📰 3 ARTICLES
The Split Decision: IC or Manager?
- This piece dives into the "IC vs. Manager" dilemma for designers, examining the benefits and drawbacks of staying as an individual contributor versus moving into a managerial role.
- For designers, deciding between IC and managerial paths often depends on personal strengths, career goals, and work style preferences. Each path comes with unique challenges, from the creative autonomy of ICs to the leadership responsibilities of managers.
- “The decision is ultimately about what kind of impact you want to have in your work. While ICs often have a deep, craft-focused impact, managers can influence broader organizational change, guiding teams and shaping strategy.”
How Venture Capital Firms Are Shaping the Future of Product Design
- Venture capital firms are increasingly influencing product design priorities, often emphasizing rapid growth over user-centered development. This shift presents challenges and opportunities for design leaders to align strategic priorities with user needs.
- The article discusses how the pressure for startups to meet investor-driven growth metrics can sometimes deprioritize human-centered design practices. Design leaders must advocate for a balanced approach, integrating both user needs and business goals.
- “When growth takes precedence, there is a risk that user-centered design will be overshadowed. To counteract this, design leaders must champion an approach that values both innovation and empathy.”
UX Design Case Study: Starbucks Behind the Counter
- This case study explores Starbucks' "Behind-the-Counter" UX design and how it impacts baristas' workflows, aiming to reduce errors, improve efficiency, and create a smoother customer experience.
- By rethinking the layout and flow of tools and screens, Starbucks focused on optimizing barista interactions with the system, prioritizing speed and minimizing disruption. The design enhancements help manage the busy and high-stakes environment behind the counter.
- “At the core, it's about designing not only for efficiency but also to support baristas in providing a better customer experience, by eliminating unnecessary steps and reducing the potential for errors.”
💜 PORTFOLIO INSPIRATION
Caroline Hoffman, a recent UX Academy graduate, brings her background in media and design to her portfolio, showcasing playful and inviting branding in her UI for Eggmutt, a food delivery app specializing in breakfast sandwiches. Her passion for the outdoors shines in end-to-end design for Roamradar, where her strong research skills help bring an outdoor-activity focused app to life.
Got a portfolio you love that you’d like to share with our audience? Email your suggestions to hello@designlab.com.
💡 INTERESTING STUFF...
- UX Designer x Money Diaries
- What you get for 10,946 Post-Its
- Creative gifts!
- Youtube UX job market analysis
Design is a response to a specific problem. You are given a problem to solve, and then you let the problem itself tell you what your solution is. — Chip Kidd
🧪 FROM THE LAB
⏳ One More Chance This Year
The next cohort of our beginner-friendly course, UX Academy Foundations launches Monday, December 9th. This is our final cohort of 2024 and space is limited. If you’re looking to get a jump on the new year and set yourself up to join UX Academy in 2025, this is the cohort for you.
Still unsure? Join us Tuesday, 11/19 at 6pm ET for our UX Academy Informational Webinar. We'll be joined by alum Andrew Vait, who will share his experience transitioning to UX design.
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