Designing To Managing Designers

Moving from a designer role into a management role is not an easy transition. You essentially go from designing, to managing designers.
In the corporate design world, we're expected to make that transition with no coaching, and with no problems.
Many end of stumbling through the uncomfortable transition, learning the hard way how to manage by making many mistakes.
Here are three things to remember when making the transition to further your career:
1. Understand Your Job
Understand that your job probably isn’t to design anymore. It is probably now more project management and client relationships.
Take care of the bigger picture, and support designers in their design-focused role.
You can monitor a designer’s projects and progress, but don’t micro-manage. Don’t get involved in a designer’s day-to-day tasks.
Your performance isn’t measured by your solo achievements anymore. Instead, it is now measured by your team’s achievements.
It is now your job to inspire your team to do great design work.
2. Communicate
Communicate your role. Tell them what your job responsibilities are, as a manger, on a regular basis. Just like the designers give you an update on what they’re working on, you should give them an update on what you’re working on as well.
Communicate company goals. Understanding the big picture helps designers understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. Tell them about potential new clients. Tell them how much money the company made last quarter, and what you’re on track to make this quarter.
This is inspiring.
Communicate issues. If issues arise, you have to communicate in a clear, constructive way. Don’t just shut off. Talk to me! The passive aggression and avoidance just makes things worse. Confront me like an adult, and like a boss! In my opinion, those not afraid of confrontation make better bosses.
3. Motivate
Make your designers feel appreciated, respected, and supported. Keeping up office morale, is a big part of managing a team! Morale has a huge effect on productivity and general wellbeing.
Low morale can lead to subpar concentration, and increased mistakes. It can also lead to a higher employee turnover rate, and general absenteeism.
Be your team’s biggest advocate. Give them credit where credit is due. Managing a team is a lot like a relationship.
Get to know your designers, understand their strengths and weaknesses, help to highlight their strengths, understand their life goals, keep their best interests at heart, and never stop supporting them.
__________________________________________
Hi, I'm Emily. I approach fashion topics from a designer's point of view. Fashion designers are vastly under-represented in fashion media. I'm here to give us a voice.
Website: www.emilykeller.co/
Twitter: @emilykeller_co
Instagram: @emilykellerco
LinkedIn: / emilymkeller
Pinterest: / boards

[@styleproducin]

this is exactly what I needed, I am so happy I found this video. About to start my 2nd management position, but will be my first time leading a bigger team like this. I'll be going into it with a great list of reminders and goals now, thanks to you!

[@TheFashionRunUp]

Good luck in your new management role!

[@grammar_shark]

Spot on.
One thing I would highlight (that you've already hinted at from a few angles):
Under the topic of communication, get good at clearly communicating the essential requirements of projects. Do so in a way that leaves room for as much creative expression as possible. Designers thrive on being able to be creative, so communicating effectively which requirements absolutely need to be met and where there is room for creative expression is a great way to significantly boost morale and enthusiasm for the work that needs to be done.
As a sometimes graphic design team manager, one piece of feedback I've consistently gotten from graphic designers is that they really appreciate how specifically I always describe the key components of a project. Many have commented that they are used to working for clients and managers who only vaguely know what they want and adopt a "I'll know it when I see it" approach to decision making. This approach is extremely frustrating for designers, as it usually leads to having to repeated guess at what is actually wanted and redo good work until they somehow manage to correctly read their manager's mind.
Providing clearly communication about what is necessary and desired is a real relief to designers, as it also communicates what aspects of the design they are free to contribute their own creativity to and they can then throw themselves into that without worrying about their creative ideas causing a design to be rejected.
On a practical level, I find it usually quite helpful to provide 2-3 example images of what I'm looking for that are quite different, but all include the design's essential components. This helps both clearly communicate what is required and also what aspects of the design are more flexible. For a manager who needs to clarify a client's requirements and pass them on to a designer, this also works in reverse. Find 10-20 images that seem like they could be a match for what the client is describing in a written or verbal form and have them narrow down the images to just 2-3 that most closely match what they are looking for (or contribute their own images if it's discovered that none of the 10-20 images resemble what they were visualizing).
Once this is all done, though, not-micromanaging becomes the key managerial skill, as the best work will come when a designer (who is probably quite good at what they do) is free to throw themselves into a project. In my experience, the results of staying out of the way once the essential components are clearly communicated, tend to be both surprising and amazing. One of the best ways to leave this room is to not make suggestions about possible creative directions.
Rather, tell designers clearly what the essential requirements are and then encourage them to "just have fun" with the rest of the design, instead of limiting their creativity with your own suggestions. While your creative suggestions migh actually be quite good, they might not be a good fit with a particular designer's strengths and expressing them might limit or prevent that natural "accidental creativity" that often emerges as a designer works a project, because instead of letting their mind go wherever the design process naturally leads, they'll be focused on trying give you exactly what you suggested, which might not be nearly as good as what may emerge naturally during the creative process.

[@TheFashionRunUp]

Very well said! Love all of your suggestions!

[@NiveythaWaran]

this is incredible, MUCH needed tips

[@aedifex_]

Thank you for this! I work in a design architecture firm, first time being a team leader and experiencing the struggles.
I'm sure this will help me thru-the transition. Thank you!

[@victorarakaki7291]

great content! direct to the point and a lot helpful, congrats and thank youu

[@kimberlypaley8858]

Thank you so much for making this important and very prevalent video for an industry that doesn’t focus enough on interpersonal communication and achievable intrinsic growth.
Success begins at the foundation of each company’s employees and cultivating that is what ultimately produces an amazing product line. You’re absolutely right about how being a supervisor you need to give proper guidelines, but strictly lead and not resort to micromanaging. Micromanagement is lazily taking control of those who can build up the team by outshining and not believing in them.

[@TheFashionRunUp]

Thank you, and well put! ☺️

[@chimdiBAM]

Thank you so much for this. I really needed it.

[@Domzyses]

As a designer who was asked to lead a Team, this video of yours helped me to motivate to do my job well to lead a team! Thank you.

[@TheFashionRunUp]

Im so glad to hear that! Good luck in your manager position! ✨

[@davidmartinez5459]

This is a great list of qualities. Great job describing what's needed for the job!

[@TheFashionRunUp]

Thanks!

[@rrwriting]

Crisp and clear. Thank you so much!

[@TheFashionRunUp]

Thanks! ☺️

[@syrykh]

Thanks for the video! I like it when things explained short and clear 👍

[@TheFashionRunUp]

Me too! 😅

[@carlosvillasenormendoza618]

Beautiful! Thank you

[@TheFashionRunUp]

Glad you like it!

[@nafdikyaaqsa]

This is really helpful, thank you.

[@TheFashionRunUp]

You're welcome :)

[@jannovangraan6500]

This is very helpful, thank you so much.

[@TheFashionRunUp]

You’re welcome :)

[@juridicovisual]

Thanks

[@layoutarchitect]

good job

[@TheFashionRunUp]

Thank you

[@369_om]

Thank you!!

[@TheFashionRunUp]

You're welcome!

[@donkeybutt678]

Beautifully said, thanks for the great tips!

[@TheFashionRunUp]

You are so welcome!