"We seem to have found ourselves in an era where clout matters more than productivity, and when Design's productivity and impact is questioned, we somehow re-direct that discomfort and blame our Engineering and Product counterparts (or other happenings in the industry) for not enabling us to be more productive."
"I love talking to people, and over the last 2 months of unemployment (I am now employed), I called upon designer friends all in Asia and Europe to get their opinion on the current state of Design leadership and how it has impacted our careers. Spoiler alert: It ain't great. Hence the article."
"If you have no idea what I'm on about, this article is either not for you, or you're part of the problem."
Design leadership in many organizations emphasizes visibility and clout rather than measurable productivity and impact. Designers experience career setbacks and sometimes externalize responsibility by blaming engineering, product decisions, office politics, or AI for reduced influence. Peer conversations across Asia and Europe reveal widespread frustration and a sense that design outcomes are undervalued. This dynamic undermines design credibility and stalls career growth. Addressing the issue requires demonstrating clear business outcomes, improving cross-functional collaboration, and refocusing leadership on tangible productivity and impact rather than perception and clout.
Read at Medium
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