Stop trying to argue for the value of design

It’s so obvious. If we invest a little bit more time in design upfront then we will save so much time and money by building better products that customers actually love.

And yet, somehow, our arguments fail to convince people.

Your manager likely agrees with your points, and they were once in your shoes making the same arguments, but they can see all of the implementation challenges that get in the way. Like dominoes falling, if we change our processes it will require changes to funding, governance, team structures, alignment approaches and more. This is beyond the capabilities of any individual manager. It requires coordinated effort and alignment from the top down.

Instead we can work within the system by trying to figure out how we can deliver some value as quickly and cheaply as possible. I go into more details on this in my article below.

This Week’s Updates

Enabling the Team

Transformation As A Project by Marty Cagan
Organizational transformation should be approached as an iterative process, similar to product development. Starting with pilot teams to learn and demonstrate the new model, rather than managing the transformation as a traditional project with a fixed plan.

Why Managers Should Give Feedback On Work Output by Wes Kao
Great methods for delivering high-quality feedback in minimal time, emphasizing the importance of focusing on impactful areas, prioritizing structural over line edits, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Product Direction

OKR Not Working In My Company by Itamar Gilad
Effective OKRs should be aligned with outcomes rather than outputs, hence the research and discovery phases in the goal-setting process are so important.

The Last Strategy Framework You'll Ever Need by John Cutler
A holistic strategy framework designed to unify teams and streamline product development processes. Having a clear vision, measurable objectives, and continuous feedback loops ensure alignment and adaptability in achieving product goals.

Continuous Research

User Research Myths by Jon Yablonski
Common myths such as user research being time-consuming, PMs already engaging with users, and the belief that prior research suffices are busted. Regular, unbiased user research validates assumptions and ensures product relevance.

UX Research Methods For Each Product Phase by Optimal Workshop
UX research methods across the product phases: planning (usability testing), design (card sorting), development (prototype testing), and post-launch (surveys). These methods help integrate user-centered design throughout. [Sponsored Content]

Continuous Design

How To Get Past Arguing For The Value Of Design, And Actually Start Doing Experiments by Rory Madden
While we think we are asking for a small change to do more upfront design, this actually requires a lot of changes for your manager to implement. Real change takes years to implement so rather than trying to fight the system, we need to learn to work within it.

How GenAI Impacts User Experiences—Even Beyond AI by Katie Schmidt, Hayley Mortin and Jessa Anderson
Explore how GenAI is reshaping user experiences by altering expectations and interaction patterns, even in products not directly driven by AI.

Continuous Development

My LLM Codegen Workflow ATM by Harper Reed
A detailed workflow walkthroug for using LLms to build software, from brainstorming through planning and execution.

The Web Is A Creative Industry And Is Facing The Same Decline And Shattered Economics As Film, TV, Or Publishing by Baldur Bjarnason
The decline in the web development industry causes job market instability, reliance on unpaid work, and the diminishing availability of paid positions. To revitalize the industry we need sustainable practices and better management.

Price Increase Alert 9/3/2025!
We are less than 12 weeks away… Time is running out

Don’t miss out on the chance to secure your tickets at current rates! Starting on 9th of March 2025, ticket prices for both UXDX EMEA in Berlin and UXDX USA in New York will go up by 35%. This is your opportunity to save before prices rise. Whether you’re aiming to elevate your UX Design, Research, Product, or Development expertise, our conferences offer invaluable insights and networking opportunities with top industry leaders.

Make sure you don’t miss out, and see you in May 2025!

FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS 

Check out more upcoming community events 

Video of the Week
Navigating Company, Team and Individual Purpose:
Prioritising and Rediscovering Your True Direction

In this video, Frank Gaine, Director of Consumer Insights & Experiences at Smartbox, shares practical strategies for aligning your company's vision, team goals, and individual purposes. He explores how a clear mission can refocus organizations, motivate teams, and drive innovation, while staying true to your core purpose and ensuring alignment across all levels.

If you're looking to refocus your team's efforts and drive impactful results, this session is a must-watch. Watch the full session here 👇

The Results of Last Week’s Poll

The question: How effective are ideation sessions in your company?

It’s clear from this week’s results that ideation sessions can be hit or miss in many organizations. While 38% of respondents say their sessions are average (sometimes great, other times less so), 31% find them rarely productive, often only identifying obvious solutions. Interestingly, 32% of companies don’t engage in ideation sessions at all.

Effective ideation sessions are crucial for sparking creativity and exploring innovative solutions, but without clear structure or direction, they can easily lose focus. If you find your ideation sessions lacking, consider implementing structured techniques to guide brainstorming and ensure sessions are both productive and impactful.

If you're looking for ways to enhance your ideation process and spark more creativity, check out our Continuous Design course for practical strategies!