For every design leader, the most frequent query they hear from people is “What does your job entail?” It highlights a trend we observe in the UX/product design industry: since most people are unaware of what designers do, the position of a design leader is made even more mysterious. Well, now it’s high time that we debunk design leadership as the field matures. Continue reading to discover the characteristics of the position from the eminent design leader Satyajit Roy enlightening about design leadership for aspiring and new design leaders.
Satyajit Roy with over a decade of experience has been engaged in defining product strategy and overseeing the product life cycle process including identification, assessment, design, and delivery of new offerings as well as managing existing product enhancements for Telecom and IoT domain across various organizations. As a design leader, Satyajit Royhelps organizations create products and services that are not only visually appealing but also effective and efficient. Satyajit Roy is a Strategic Business Leader with expertise in Product management & design. Satyajit Roy has been providing services that include Web/Mobile Interaction Design, User Experience Design (UED), UX Research, UX Audit, MVP, Design Thinking/ Design Sprint Worksop, Prodicut Usability Audit, UX Mentoring UX, and Digital Transformation Training.
In a Candid conversation with the design leader Satyajit Roy.
- Given your experience in this field for more than 10 years, how would you define design leadership?
Satyajit Roy – Design leadership is an essential component of running any organization that regards design as a strategic asset. Design leadership is also defined as the ability to influence an organization’s design direction, culture, and strategy. A design leader’s role is to inspire and guide their team in the development of products and services that are not only visually appealing but also effective and efficient.
- How can one become a good design leader?
Satyajit Roy – Strong design abilities, strategic thinking, and leadership skills are all necessary for a successful design leader. Design leaders should be able to inspire their team to work toward the organization’s objectives, foster an innovative culture, and effectively communicate their ideas to team members and stakeholders.
- How does design leadership shapes any UX/Product design Industry?
Satyajit Roy – Developing a design culture within an organization is one of the most important aspects of design leadership. Design is valued as a strategic asset in a design culture, which calls for the cooperation and support of all employees, not just the design team. Design leaders should work to establish design thinking as a method of problem-solving within the company in order to establish a design culture. Making a vision for the organization’s design direction is another essential component of design leadership.
- What should a design leader’s roles and responsibilities be, in your opinion as a design leader yourself for the achievement of the organization’s design goals.?
Satyajit Roy – A design leader needs to have a distinct vision for how the company’s goods and services should appear and function. The overall strategy and objectives of the organization should be in line with this vision. Design leaders should conduct research, examine market trends, and collaborate closely with their team and stakeholders in order to create this vision. In this way, they can develop a design direction that is both effective and efficient, and pleasing to the eye. Design leaders must be able to effectively convey their vision to their stakeholders and team members. Strong verbal and written communication skills are needed for this. A design leader must be able to communicate their ideas succinctly and clearly while also motivating their team to reach the organization’s design objectives.
- How important is team cooperation for any design leader? Is this easy?
Satyajit Roy – Design leaders must also be capable of effectively leading their teams. They should be able to inspire and motivate their team members to achieve the design goals of the organization. This necessitates strong leadership abilities, including the ability to effectively delegate tasks, provide feedback, and foster a supportive and collaborative work environment. Design leaders must also be able to effectively manage their team’s workflow. They should be able to prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and ensure that their team members have the necessary resources to succeed. This necessitates strong project management skills, as well as the ability to effectively plan and execute projects.
- With the changing business landscape and technological advancements, how important is it for any design leader to stay up to date?
Satyajit Roy –A design leader must be able to keep up with the latest design trends and technologies, as well as be knowledgeable about the latest design tools and techniques and be able to effectively incorporate them into their work. This necessitates a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Indeed, design leadership is a crucial aspect of managing any organization that values design as a strategic asset. Creating a culture of design, establishing a clear vision for the organization’s design direction, communicating ideas effectively, leading the team members, managing their workflow effectively, and staying up-to-date with the latest design trends and technologies are the following traits that make a competent design leader.