13. Working with Designers

Working with Designers

Things to Remember

Product Managers and Designers both care a lot about the user. There is a lot of overlap between the two roles when it comes to understanding and advocating for the user. Both roles are involved with researching user needs and defining use cases. Product managers are responsible for the overall success (or failure) of a product and need to take input and communicate across a number of stakeholders. Designers go much more in depth with how the user should interact with and experience the product from a visual and interaction design perspective.

Tips when working with designers

• You are not a designer. Acknowledge that designers have expertise when talking about UI and flows
• When critiquing a design it’s often more effective to ask about the intention of a choice

Design is a critical partner for Product Managers. It’s important to cultivate strong relationships and understand and acknowledge the perspective of your Designer(s). Your style of communication goes a long way. When critiquing a design, keep in mind that it’s often more effective to ask about the intention of a choice rather than saying you don’t like something.

For example, asking "What was the reasoning behind placing the button in the right corner?" can then develop into further conversation where you can share that you are worried that users might be confused and not able to find the button due to its placement. This is a much more effective way to work with Designers than saying "I don’t like where the button is placed." or "The button is placed in a confusing location."