If you want to learn how I adapted to operate successfully in these tough corporate environments, this article is for you. A simple framework for driving impact regardless of design's position in the company.

@itspatmorgan Hmm, interesting views

@thejideyusuf 🫡

@itspatmorgan I think this applies even broader, most individuals are not essential to the continuation of a company. Often some people are seen as essential, but in reality things are surprisingly resilient. Most times there is someone that steps up, or ways to outsource.

@codeptualize Fair point. Thanks for sharing.

@itspatmorgan When companies run out of fuel, designers are probably the top list to be laid off. Even with product staffs as well. When you run out of fuel, innovation for the future is the probably the least thing to do to survive.

@jaketran8302 Good point, Jake. What exactly do you mean when you say "fuel"?

@itspatmorgan 100% - Almost every company I've ever worked for would've survived just fine if their designers clocked in only half of the time. Only one company I've worked for utilised them ideally and I think that came down to the designer to product complexity ratio. Usually that ratio is…

@yschaub Thanks for sharing, Yann. Can you say more about the designer to product complexity ratio? I'm a bit unclear what you mean.

@itspatmorgan This is why it's important to work in places where design is a value creator rather than just a cost. Always choose the companies that get the highest value from designers.

@multikev How do you determine which companies meet that criteria, Kevin?

@itspatmorgan In tech the only essential function is engineering. All other functions are only there to innovate/optimize beyond what engineers do on their own, or increase efficiencies in some way. Designers add insane value when utilized properly, and should be one of the last functions cut…

@elgingerobeard Agreed. You need software engineers to keep the lights on for a software business. Design adds great value, but how much of it the business needs fluctuates more according to what the business is trying to achieve at a given moment in time.

@itspatmorgan It comes down to how well a company uses their designers. That depends on the design leader doing their job well. Traditionally, design(ers) forget to measure and report their impact. If no one understands your impact then you aren’t going to last long in tough times.

@UXbyChris What are your preferred measures of design impact, Chris?

@itspatmorgan Good design is considered a luxury…when in fact, it is a proactive investment to creating long term brand equity into the future. Corporate america loves to be in “reactive” mode.

@designwithgian Well said, Gian.

@itspatmorgan My best experience at a company was joining in the middle of a crisis, rebuilding their entire digital platform, then leaving two years later after completing all our original tasks. Companies can operate without us, but sometimes they need help steering the ship.

@zachthedesigner For sure. How do you assess whether a company is in a time of needing the help vs. being able to go without, Zach?

@itspatmorgan This is a critical insight for designers. Internally, they assume they're essential b/c "only they care" But in the org overall, design's contributions aren't recognized/valued, b/c they haven't been exposed or articulated in biz terms. Perhaps designers should work on this?

@scottdwitt How do you like to articulate design's contributions in biz terms, Scott?