406: Who Leads UI Design?

406: Who Leads UI Design?

Author: Brian Lovin, Marshall Bock July 28, 2021 Duration: 24:55

This week, we dig into questions like: who should design a team’s visual style guide? And: who should break a tie in subjective aesthetic arguments? In The Sidebar, we share our tips and strategies for succeeding as a new designer in a large organization.


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The Sidebar:

The Sidebar is an exclusive weekly segment for our Patreon supporters. You can subscribe starting at $1 per month for access to bonus content going forward! Sign up at patreon.com/designdetails.


Main Topic:

This week, we talk about who actually leads UI design within an organization, teasing apart questions like: who should design a team’s visual style guide? Who should break a tie in subjective aesthetic arguments? And more!

itaydre asks on GitHub:

It's been challenging to develop a new design system without an existing visual style guide, so I'm trying to explore more about the work behind designing UI when you're not a sole designer.

I've got a feeling that designing UI is quite hard to do collaboratively, as taste is very much subjective to each and every individual.

  • What's your experience when it comes to developing a new style guide?
  • Does a single designer lead the process (in terms of the visual direction)?

Cool Things:

  • Brian shared Mare of Easttown and Ted Lasso Season 2, two good shows on the opposite end of the “this will make me feel a certain way” gradient.
  • Marshall shared Crime Scene Kitchen, a cooking elimination show perfectly designed to scratch every itch in Marshall’s television brain.

Design Details on the Web:


Byeee!


Every week, Brian Lovin and Marshall Bock settle in for a thoughtful, often meandering chat that pulls back the curtain on how things are made. Their Design Details podcast lives in the rich space where technology and the arts intersect, focusing less on polished case studies and more on the real, sometimes messy, work of design. You’ll hear them dissect the nuances of product decisions, debate the evolving culture of creative teams, and share personal stories from their own experiences in the industry. It feels less like a lecture and more like eavesdropping on a conversation between two deeply knowledgeable friends. The discussions regularly venture into the philosophical side of craft, examining why certain choices resonate and how design shapes our daily interactions with the world. For anyone curious about the thinking behind the pixels and interfaces, this show offers a consistent, grounded perspective. Tuning in provides a sense of community and a candid look at the process, making it a staple for designers and creators who appreciate substance over flash.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Design Details
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