How to Make Your Ideas Impossible to Ignore
Your brilliant idea just died in a meeting. Here's why and how to fix it.
Our Latest Articles.
From practical team dynamics to strategic vision-setting, we share fresh insights, test new approaches, and dig into the real challenges facing design leaders today.
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A workflow to ship better designed software with LLMs
I've been experimenting with different approaches for shipping my designs with the help of LLMs. I've found a process that is working really well.
Are you willing to be the designer that has influence?
We all want to be the type of designer who has influence at work. Are you willing to be the designer that has it? Let’s find out.
Design leaders who stand out most, grow in five key areas
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Emotional Intelligence
23 posts
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Business Acumen
15 posts
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Relationship Management
15 posts
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Operational Management
14 posts
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Strategic Foresight
13 posts
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design leadership
10 posts
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Personal Growth
7 posts
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Communication
7 posts
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WYSIWYG
6 posts
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design career
4 posts
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Make Design Desirable
4 posts
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Campus Notes
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business skills for designers
3 posts
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design metrics
3 posts
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Product Management
2 posts
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design strategy
2 posts
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Technology
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stakeholder management
2 posts
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Design
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design goals
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prove design value
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design ROI
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strategic designer
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leadership for designers
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POKR framework
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stakeholder communication
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design value
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communicate design value
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design director
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design leadership skills
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design director skills
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designer business skills
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strategic design
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OKRs for design
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design strategy map
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strategy map template
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design planning
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design director interview
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MBA for designers
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design education
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design politics
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creative leadership course
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creative leadership
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design team OKRs
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Events
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Four-Fits
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Audio Tips
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Metrics
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Portfolio
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AI
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Career Transition
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Customer Support
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Vibe Coding
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design scorecard
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OKRs for design teams
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design executive
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business thinking
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designer to manager
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design manager
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new design manager
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present design to executives
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design presentations
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executive buy-in
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ROI of design
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measure design impact
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first 90 days design leader
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new design director
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books
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Latest Articles
AI
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On changing someone's mind
One of the more common questions I get is, “How can I change [PERSON]’s mind?” While there’s various ways to answer this question, it’s really important we understand the stakes at play before we jump in.
AI
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Campus Notes #1
Connecting design to metrics with maps, changing minds, five key choices, and Mary Meeker's take on AI
AI
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A fundamental flaw in how Product Strategy is taught
Every day, I see individuals and teams struggle with connecting product work to the big picture, and I keep coming back to a fundamental flaw in how Product Strategy is taught.
AI
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"How to be a better design leader" advice was making me worse at my job
I had to stop following popular design leadership advice to actually lead
AI
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Every business rule is made up
All business rules are made up–just like design. Remaking the rules opens the gates to new possibilities.
AI
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15 Better Reasons Why Designers Should Learn Business
Understanding business isn't about advancing your career – it's about knowing when to walk away and having the power to do it.
AI
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How designers can stand out in a crowded job market.
There’s a format of storytelling in business that has been very successful for decision-making. Since hiring is a decision-making meeting, try incorporating the SCR format of storytelling.
AI
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Four categories of business health… and why designers should care about them
To evaluate the overall health of a company, business leaders objectives, measures, and targets are set across four categories of health, with each one focusing on a different aspect of the company.
AI
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The Good Partner Map
Understand when your sales pitch for design is working, when it's not, and what do about it.
AI
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Letting others have your way is a communication superpower for designers
By understanding the wants and needs of those you work with, you can become influential as a designer
AI
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Increase the odds your team can win
Great design leaders are those who intentionally create multiple paths to success.
AI
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The Multi-Mode Advantage: Managing a Range of Partnerships through Positioning
For design leaders, reading the room is everything. While conventional wisdom suggests that positioning drives perception, the reality for design teams is often reversed: your ability to read and respond to shifting stakeholder perceptions should drive your positioning decisions.
AI
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The Importance of Mapping Power Dynamics
Trying to convert powerful skeptics into design believers takes a lot of emotional energy. There's a more practical, and dare I say it, more strategic way make it worth your while.