At a small company, the product design process is very involved in order to create better design. It’s usually shared among the creators, team members, and executives.
As a small business continues to grow, more staff and more projects translate to a greater disconnect between team members. Aarron Walter, VP of Design Education at InVision, explains why establishing collaborative relationships help create better design.
When companies increase in size, communication becomes proportionately more complicated. It’s hard to foster a relationship with a colleague who works in a different department on the other side of the building. In order to be successful, it’s important to stay connected with your team, build rapport, and make sure everyone is informed and on the same page.
It’s common for design projects to remain guarded from those who are not directly involved with the specific project. While this seems like an efficient solution, it prevents the opportunity for useful feedback and collaboration from other team members. Isolating the design process also puts the final product in danger of being misunderstood or even ignored. Make sure you schedule regular design reviews with the entire design team keeps ideas fresh and staff members involved.
When design is accessible to all, the process feels more inclusive and collaborative. According to Todd Tominey, Director of Design at MailChimp, “Digital tools and devices are helpful, but nothing beats personal interaction. Schedule as much time as possible (without it becoming disruptive) for people to share work and be exposed to what’s happening outside of their immediate purview.”
