Navigating the Polarised Design Jungle: A Quirky Tale of Design Leadership

Welcome to the rollercoaster world of design leadership, where every once in a while, a stunning design story erupts onto our feeds like a firework. We, the people of the design universe, swarm over it - critiquing, applauding, and shamelessly hitching a ride on the brilliance of 'their' work. But hush! Not often whispered are the tales of the excruciating battles, the mental tug-of-war that our valiant design leaders and their teams face behind the scenes.

Imagine navigating through a business whose strategy is as polarised as the North and South Poles, peppered with a mishmash of philosophies or, amusingly, none at all. In this kaleidoscope, the expectations from a design leader are as diverse as a box of crayons. From shooting the usual business babble to winning hearts (and minds!), fostering relationships, celebrating collective victories, and of course, being obsessively customer-centric (because, let's be real, you can't escape that last one). A good read on "Working Backwards" by Colin Bryar (Author), Bill Carr (Author)

So, what's the real job of a design leader in this whirlwind? Well, it's a potpourri of roles: setting visionary goals, charting the course for the user experience, and ensuring every design pulses with a human-centered heartbeat. HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) isn't just a fancy term for the papers, it's the bread and butter of an effective design. And goals? They're the glue holding this ship together in choppy waters.

But wait, there's more! These design gurus also serve as the glue of the team, defining goals, and keeping everyone on track like a well-trained football team. They embrace user-centric strategies to improve products, services, and experiences – a feat that’s nothing short of a magic trick without a solid product strategy, roadmap, and, of course, a treasure chest of resources and budget. it's not just about being strategic and communicative. It's about nurturing and growing talent, much like the philosophy of Kim Scott’s "Radical Candor." It’s about fostering a growth mindset in a landscape that's constantly evolving.

Then there's this gem: "Design leadership is about setting strategic direction, while design management handles the tactical stuff." But let's be real - in the wild jungle of design, these roles often blend like colours on a palette. The distinction between director, head, manager? who's doing what, and where does the buck stop and start?. Yet, this clarity is the secret ingredient separating the great from the good, and the extraordinary from the ordinary.

So, does product actually listen to design? Is there a magical bridge connecting engineers and designers? And where does research fit into this jigsaw puzzle? In an ideal world, design leaders use their experience, cross-functional savvy, and know-how to align company offerings with user needs through design.

And now, the conclusion: Designing in a polarised environment is less about design and more about navigating a maze of jargons and constraints., customer-centricity becomes a mere label for a user test outcomes, ironically, HCI a ticket for a few unnecessary extra clicks, and then scrambling for scalability and efficiency through quick wins. It's the Wild West, but hey, you're the cool-headed sheriff in town, balancing the scales so both poles admire you.

Dream of joining the big leagues like Apple, Google, Amazon, or Meta? Or the coolest start-ups with amazing product vision? Get ready to dive headfirst into the exhilarating battle of design in a polarising world, where the ultimate prize is crafting downright awesome products that create incredible experiences for end users. So, buckle up, future design leader, and join the fray!