My Process.

I believe that design is a powerful tool that can be used to solve problems, create experiences, and change the world. As a design manager, I aim to create a team of talented designers who are passionate about their work and committed to using design to make a difference.

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My Leadership Principles

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Empowerment

I believe that designers should be empowered to make decisions and take ownership of their work. I provide my team with the resources and support they need to succeed, and I trust them to make the best decisions for their projects.

Collaboration

‍I believe that design is a collaborative process. I encourage my team to work together to share ideas, solve problems, and create great work. I also work closely with business partners and leadership to ensure that our designs are aligned with the company's goals.

Feedback

‍I believe that feedback is essential for growth and improvement. I regularly provide my team with feedback on their work, both positive and constructive. I also encourage them to give me feedback on my work.

Recognition

I believe that it's important to celebrate successes. I believe in acknowledging my team's achievements, big or small, to create a positive and driven work atmosphere.

Design Process

I have a Design Thinking certification and utilize a human-centered approach when tackling problems. This methodology enables my team to stay nimble and efficiently test and iterate ideas.

Conceptualize

I'm passionate about data-driven design and truly empathizing with the humans interacting with my designs. This stage defines the problem, and research is conducted to study behaviors and processes that need improvement.


My Favorite Tools

  • UserTesting (moderated interviews)
  • Gainsight or Opinion Lab
  • Google or Adobe Analytics
  • Hotjar or Sprig

Exploration

Generate creative opportunities through design sprints, ideation, prioritization workshops, and building prototypes to test.

I like to gather input from product, engineering, content, research, and business partners to generate diverse ideas and promote alignment.

My Favorite Tools

  • Miro
  • FigJam
  • Procreate for iPad

Actualization

By thoroughly testing designs before handing off to engineering, my teams avoid expensive re-work when using the Design Thinking process. During this stage, we work with our business and product partners to prioritize features, create roadmaps, and assign business value and outcomes.


My Favorite Tools

  • UserTesting (unmoderated tests)
  • Jira or Asana
  • SUS (system usability scale)
  • A/B Testing
  • Miro for roadmap planning
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Interested in working together?
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© 2024 Tara Smith

Illustrations by Annie Konst