DesignOps represents a concept that may seem new to many, sparking curiosity about its origins. However, the word has existed since 2014. Dave Malouf, a consultant, coach, and educator, coined this term. It focuses on the human-centric approach for more substantial design team building.
Historically, designers were jacks of all trades, engaging in everything from UX research and story crafting to wireframing and front-end programming. Then came the DesignOps.
It is significant and can transform how design teams function and collaborate. But what is DesignOps, and why has it become so important today? In this blog, we’ll take you to the world of DesignOps, exploring its facets, significance, and ways to enhance your design workflow.
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What is DesignOps?
At its core, DesignOps refers to optimizing a design team’s processes, tools, and people. It’s about streamlining and structuring the design process to enhance efficiency, output, and creativity. Unlike DevOps, which is related to development and operation, DesignOps focuses on design and development.
Though the traditional approach is still practical for a few, it is now unacceptable for many organizations. DesignOps streamlines collaboration, establishing well-defined roles and structures. However, it’s more than just focusing on design departments alone or a task for the design team.
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It thrives on exchanging information with other key players, notably software engineers. By adhering to specific methodologies, designers are better equipped to improve the quality of these exchanges, concentrate on achieving goals efficiently, and allocate more time to projects.
Why is there a need for DesignOps?
To begin with, the complexity of both business and consumer demands is increasing– implying that today’s consumers are less forgiving.
A single negative experience is enough for customers to abandon a brand. Not surprisingly, the pressure to meet consumer expectations also hastens the pace of product development cycles.
That makes the teams scramble to manage heavier workloads, and the potential for miscommunication grows. This scenario results in teams operating in silos, guided by inconsistent directives, which can delay delivery schedules and negatively impact the user experience. Applying DesignOps techniques enables firms to navigate these challenges successfully, fostering a cohesive relationship between the design and development departments.
What are the benefits of DesignOps?
Structured Design Process
The design process is the backbone of DesignOps. Under this process, teams establish a step-by-step procedure that guides designers from ideation to delivery. DesignOps includes:
a) Setting standards for design quality.
b) Ensuring consistency across different projects.
c) Reducing redundancies.
Better Team Coordination and Communication
Design is no longer a one-person task. It involves teamwork and collaboration. DesignOps defines roles, responsibilities, and workflows that optimize each team member’s strengths while ensuring collective productivity.
Effective Communication is at the heart of DesignOps. It involves creating channels and routines that ensure smooth exchanges between designers, stakeholders, and other teams.
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Using and Optimizing Design Tools
Selecting the correct tools is vital for a seamless design process. DesignOps assesses and implements tools that facilitate collaboration, design, and feedback. Using tools, DesignOps ensures its appropriate integration into the workflow.
Though they also use the commonly used tools from Mailchimp, Dropbox, and LinkedIn, they also work on specific tools for different purposes. Here are a few recommended tools.
a) Communication- Slack, Teams, and Google Chat.
b) Project Management- Asana, Trello, and Monday
c) Project Planning: Milanote and Mural
d) User Research- Respondent.io, Typeform, Calendly, Maze
e) Asset Management- Airtable,
f) Design Suite Tool:- Adobe products, Sketch, Invision, Figma
Developing Design Culture
Cultivating a positive design culture underpins the success of DesignOps. This environment gives value to designers, further motivating and encouraging them for creativity. Once that strong team culture is in place, it boosts morale and productivity. DesignOps lays the foundation for a supportive and collaborative team environment.
Training New Team Members
DesignOps responsibilities include making new employees familiar with the established design approaches. They provide necessary training and familiarize new employees sign team. Recruiting new designers, like those specializing in UI or UX, also falls under their purview.
Cultivating A Team Environment
The DesignOps team is instrumental in arranging workshops and training sessions aimed at the design team’s growth. They offer professional guidance and personal support to the designers, besides facilitating activities that foster a communal bond within the team.
Managing Financial Resources
DesignOps teams determine the design team’s operational costs and rationalize these expenditures. Following budget approval, they oversee its allocation across the team. They work with the procurement team to develop purchasing strategies.
Not just that. The work extends to plotting the design team’s technological trajectory. They ensure that design tools are compatible and secure through cooperation with the IT department.
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Efficient Operations and Project Management
A streamlined operations management system is indispensable in today’s fast-paced digital world. Having DesignOps denotes the seriousness of the projects. It facilitates project completion within timelines, optimizes resources, and the design output meets the expected standards.
DesignOps simplifies project management by improving clarity and Communication. It helps in breaking down silos between different departments. So everyone on the team remains on the same page.
Additional Tips For Improving Design Workflow And Operations With DesignOps?
1) Automate administrative tasks wherever possible, giving your designers more time to do what they do best — design.
2) Regularly review/refine the design process to find bottlenecks.
3) In today’s distributed work environments, using the right tools is vital. Use tools to bridge the gap between team members.
4) Use scheduled check-ins and updates to enhance team coordination and project alignment.
5) Ensure that all designers have a clear career path for progression
6) Encourage designers to work collaboratively. Foster a team culture where feedback and ideas are freely shared.
7) Create a cross-team information-sharing system. This enhances transparency and ensures everyone can access the necessary information.
What are the challenges you may face in DesignOps implementation?
The emergence of DesignOps is a game changer for many organizations but comes with its hurdles.
Designers Love For Silos Working
It’s common in many companies – designers love their little world. They miss out on the strategic conversations, the brainstorming sessions, and the meaningful user research discussions that could ignite their creativity and innovation.
This disconnection restricts their ability to contribute more holistically and diminishes the quality of their work. The main question is, how can one give their best when they need the complete picture? DesignOps champions this cause by emphasizing the value of designers in strategic roles and ensuring they’re part of the conversations from the get-go.
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Lack Of Access To Essential Tools
Another hurdle that often crops up is the accessibility to the right tools and resources that allow designers to work efficiently and effectively. Designers need access to the necessary design and management tools. It stunts creativity and hampers productivity. Investing in the right tools doesn’t just amplify efficiency; it empowers designers to push boundaries and explore new realms of imagination.
Unrealistic Turnover Expectations
A designer’s worst nightmare is the pressure of tight deadlines and the expectation for rapid turnovers. This relentless race against time is unsustainable and a creativity killer. Stress levels skyrocket, and the dreaded burnout becomes an all too real possibility.
DesignOps introduces a more balanced approach, recognizing the need for time to innovate and create while keeping an eye on efficiency.
The Complexity Of DesignOps
The variety of design tools and systems available is extensive, continuously changing, and becoming more complicated, often creating hold-ups. Numerous design teams hesitate to integrate the processes and tools for developers like Jira.
It leads to division in planning and monitoring strategies and a general need for more alignment among the product teams, stakeholders, and executives. To overcome this challenge, DesignOps presents a changing design culture where complex tools become easy with training and collaboration.
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Wrap Up
For Design, efficiency, creativity, and cooperation are essential. Brands like Dropbox, LinkedIn, Airbnb, and others already have in-house teams for DesignOps to reap its benefits. DesignOps creates an ecosystem where creativity thrives, projects run smoothly, and teams work harmoniously. The bridge between design and operational minimizes, and DesignOps becomes the game-changer you’ve been looking for.
Remember, the starting point might look challenging, but the DesignOps break down silos, equipping the teams and finding the perfect balance between efficiency and creativity.
About Us: Algoworks is a B2B IT firm providing end-to-end product development services. Operating chiefly from its California office, Algoworks is reputed for its partnership with Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon, Dell, Salesforce, and Microsoft. Algoworks is an expert in UI/UX Designs with experience catering to enterprises belonging to all domains. This includes: Brand Strategy, Product Design, UX Research, UI & Animation and Design Testing. For more information, contact us here.
Nauman Ahmad
