Opening Remarks
Summary
On the closing day of the Design Operations Summit 2021, the host warmly thanked the community, speakers, and facilitators for their contributions. Alana Washington, the curator, introduced the day's theme focused on the future of design operations. Attendees were guided to the agenda site (designopsummit.com) to navigate programming by time zones and encouraged to join both main and sponsor sessions, which were high-quality and free during breaks. Key sponsors like Verizon Design and Mural were acknowledged, with additional digital swag bags available for attendees. The community’s active participation on Slack in channels like #do-general and cohort-specific groups was highlighted as a vital aspect of the conference experience. Behind-the-scenes contributors such as sketchnote artist MJ Broadband and resource curator Lauren Cantor received special recognition for enhancing the conference content. Finally, the importance of adhering to the virtual code of conduct was stressed to maintain a safe and respectful environment throughout the event.
Key Insights
-
•
Community involvement through surveys and Slack channels is critical to the conference's success and engagement.
-
•
Providing both paid main content and free sponsor sessions creates inclusive opportunities for a wider audience.
-
•
Sponsors contribute not only financially but also with manpower and high-quality content workshops.
-
•
Digital swag bags serve as an innovative alternative to physical conference giveaways in virtual events.
-
•
Slack channels are segmented to support general discussion, specific cohorts, and help requests.
-
•
Behind-the-scenes roles like sketchnote artists and resource curators significantly enhance user experience.
-
•
Conference content and resources are quickly made available online, reducing the need for note-taking during sessions.
-
•
Emphasizing a strong code of conduct online helps ensure a safe and inclusive virtual learning environment.
-
•
Curators like Alana Washington shape the thematic focus, guiding the overarching narrative for event days.
-
•
Transparency about scheduling and time zones reduces confusion and supports global participation.
Notable Quotes
"This is our third and final day of the design operation Summit 2021."
"Our community would not be what it is without you."
"The most highly rated part of the conference every year are the facilitators making the cohorts sing."
"Sponsor sessions are not sales pitches; they are super similar to the quality of the main conference session."
"We have over a thousand members in the #do-general Slack channel, and that’s where the party is at."
"If you want to take advantage of asking speakers questions and having discussions, join our Slack."
"There is no need to take notes; session notes, sketchnotes, resource lists, videos, and decks will be shared."
"Lauren Cantor works with companies to create new business strategies by tackling human-centered design."
"Please read our code of conduct to ensure everyone can be their fullest selves while respecting others."
"If you ever feel unsafe or threatened, please let us know in the #do-help channel."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"VOC wasn’t a replacement for user research, but an enhancer that captured nuggets researchers might miss during discovery."
Shipra KayanHow we Built a VoC (Voice of the Customer) Practice at Upwork from the Ground Up
September 30, 2021
"When we understand organizations as ecosystems, we recognize the need for organic simplicity."
Peter MorvilleThe Architecture of Understanding
May 13, 2015
"Only one internal hire on the UX team was a huge misopportunity for us."
Renee ReidBecoming a ResearchH.E.R (Highly Enterprise Ready)
June 3, 2019
"The computer metaphor of mind does not do a very good job of explaining what we see people do with their bodies."
Dane DeSutterKeeping the Body in Mind: What Gestures and Embodied Actions Tell You That Users May Not
March 26, 2024
"People with disabilities often pay more to buy from stores they trust are accessible and where they feel confident."
Sam ProulxOnline Shopping: Designing an Accessible Experience
October 3, 2023
"It costs less to keep the customers you have than to acquire new ones."
Andrew Custage Michael MallettThe Digital Journey: Research on Consumer Frustration and Loyalty
March 29, 2023
"It’s okay to be goofy and have fun—creating space for awkwardness and playfulness helps engagement."
Shelby SwitzerMaking Space for Community Knowledge-sharing in a Distributed World
December 10, 2021
"We should think of AI as something that amplifies what we already are: if we think research is about impact, AI will help us understand and track it."
Llewyn PaineCoexisting with AI: A practical guide for researchers to navigate tools, ethics, and integration
March 11, 2025
"Researchers make customers visible inside the organization, but also help the organization learn about itself."
Robin BeersNavigating organizational systems: Rethinking researcher’s role in driving change
March 13, 2025
Latest Books All books
Dig deeper with the Rosenbot
How can research and operations teams collaboratively evaluate new UXR tools for usability and operational fit?
How should designers prepare for AI-driven cognitive agents that understand emotional personas?
Why might a paradigm shift be necessary to sustainably rebuild rural maternal health systems?