Pavel Bukengolts’ Post

As a design leader, you work for your team—not the other way around. Learn how to keep your #UXteam happy, creative, and always on schedule. https://lnkd.in/e8rP5zWK #DesignLeadership #TeamManagement #UXDesign #Productivity

The Power of Constructive Criticism in Design: Inspire, Don’t Discourage 🤝 Here’s why constructive criticism matters:👇🏼 1. Focus on Solutions, not Problems. Instead of pointing out flaws, it shifts the conversation to how we make the design better. It turns challenges into opportunities for growth.📈 2. Maintains Motivation. Feedback that is thoughtful and specific encourages designers to keep pushing their boundaries, while harsh criticism can diminish enthusiasm. 3. Builds Trust. When designers trust that feedback will be constructive, they’re more open to sharing work early, leading to faster, better iterations. 4. Encourages Dialogue. Constructive feedback invites open conversation, leading to better decisions and stronger team dynamics. 5. Boosts Confidence. By balancing what works with areas for improvement, we help designers gain confidence and take ownership of their designs.🙌🏼 Constructive criticism isn’t about pointing out mistakes—it’s about helping designers grow while keeping their passion alive. ❤️🔥 What’s your approach to giving constructive feedback? Let’s share tips! #Design #ProductDesign #UXdesign #ConstructiveFeedback #Tipsoftheday #Management

Perfecting each pixel of a design is a waste of time Before you do this: GET FEEDBACK before I spend hours on perfecting a design for my client, I want to show them a rough draft of what I am looking to create. How can I know I am moving in the right direction, before I showed them? The first stages of any new design project are a MESS there is no other way. You try a direction => they don't like it. You try something different => still not close enough. You try another thing => Boom, you get the vision aligned. Once you have the direction and vision aligned, the rest of the project is going to be a breeze. As soon as I can, I get feedback.

We all agree that building a great design team takes more than just hiring talent. It’s about leadership that values design, a strong balance of craft, business understanding, and making design an integral part of business success. In this article I'm adding below, you'll find some key insights on what top companies are doing right, from their approach to hiring to how they support and nurture their design teams. It’s clear a lot of us face these same challenges! https://lnkd.in/dZsjRWiR #design #designteam #designerlife #collaboration #teambuilding

↘︎ On Leadership ↘︎ Building comprehensive systems comes with a lot of human interaction and errors. Amending, adjusting, and fixing is the way forward. ↘︎ In smaller teams, it's more obvious than in others when the errors are more visual. In a bigger team, the errors are more functional. Regardless of who discovers it, add the note to fix it. Two examples of the remote team we have a chance to serve. ↘︎ One where blame and backstabbing were a daily ritual—the toxic culture led to several people leaving depleted and almost hating the design overall. You know this presentation: Nothing is right after screen two. After six months, four designers left, and no one wanted to join the team. ↘︎ A very different team of 12 designers and 45 engineers created the proposition leading to Beta Release – every comment on Figma led to simplification and standardisation. Once agreed, it was added to the global Design System, and everyone was informed of the change and implications. Within less than six weeks, the team was able to build the E2E proposition, including the Design System and Knowledgebase reflecting 5 entry points, and two different colour modes on 3 different devices. ↘︎ Do not spend the time on blame. ↘︎ Spend time on creation.

As a designer, what should we learn first? "Take nothing personally." As designers, we often fall in love with our creativity and design process. It's natural to feel a personal connection to our work, and that passion can indeed drive us to improve. However, the reality is that design is subjective, and it's impossible to satisfy everyone. Understanding this can be one of the healthiest habits we cultivate, especially when working in a team. Feedback is a crucial part of the design process, and learning not to take it personally allows us to see it for what it truly is a tool for growth. By embracing feedback, whether positive or critical, we open ourselves up to new perspectives and possibilities. This mindset helps us refine our work and collaborate more effectively, leading to stronger, more impactful designs. This addition emphasizes the importance of feedback in the design process and how a healthy mindset towards it can enhance both personal growth and teamwork. Image source: unknown #DesignThinking #CreativeProcess #TeamCollaboration #DesignLeadership

"10 Positive design review Feedback: The Seed of Team Growth and Innovation" ✨ Highlight Strengths: "Your choice of color palette makes the interface pop!" 🎯 Detail-Oriented Feedback: Rather than "This isn't working," consider "Adjusting the spacing could enhance the visual flow. 🔄 Address Actions, Not Individuals: Speak to the decision, such as "The selection of elements can be revisited," not the designer. 🥪 Positive-Constructive-Positive (PCP) Approach: Encase your critique with encouragement, like "The concept is strong; refining the execution can make it stellar, which I know is within your wheelhouse." 🛠 Present Alternatives, Not Critiques: Suggest, "Exploring a different typeface might elevate the user experience further." ❤️ Show Understanding and Kindness: Acknowledge effort with "I see the thought you've put into this; let's fine-tune it together." 🗨️ Foster Collaboration: Invite input with "Your perspective is valuable, let's brainstorm this part." 🔄 Consistent Engagement: "Let's regroup to see how the new approach is unfolding." 🚶 Model Feedback Receptivity: "I've updated my project based on the team's insights—what do you all think?" 🎉 Applaud Improvements: "The revisions have brought your concept to life; it's exciting to see your growth in this project." Avoid the pitfalls of bad criticism: - "That just looks wrong." Without context, this isn't helpful. - "You always make this mistake." Never generalize or attack the person. - "It's just bad." Such vague feedback can be demoralizing. Let's turn feedback into a powerful tool for growth, not just a critique session. Share your experiences with constructive feedback and how it led to better design outcomes. Enhance managerial skills—email business@claypot.design for workshops. Claypot #workshop #designfeedback #constructivecriticism #designthinking #leadership #creativeculture #innovation #uxdesign #employeegrowth #claypotcreatives

In 2023, we saw a decimation of design leadership. Most companies I see push the "product-first" mindset, disrespecting designers, researchers and customers, use NPS, which has been disavowed by its own creator and many companies have gone bankrupt using NPS as an indicator rejecting any form of legitimate metrics for CX. There's a push for generalised skills, flat structures and product-first cultures. Because someone read ‘Lean Startup’ and now thinks PMs and programmers should be doing qualitative research, everything done in a sprint, everything should ship as an MVP initially, and the only type of designer you need is a "do-er" or "player-coach". Product have for a while been better at selling their value than design. A lot of designers in these companies are order-takers from non-creative reactionary minds. Where's the creativity?

One thing no one is telling you about becoming a design leader. It's not just about the pixels. Duh... we all know this but what do you need to do to get there? Mastering your craft is crucial, and let me tell you this: The real power lies in elevating your thinking beyond aesthetics. Beyond the pixels. Let's talk progression. You're a talented designer, but you crave more impact, greater influence, and a seat at the strategic decision-making table. The path to senior, Staff, and Principal Designer roles isn't always clear. I'm here to tell you: that it's achievable. I've been there. I've gone through the process. I've successfully helped designers make this transition. Here's what it takes: 1. Master your craft and elevate beyond it: → Craft is non-negotiable: You can't lead if you can't execute flawlessly. → Go deeper than pixels: Understand the business impact of design. 2. Become a strategic thinker: → Beyond the pixels: You must impact product strategy, business goals, and ux.  → Influence with Impact: The go-to expert towards the value design brings. 3. Build bridges, champion collaboration: → Lead by example: Share your knowledge, elevate your team, and mentor others. → Be the bridge builder: Collaboration isn't a buzzword; it's a core competency. 4. Beyond the hard skills: → Initiative: Don't wait for opportunities, create them. → Resilience: Learn to navigate feedback, setbacks, and changing priorities. What else would you add to the mix? The transition isn't just about checking boxes; it's about mindset. Embrace the bigger picture. Become a champion of the craft. Don't be afraid to go above and beyond. Staff and Principal roles aren't simply about the title. It's about becoming a true design leader. Let me be clear: I'm not sugarcoating this. The path requires dedication and hard work. #staffdesigner #principaldesigner #seniordesigner #designcareer #designgrowth #growth #careerdevelopment #designskills #uxdesign

Every designer, regardless of their role, has the responsibility to lead through articulating vision. To design is to create with intention, yet many designers find themselves confined to executing narrow directives or reacting to market trends. True design leadership involves inspiring what is possible by demonstrating what could be achieved if we went the extra mile, beyond merely meeting briefs or deadlines. By leveraging your unique communication skills, you can inspire transformative change and redefine what it means to lead in your realm of the design world. #DesignLeadership #adaptitude