Finding the Right Fit for your Growth Kit

I shared this last week on a LinkedIn post, but thought I'd embellish it a bit more on this week's newsletter.

If you’re searching for a perfect fit within conventional boundaries, I might not be your first choice.

I prefer to think in terms of outcomes, rather than job titles. In crafting solutions, not conforming to departments or the status-quo. In blending design, product, customer experience, and technology into a cohesive strategy, not keeping them isolated. And let's face it - today these worlds are converging more and more.

To truly create outstanding products and ensure they provide real value before significant investment, it’s essential to consider design, product, and customer experience as interconnected. It’s fascinating that this integrated approach isn’t more common. There’s a tendency to look for heads of product with over a decade of experience in the same role and industry. The same goes for heads of design with years of specific design strategy execution in similar fields. But who’s focusing on how these roles converge? It seems many either don’t see the need or don’t feel it requires full-time attention.

I cover both. A generalist specialist in design and product. I don't fit in a job description and that's something I'm very comfortable with.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this approach.

Thank you for your attention,

-Ross

—Also, I’ve been exploring fractional work to support this integrated strategy and finding it incredibly rewarding. Always eager to connect with companies seeking a multifaceted approach, so if that’s you, please reach out and say hi on DM.

Top 5 this week you need to know

1) Miro Intelligent Canvas

Let AI use your brainstorms and ideas to create product briefs and summaries to move work forward — no complicated prompts needed. All you need to do is provide content from your canvas, and let Miro AI handle the rest.

I welcome companies using AI to get the basic grunt work out the way. Does this indicated wider disruption - yes! Bring it on. Read more

2) Decathlon unveils a cutting-edge immersive experience on?Apple?Vision?Pro

I am trying to get a meeting with Decathlon ?? Blending sport and digital innovation mean they would be the perfect team for me to work with - if anyone has an in, especially with Decathlon Pulse - I'd love an introduction!

Anyway, what they've done is created a digital twin of their stores for the new Apple Vision Pro. Does it make business sense? Probably not - but as a piece of work to demonstrate how future-focussed they are, it works amazingly. Read more

3) VaynerMedia's revolutionary new office design

Couldn't help but put this in this issue. Located now in Clerkenwell, a stones-throw away from where I used to run design sprints in London, the new office is certainly an upgrade from the last. I don't know their remote work policy, but it looks like it's worth the commute (for a couple of days a week at least). Watch here

4) AND Startup Accelerator

Saw that AND + Google Cloud have launched a 6-week startup accelerator programme. I've seen previous collaborations like this with the FT and Google. No joke - I'd love to collaborate on something like this. Read more

5) OpenAI release GPT-4o Mini

I've been using GPT-4o for a while now and it's a necessary part of my day - no question. I've yet to find a need for a Custom GPT, but I'm sure it'll come.

The one thing I will say - do train it for your tone of voice! Read more

—New here? I'm Ross, a Product Design Leader and UX Consultant. I share this content the previous week on my website, and then here the week after.

If you liked this week's issue, do let me know on DM. Thanks!