Member-only story
How to Become a Design Leader in 7 Not-So-Easy Steps
Crafting a path to level up your skills and relationships
Based on my time transitioning from a designer to a design leader, I’ve reflected on a few not-so-obvious steps I took in this journey. I’d like to highlight some things that might be hidden in plain sight, while also dispelling a few myths that still plague designers looking for opportunities to become design leaders.
1. Don’t stop designing until you absolutely can’t handle your workload
This first step is really just meant to help you level-set. There is no rush into leadership. I’ve felt like I had “leadership qualities” (whatever that means) for most of my life. But I’ve only been in a purely leadership position since my mid-30s. The point is that even though I felt I had that potential, I realized early on that I needed a lot of experience in the trenches before ever thinking about becoming a paid leader.
When I started my career out of grad school, I was anxious for any leadership responsibility. I got them in small ways as a designer. Then, when I got my first direct reports in my seventh year, I realized how far off I was from being a leader. Design leadership requires some pretty high-level skills, like helping others do their…
