Summary
As a DesignOps professional, your work holds power—the power to reinforce systemic marginalization, or the power to dismantle it. Spencer Stultz will focus on the intersection of Operations and equity, and explore the power dynamics and cultural norms that can impede true organizational change. In this session, you will: Learn about ways that Design Operations can (unintentionally) enforce harmful dominant cultural standards Explore alternative approaches to Operations that center equity—by examining community-oriented social justice principles that can address institutional failures and foster change Gather tools to enable and empower you to dismantle harmful systems and processes within your own practice
Key Insights
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Freedom dreaming, embedded in Black radical tradition, democratizes reimagining just systems starting from personal influence.
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Dominant culture is not a natural default but a set of imposed norms encoded into systems favoring specific groups, often white men in design.
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Design operations professionals hold significant power to shape workplace policies and practices, effectively making them designers of systems.
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White supremacy culture, patriarchy, Judeo-Christian values, individualism, colorism, heteronormativity, eurocentrism, ableism, and capitalism form core aspects of dominant culture.
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Non-dominant cultural groups must often code-switch or sacrifice authenticity to access job security, equitable pay, and promotions.
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Gen Z prioritizes working at companies aligned with social justice, making equity central to talent attraction and retention.
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Dominant culture varies by organization and geography, so identifying local manifestations is critical for equitable design work.
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Intersectionality is foundational for understanding compounded marginalizations and is a gateway to other social justice frameworks like anti-racism and disability justice.
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Practical self-check questions can help identify dominant culture in workplace policies, language, and participation, aiding in building inclusive systems.
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The goal is to loosen dominant culture to make room for subcultures to thrive, benefiting everyone including those aligned with dominant groups.
Notable Quotes
"Imagine a world where injustice no longer exists and societies work for all people."
"Everyone who works within the world of design operations is a designer because you design policies and systems that affect your org."
"Dominant culture is not some natural default; it’s culture that imposes itself through systems and practices."
"If everyone in your workplace looks and thinks the same, that’s a major red flag."
"Inequities have very major real world consequences that impact people’s entire trajectories."
"We are not looking to eradicate people from dominant cultures, but to create space for everyone to exist fully."
"It’s not individuals we attack, but systems that uphold inequity."
"Making space for subculture to thrive is like letting more air and sunlight in; it creates a healthier environment for everyone."
"Design ops has the power and responsibility to push back against harmful systems and redesign them with equity at the core."
"74% of Gen Z say it’s important to work somewhere with policies that align with social justice and equity."
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