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Senior Individual Contributors

Guidance designed for makers at the heart of it all. Explore workshops and articles.

 

You’re a maker operating at the top of your game. You excel at designing experiences that deliver on user and business needs. 

At this stage in your career, you might be wondering if it’s okay to just keep making things—or do you need to pivot into management to be considered a leader? Maybe leveling up to managing people sounds exciting and you want to give it a try.

All of us at Design Dept. have been where you are now. We want to help you become a truly great design leader—whether you dive into managing or not. 

The workshops and articles recommended here will  support you with tools, perspectives, and guidance created especially for senior individual contributors (ICs).

 
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ESSENTIAL TRAINING

Transform the way you work with Design Leadership for Individual Contributors—a workshop focused on honing your craft as a creative leader.

 

Conventional wisdom dictates that becoming a manager is an essential rung in the career ladder. But traditional paths aren’t the only way to leadership. This design leadership series helps senior creatives develop tools for collaborating effectively with cross-functional partners, influencing senior managers, and supporting other creatives in the delivery of great craft. 

 
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Skill Development

Expand your skills with workshops that help you excel, not just as a creator but also as a communicator and collaborator.

Demystifying Vision

Understand how vision influences strategy and sparks change. Learn more

 

Ensuring Design Excellence

Lead your team in creating high-value work at scale. Learn more

 

Designing Alliances

Explore how to build effective, collaborative relationships across an organization. Learn more

 

Hello Inner Critic

Engage productively with your inner critic so you can take more courageous creative leaps. Learn more

 

Designing Your Time

Understand how to value, prioritize, and protect your time. Learn more

 

Communication by Design

Improve communication and collaboration and learn how to deliver feedback effectively. Learn more

 
 
 
 

Required Reading

Ranging from practical tips to personal perspectives, these stories reaffirm our belief in leadership as an intentional creative practice.

 
 

Design, or be Designed

Own your time and how you show up in the workplace.

 

Reasoning with your Inner Critic

Your Inner Critic can be loud and limiting—but it can also be a valuable source of input.

 

A Conversation About Saying No

Set expectations and maintain boundaries to guard your time.

 

Why Designers Need to Business

Business is an essential part of our craft, and designers at all levels need to reckon with it.

 

Is Management the Right Path for You?

The title of manager is within reach—but do you truly want it?