure that design is an integral part of the product development process, rather than an afterthought.
4. Measure the impact of design: Use metrics to measure the impact of design on your business, such as user satisfaction, conversion rates, and customer retention. This helps you understand the ROI of design investments and make data-driven decisions about design.
5. Make design part of your business strategy: Integrate design into your business strategy, so it becomes a key driver of growth and innovation. This means aligning design goals with business goals and making design a strategic priority at the executive level.
I hope these actionable points will help you take your first step towards becoming a design-first organisation. Do share your learnings and experiences with me.