Design Producer: What it is and why you need one
How this role is embedded within Experience Design (XD) and Product Development teams.
“So, what does a Design Producer do?” That’s a question I hear all too often! My job on a day-to-day basis can range from an array of tasks and deliverables. As a producer, I support design teams, business stakeholders and clients.
I joke that this role isn’t defined as a single skillset but more so a jack of all trades. You have to be someone who’s flexible, thick-skinned, agile, responsive and honestly, calm!
While it may be easier to compile a list of things Design Producers don’t do, here’s a summary of the top 3 core functions of this role.
We are Project Managers & Facilitators:
Like the traditional role, we prepare and maintain timelines, facilitate kickoffs, workshops, internal reviews and client meetings. To stay up-to-date with what teams are working on, I host daily and weekly check-ins, provide real-time reports and updates to management. In addition to this traditional title, Design Producers also have backgrounds in creative, technology and research. Not only do I speak the jargon of those worlds and offer valuable feedback, I facilitate and lead retrospectives with cross-functional teams and partner with research to organize interviews and data synthesis.
I’m not afraid to push back on client requests and declutter the asks before looping in the XD team. I’m simply the catch-all in this fast paced environment, keeping an eye out for upcoming roadblocks and schedule conflicts.
We are Advocates:
Project stress is real and can be detrimental to a project and client relationship. Therefore, the most important aspect of this role is spent advocating. Too often, I come across situations where designers have to justify their work with clients. As producers, our role is to bring guidance during those crossroads, shedding light on the creative process and educating the clients in a way that’s digestible for them.
Tom Greever, author of Articulating Design Decisions does an excellent job tackling the issues design teams face when explaining their choices and defending their work.
We are DesignOps:
At Slalom, we are passionate about DesignOps and establishing a foundation that will improve the quality and impact of design outputs and value at scale. As a producer, I steer forward paths for how we manage DesignOps through implementation and adoption within our team and organization as a whole.
With the growing complexities from cross-functional teams, designers are now tasked with more; from strategic conversations, to designs and research.
As I remain in the weeds of multiple projects, I’m able to continuously refine and optimize our internal stance on DesignOps and communicate with leadership on what impacts are being made and assessed. This constant cycle of enhancements makes our XD team become leaders in helping clients organize their design operations.
Why should you hire a Design Producer?
As you take a step back and look at the positive impacts this role brings to design organizations you see that producers are trusted mediators and cheerful companions. They’re empathetic yet unbiased and know how to manage emotions in projects to ensure we close the deal and deliver.
When roadblocks appear, they put themselves in the forefront, protecting their team and dealing with it head-on. Producers work tirelessly to avoid situations by calling out the B.S. both internally and externally, quickly identifying and raising red-flags from the start.
Over time it’s easy for designers and managers to overlook the needs of not only themselves but also their teams. It’s silly when you break it down, but in hindsight, managers should be focused on managing and creating new business opportunities, personal development and growth for their team.
“Can’t tell you what a relief it is to have you [Design Producer] here — takes a huge load off me and allows me to focus on securing new work” — Slalom XD Practice Lead
When managers spend too much time in the weeds on projects and processes — it can result negatively in team morale, growth, trust and autonomy.
Conversely, when partnered with Design Producers, designers can be focused on their projects without interruptions resulting in the freedom to innovate and design with no limitations. They don’t have to deal with client management, mediating issues, or defining requirements. At the end of the day, they can do their work and simply get sh**t done.
RiAnica Allen-Jones is a Design Producer on the Experience Design team at Slalom Charlotte. With a background in Account Management, Design Operations and Business Development she’s always ready to take on new challenges and dive into the unknown. She’s also a certified Scrum Master. Her passion for organization and process efficiencies is key to creating impactful relationships amongst her team and clients.
