Summary
Have you ever wondered, “what is the value of design?” In this talk, Shahrzad will not answer that question. Instead, she’ll share the mistakes she made while chasing the question of value across both consulting and in-house design. Through these embarrassing stories, she’ll share lessons learned for how designers and design leaders can own and deliver on their value.
Key Insights
-
•
Individual designers must understand the broader strategic context to play their role effectively.
-
•
Being a 'pawn' in a larger business game is not powerless; small roles can have big impact.
-
•
Clients may have hidden agendas, such as satisfying investors, that influence design decisions.
-
•
Sometimes consulting projects lack clarity, purpose, or champions, making them unsalvageable.
-
•
Designers create value by making tangible artifacts even before fully learning the business.
-
•
Long onboarding periods in enterprises can hinder designers from contributing early impact.
-
•
Overwork and unclear priorities damage team morale and output until addressed operationally.
-
•
Fighting to prove design’s value often backfires; consistent delivery builds trust instead.
-
•
Invisible enemies often stem from misunderstandings, resolved through personal relationship-building.
-
•
Knowing when to exit situations with no champion is crucial to protecting personal value.
Notable Quotes
"If the game is chess and you’re playing darts, no one is going to think you have any value."
"We were a pawn, but a pawn can win the game."
"Sometimes you’re hired by people you never meet but who are really calling the shots."
"Some situations are not worth saving, even if nobody is openly threatening you."
"Designers are one of the few professions that can create value before fully understanding the space."
"If we aren’t making, we actually do have no value at all."
"Your value as a person matters just as much as your value as a designer."
"Proving the value of design is a fool’s errand; instead, focus on your own value and impact."
"Fighting invisible enemies only diminishes your own impact."
"Building authentic relationships with supporters helps make a giant impact."
Or choose a question:
More Videos
"The Silicon Valley dream is not the reality we are living in Latin America in terms of technology, culture, resources, mindset, and people."
Verónica Urzúa Jorge MontielThe B-side of the Research Impact
March 12, 2021
"The satellite systems are built in stovepipes, completely disconnected and siloed between different contractors."
Michal Anne RogondinoSaving Outer Space: The First UX Design System for Our Nation’s Satellites
January 8, 2024
"The care, compassion and open heart our speakers bring help us all advance research."
Jemma AhmedTheme 2 Intro
March 10, 2022
"An ecosystem of organizations working towards similar aims has really grown, especially in the US."
Kara KaneTheme One Intro
November 16, 2022
"We had to ensure that many voices contributed because I could not be the only one making org-wide changes."
Laine Riley ProkayHow DesignOps can Drive Inclusive Career Ladders for All
September 30, 2021
"The bigger the impact, the higher the title the message should come from."
Laura Gatewood Laine ProkayBeyond Buzzwords: Adding Heart to Effective Slack Communication
September 23, 2024
"At IBM, I felt like I was following a script; at Compass, I get to promote my ideas and see how they work."
Caitlyn Hampton Monica Lee Jina YoonCompass 101: Growing Your Career In A Startup World
June 11, 2021
"It’s not incumbent upon you to finish making this world a better place, but neither are you free to desist from it."
Hana NagelTurning Research Ripples into Waves
November 8, 2018
"Measuring quality of data entered and task completion time can be better UX metrics in enterprise contexts."
Alexandra SchmidtEnterprise UX Playbook (Videoconference)
December 1, 2022