;

Methods behind Design at Scale™

Featured Image

Welcome to the Design at Scale Method articles. Today we’ll be looking at Methods combined that help Design and Scale to deliver value in complex propositions and thrive in environments of constant change. 

While both sides of this process – design[001↘︎] and development[002↘︎] will continuously evolve in their way, the ultimate value between them lies behind the combination of strengthening daily handovers while monitoring the big picture (eyes on the release). A smooth and very effective flow of routines creates stability. 

Acknowledgement

Before we dive deep into a simplified model that can solve complex design propositions in product development, please allow me to clarify the following:

“This model is not for one product or feature; this model works for a team of teams that collaborate to deliver the design proposition at scale within the Agile Development Cycle (ideally dual-track agile). It is built on a well-known “stage and gate product development method” – yet opens up to more flexible and responsive adjustments using – Design Sprint, Lean UX, Integrated research, and BDD, to name a few.”

Figure02: Proposition Shaping

1.0 Proposition Shaping 

Manly business-oriented discipline [003↘︎] supported by the design and development to support (better say to shape) the proposition. This stage aims to set the OKRs[004↘︎], ROIs[005↘︎] and DoRs[006↘︎] + DoDs[007↘︎] for each function, allowing each contributor to be flexible yet accountable for delivering their part of the experience. As the process of this exercise is more linear, we tend to use the Kanban board and prioritise the sequence. After a team reviews the DoD for the Proposition Shaped – “good enough”[008↘︎], the team will move to Design Shaping.  

Figure03: Design Shaping

2.0 Design Shaping 

To test the proposition hypotheses for both design and development functions, we work side by side to shape the constraints around the design definition (first set of outputs), helping both parties move from the assumption to more tangible outcomes that can be measured. In design, we’ll have the schemas, prototypes and early concepts that communicate MTP – massive transformative purpose[009↘︎] and its integration for Alpha or Beta Release[010↘︎]. Where in development, we set the environment and start testing the data and flexibility of integrated elements.
The outcome of this stage is the prototype that most of the team agrees on, where DoR (a good enough) represents the attempted release of products or services.

Figure04: Design Delivery

3.0 Design Delivery 

This stage predominantly focuses on robust design delivery. Based on previous learning, we create design systems, copy, translation, robust branding exercises etc. At the same time, development prepares daily drops and other increments for the design, strengthening the ongoing delivery and minimising the refactoring, including asset delivery, handover and so on.  

Figure05: Product Delivery

4.0 Product Delivery

Meanwhile, the design function was busy visualising the proposition; the development team was continuously working on the prototype. At this stage, the development becomes the leading party and design moves in a supportive function. It's important to mention that these two stages are often combined in smaller organisations that require fewer approvals or supervision from the central team. This simple split of roles creates the opportunity for designers to be in the making/decision seat regarding the experience and, on the other hand, developers in the making/decision seat regarding technology/development – aiming for smooth and frictionless delivery. 

Show and tell

Important for centralised teams or big corporations. One of the best practices is to present the feature, product or service increments to a broader coalition to receive vital feedback. Publicising the feature means the CX, UI, and Code can be available to other departments in the business.  

Running “show-and-tell sessions” to galvanise the team and tribes around a specific function. It also opens up opportunities to widen the impact of the feature in the overall business. (Show and tell is after each sprint)  

Figure06: Integration

Integration

This stage is seldomly overlooked. However, it significantly impacts customer adoption and has a consequential economic impact on product definition and further development. Unlike the other creates constant feedback on the product and represents the customer voice in following iterations. 

Tailoring this stage with solid KPIs and good QA can bring invaluable business insights that can prevent spending in the areas that brings less revenue and focus on those which generate greater impact on the business – whether we talk about customer acquisition, better or smoother operation of faster delivery.      

Figure06: Whole composition of Design at Scale Method™

Final note

Please take the above text as a high-level guide for the method. We’ll embark on the journey explaining the challenges and opportunities behind these stages that leads to smooth and transparent delivery in the following series of articles.

Happy scaling through design!

Hey, I’m Jiri Mocicka.
London-based Design Director, Trusted Advisor and Author of
Design at Scale™. The method that empowers individuals to shape the future organisation through design.
If you have a question, join our Community and reach out to like-minded individuals who scale design propositions. An online Academy can help you to find your feed in teams of 01, 10, and 100, supported by Grid Magazine and Supply section, where we weekly bring more insights on how to become a design leader in your organisation

Tagged: Agile · Coaching · Collaboration · CX · DAS™ · Design · Design at Scale · designer2designer · Framework · madebyhuman · Management · Mentoring · Method · Organisations · process · Scale · SMEs · Startup · UX · WoW
EMT

Related.

Featured Image
Overview Welcome to the fourth article of the 3x3 series – Confluence for Designers looking at the communication structure for medium and large organisations to achieve transparency, which leads to frictionless and smooth design …
 · 
2020-02-15
 · 
5 min read
Featured Image
Overview Welcome to the night and the last article of the 3x3 series – Confluence for Designers looking at the communication structure for medium and large organisations to achieve transparency, which leads to frictionless …
 · 
2020-03-12
 · 
4 min read
Featured Image
Overview Welcome to the seventh article of the 3x3 series – Confluence for Designers looking at the communication structure for medium and large organisations to achieve transparency, which leads to frictionless and smooth design …
 · 
2020-03-10
 · 
6 min read
Featured Image
Overview Welcome to the eighth article of the 3x3 series – Confluence for Designers looking at the communication structure for medium and large organisations to achieve transparency, which leads to frictionless and smooth design …
 · 
2020-03-10
 · 
5 min read
Featured Image
Overview Welcome to the sixth article of the 3x3 series – Confluence for Designers looking at the communication structure for medium and large organisations to achieve transparency, which leads to frictionless and smooth design …
 · 
2020-03-05
 · 
6 min read
Featured Image
Overview Welcome to the fifth article of the 3x3 series - Confluence for Designers looking at the communication structure for medium and large organisations to achieve transparency, which leads to frictionless and smooth design …
 · 
2020-02-25
 · 
7 min read
Featured Image
Overview Welcome to the fourth article of the 3x3 series - Confluence for Designers looking at the communication structure for medium and large organisations to achieve transparency, which leads to frictionless and smooth design …
 · 
2020-02-20
 · 
5 min read
Featured Image
Overview Welcome to the third article of the 3x3 series – Confluence for Designers looking at the communication structure for medium and large organisations to achieve transparency, which leads to frictionless and smooth design …
 · 
2020-02-10
 · 
6 min read
Featured Image
Overview Welcome to the first article of the 3x3 series - Confluence for Designers, where we’ll be looking at the communication structure for medium and large organisations to achieve the transparency that leads to …
 · 
2020-02-05
 · 
4 min read

Newsletter

Subscribe.

Subscription.

A tailored list of meaningful tips and assets that help designers of all levels manage their daily challenges at scale.

100+

Design Articles 

Join more than 5,000 readers who redefine product design delivery through Design at Scale™

INSTAGRAM—We know you love visual stories and bite-size quick suggestions. That is why we created an Instagram channel specifically for your taste. 

X – Daily updates, shared links, and conversations about scaling design propositions in small, medium, and large teams. Join the conversation.

DAS-Social

Your Story
Matters.

Community.

Beyond every design is a story. Every story drives curiosity and helps us grow.
Join our community to share yours.

LINE_MAGENTA_050_301

Categories

LINE_MAGENTA_050_301

Legal

LINE_MAGENTA_050_301

Share

All brands and trademarks presented on the DesignatScale™ website are owned by their relevant companies or agencies. The projects represent collaborations between designers, developers and product owners.
Do not copy or publish any of the projects shown here without approval from 9V™ + GIVE™ + Design at Scale™ and/or relevant companies and agencies.

View