Do You Know Basic Design Cultures?

A design culture is a set of expectations, norms, habits, principles, and philosophies that influence the work of a design organization or team. As with all cultures, a design culture can't be dictated from above but emerges with the shared experiences of the people involved. The following are illustrative examples of design culture.

Creativity

A willingness to pitch brave ideas that might get shot down versus a culture where everyone is conservative out of fear of saying something that could be criticized.

Research

The degree to which a design team is grounded in reality such that they explore data, use their own products and get out to meet end users.

Storytelling

Employees are always telling stories about a firm. In some teams, these are bitter personal complaints that are as uninspired as they are uninteresting. Other teams tell stories of struggle with a sense of team pride whether the end result was a failure or a triumph.

Leadership

The leadership style of the team or organization. For example, a command-and-control style organization with everything requiring the approval of a creative director. Alternatively, a design firm may have a laissez-faire style of leadership whereby designers do what they want as long as they keep their clients happy.

Reward & Recognition

A culture where managers reward their friends versus a culture where hard work and results are eventually rewarded. Some design teams go a bit far with recognition such that employees are constantly being recognized despite mediocre performance. As with any celebration of mediocrity, this can serve to set low expectations.

Organization

How work is orchestrated. Some teams are self-organizing such that people can be trusted to follow up on commitments. Other teams require a coordinator or project manager to track everything closely.

Productivity

Expectations for work throughput and time management habits. Some teams take long lunches and schedule questionable meetings. Others are always in a rush such that lunch is skipped and meetings are a few minutes long.

Comradeship

A team with a common sense of purpose and mutual respect such that work feels socially fulfilling.