Key Insights

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  Design maturity models from consultants may not fit every organization's unique needs after major disruptions like a pandemic.

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  Creating a custom design maturity definition rooted in team context and aspirations leads to greater clarity and actionable direction.

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  Design maturity should measure value not only to business and customers but also to design team members and society.

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  Pandemic and social justice challenges heightened awareness of care, safety, and belonging within design teams.

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  Researchers and some designers often feel overlooked or excluded in early project conversations, impacting their effectiveness.

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  Large design teams need tailored mechanisms, such as pausing team-wide critiques, to build psychological safety.

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  Empathy towards functional partners who may not understand design’s role is key to integrating design into business.

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  Design maturity evolves as business purposes evolve, including sustainability and inclusiveness goals.

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  Quantitative survey assessments can miss uneven distribution of design maturity across teams and roles.

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  Transparent communication and storytelling within the design organization foster shared understanding and morale.

Notable Quotes