Why design is your sharpest competitive edge

It’s not about what you deliver, it’s about how what you deliver makes your users feel.

Dear reader,

I’m about to convince you, beyond a reasonable doubt, that design is your company’s sharpest competitive edge.

In a commoditized industry, and even in those that aren’t, design exists to drive winning differentiation through experience. It’s not just about what you deliver, it’s about how what you deliver makes your users feel. Design is your secret weapon to making users feel awesome when they interact with your product or service, and this is the value and edge your design team brings to your company.

There’s a lot to unpack there. Let’s start at the beginning — who am I and why should you trust my expertise in design? I’m Sam. I’m a design leader, world traveler, and food enthusiast. I’ve spent the last 2+ years as the Head of Design at Chime, a rapidly growing technology company offering online banking services without all the hidden fees. We’ve made banking friendlier and more accessible, almost exclusively through designed member experiences. I’ve spent my career building design teams across various companies in Silicon Valley, from venture-backed startups to boutique agencies to publicly traded companies. I’m passionate about creating experiences that make the everyday more delightful, about advocating for women in the workplace, and about orchestrating teams that are high-performing, tight-knit, and happy.

Now let’s talk about you. Are you in the right place? I hope so, and if you’re unsure, here’s who I’m thinking you might be -

• A designer, design manager, or design director feeling like you’re not sure of your place amongst the product, engineering, or marketing folks at your company. In this conversation, we’ll talk about the unique and measurable impact you create.
• A product, engineering, business strategy, or other cross-functional stakeholder wondering how to work more efficiently and equitably with your design partner. In this conversation, we’ll talk about how empowering designers will help you get the highest value from them.
• An executive, feeling like you already appreciate and value design. In…