Summary
Determining a staffing model for the success of your design teams is one of the key elements for driving success. By reviewing the differences between dedicated and agency (or flexible) staffing models, Alicia Mooty will walk the group through a case study of applying these types of models in her work at Adobe.
Key Insights
-
•
Dedicated staffing builds deep vertical expertise and stable relationships but limits cross-project learning.
-
•
Agency (pooled) staffing offers horizontal mastery and flexibility but requires more ramp-up time and risks shallow involvement.
-
•
Hybrid staffing models enable teams to flexibly cover critical design gaps without waiting for new hires.
-
•
Designer preferences vary: some value security of dedicated roles, others seek excitement in rotational assignments.
-
•
Clear, ongoing communication and stakeholder alignment are critical when shifting staffing models.
-
•
Design debt can accumulate if staffing shifts create under-supported teams with full product demands.
-
•
Workload splitting across multiple teams can lead to burnout and requires close oversight.
-
•
Funding models (centralized vs business unit–funded) strongly impact staffing flexibility and ownership disputes.
-
•
Early involvement of design in projects distinguishes true start from false start and improves outcomes.
-
•
Short-term agency assignments need clarity on long-term maintenance responsibilities to prevent workflow gaps.
Notable Quotes
"How do you organize a design team to work within a changing environment without freaking everybody out."
"Dedicated staffing creates deep vertical expertise, giving designers mastery and strong relationships."
"Agency style staffing gives designers horizontal mastery but doesn't always allow deep vertical mastery."
"One designer's security in dedicated roles can be another designer's stagnation."
"We covered critical gaps without waiting for headcount allocation or hiring delays."
"Creating trust and small group alignment before shifting staffing reduces resistance."
"Splitting designers across teams sometimes caused work-life balance issues requiring more oversight."
"Funding source often drives ownership tension about where designers are allocated."
"False starts happen when design is brought in too late, to fix rather than set vision and strategy."
"Agency model can feel like a fast-food assembly line if designers aren't involved early and meaningfully."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"Empathy is not just for users but also vital for stakeholders, developers, and colleagues."
Shaping design, designers and teams
November 8, 2018
"The purpose of a design operating model is to place the customer at the centre of everything the whole organisation does."
Sabrina Mach Nina WainwrightHow to Design Your Design Operating Model
September 29, 2021
"AI isn’t naturally testable like traditional code, so service design will become even more important."
Samuel ProulxInvisible barriers: Why accessible service design can’t be an afterthought
December 3, 2024
"Starting with a small project builds momentum and shows results that help get funding and organizational buy-in."
Saara Kamppari-MillerDesignOps for Inclusive Design and Accessibility (Videoconference)
May 26, 2022
"We had no recipe, no formula, just vibes, and some mystery box of ingredients."
Briana ThomasThe Quiet Force: Uncovering Hidden Leadership in High-Impact Design Teams
September 24, 2024
"The hardest part about remote is making design reviews feel collaborative and team-based."
Adam Cutler Karen Pascoe Ian Swinson Susan WorthmanDiscussion
June 8, 2016
"I’m hoping that once we figure this out, I can kind of go back to my old goal and break those rules."
Operationalizing DesignOps
November 7, 2018
"Journey maps and personas often disappear into the void because they’re too dense for business folks to consume."
Leah Buley Joe NatoliAsk Me Anything with Leah Buley and Joe Natoli, co-authors of The User Experience Team of One (2nd edition)
October 8, 2024
"The most important value delivered to customers is always the qualitative value—the emotional and experiential impact."
Nathan ShedroffDouble Your Mileage: Use Your Research Strategically
March 31, 2020