When people ask me what it’s like to lead a design team, I often say: it’s less about pixels, and more about people.

Don’t get me wrong—I care deeply about the craft. I still jump into Figma, obsess over interaction details, and debate typography. But leading a team means shifting from being the one who does the design to the one who enables great design to happen.

It Starts With Trust

You can’t lead a team you don’t trust—or one that doesn’t trust you. That means hiring thoughtfully, giving people ownership early, and creating space where it’s safe to ask questions, give feedback, and even disagree.

I’ve learned that good leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating an environment where the team feels confident finding the answers together.

Process Should Support People, Not the Other Way Around

It’s tempting to throw in a bunch of tools and rituals—standups, critiques, OKRs—but structure only works if it serves the team. I try to keep processes light, flexible, and focused on helping designers stay aligned, grow, and do their best work.

Some of the most valuable leadership conversations I’ve had weren’t about screens—they were about confidence, career growth, or how to advocate for design in a tough room.

Championing Design Beyond the Design Team

A big part of leading a design team is making sure the rest of the org understands and values design. That means being a translator between design and business, and sometimes being the one who speaks up in a meeting no one else wants to.

When you lead well, your team doesn’t just produce great work—they start influencing how decisions get made.

Leadership Is Ongoing Design Work

Leading a design team is still design work. You’re designing culture, communication, direction. You’re shaping the conditions for creativity, clarity, and collaboration.

It’s messier than a design system and more unpredictable than any user flow. But when it works, it’s the most rewarding kind of design there is.

To Recap

At the end of the day, leading a design team isn’t just about keeping the process running smoothly—it’s about showing up for your people. When you focus on building real connections, supporting growth, and creating a space where everyone feels heard, the magic happens. Great design comes from great teams—and great teams are built on trust, not templates.