How can you incorporate the design leadership canvas into your framework?

1 What is the design leadership canvas?

The design leadership canvas is a tool developed by the Design Leadership Institute, a global network of design leaders and practitioners. It is based on the idea that design leadership is not a fixed or static position, but a dynamic and evolving process that requires constant reflection and adaptation. The canvas consists of nine blocks that represent the core aspects of design leadership: purpose, values, vision, strategy, culture, methods, roles, outcomes, and feedback. By filling out each block, you can create a visual representation of your design leadership approach, and identify the gaps, strengths, and opportunities for improvement.

2 How to fill out the design leadership canvas?

To fill out the design leadership canvas, you can use a variety of methods, such as brainstorming, interviewing, surveying, or observing. This canvas is both flexible and adaptable, so you can use it individually or collaboratively, and at any stage of your design process. Generally, it's best to start in the center and work your way outwards. This includes defining your design purpose, values, vision, strategy, culture, methods, roles, outcomes, and feedback. Your design purpose should address the problem or opportunity you want to address and the impact you want to create. Your design values should reflect the principles or beliefs that guide your decisions and actions. Your design vision should outline the desired future state that you want to achieve with your design. Your design strategy should include objectives and milestones as well as resources and constraints. Your design culture should foster collaboration and creativity while setting norms and behaviors that are expected and encouraged. Your design methods should be user-centered, feasible, and viable. Your design roles should consider the skills, responsibilities, and expectations of those involved in the process. Your design outcomes should measure tangible or intangible results of your solution. And finally your design feedback should collect and analyze feedback from users in order to improve your solution or process.

4 How to incorporate the design leadership canvas into your framework?

The design leadership canvas is not meant to replace or contradict your existing design framework, but to complement and enhance it. You can incorporate the canvas into your framework in various ways depending on your needs and preferences. For example, you can use the canvas as a prelude or supplement to your design framework before or after you follow your design steps or stages. This will allow you to define or refine your design leadership approach and align it with your design framework. Additionally, you can use the canvas as a parallel or nested tool within your design framework alongside or within your design steps or stages. This will help you integrate or embed your design leadership approach into your design framework. Lastly, you can use the canvas as a hybrid or customized tool for your design framework partially or selectively according to your design steps or stages. This will enable you to adapt or modify your design leadership approach to fit your design framework and make it more flexible and relevant.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?