428: Teaching vs Micromanaging

428: Teaching vs Micromanaging

Author: Brian Lovin, Marshall Bock February 10, 2022 Duration: 26:02

This week, we talk about teaching versus micromanaging, or how to give feedback as a manager in a productive and growth-oriented way. In the Sidebar, Marshall shares his tips and tricks for organizing icon systems in Figma.

Golden Ratio Supporters:

Zeplin lets designers spend more time on design, and less time prepping design files for the team. Effortlessly build user journeys with native connectors, flow groups, and text labels — no more maintaining extra layers in your design tool. Zeplin is so much more than just specs — get started for free to see why.

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.

Latest VIP Patrons:

  • John Casey
  • Francis Wu
  • mayra pulido
  • usrnk1
  • Michael Olson
  • D
  • Stacey Peterson
  • Justin Haldane
  • Dian Chen
  • Declan Reilly-Gordon
  • Alex Blanco
  • Phoebe Hogeland
  • TL
  • Justin Buckamunth
  • Sudhanshu Gautam
  • Martin Banuelos
  • Adam Stanford
  • Tara Kirkland

Main Topic:

This week, we talk about teaching versus micromanaging, or how to give feedback as a manager in a productive and growth-oriented way.

Anonymous asks:

I’ve been promoted to a lead, and I’m managing a few entry-level designers working on small features. When discussing UX flows and sketches, they seem fine. But I randomly popped into their Figma files and noticed that their files are not as organized, and their UI work has some issues with padding, margins, decimal values, etc.

I feel like this is something easily trainable, since it’s UI related. I could jump on a call with them to educate them and show some examples of how to do things. But I have a tiny doubt about if I’m micromanaging, since this role is new to me.

Am I micromanaging if I jump into their files and do padding checks? If yes, how do I do this right? If not, what’s the difference between managing and micro managing?

Cool Things:

  • Brian shared Slopes, a fantastic app for skiers and snowboarders to track their runs and compete with friends. It’s a lot of fun, and has some really interesting design patterns to learn from.
  • Marshall shared the Ember mug, a game-changing quality of life improvement that keeps your hot drink at the perfect temperature. A bit expensive, but worth it.

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
Podcast Episodes
413: Design Mentorship [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:27
This week, we talk about design mentorship: what does an effective mentor do, how to find a mentor, how to avoid giving bad career advice, and more. In The Sidebar, we talk about obsessing over the pixels, wasting time o…
412: Side Project Perfectionism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:19
This week, we talk about how we combat perfectionism in our side projects, the value of shipping, and why sharing a project too early can backfire. In the Sidebar, we recap Apple’s September event with our hot takes and…
411: Follow-upisode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:31
This week, we follow up on last week’s conversation about designing at agencies, hiring contractors, Yelp’s app icons, and Bock’s Constant. In the Sidebar, we talk about designing with your mind’s eye and how learning to…
410: Agency vs In-House Design [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:46
This week, we compare agency vs. in-house design work, dissect the tradeoffs, and share interview tips for anyone moving from an agency to a product company. In The Sidebar, we share our favorite Keynote tips and tricks…
409: Twitter’s Follow Button [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:33
This week, we talk about Twitter’s new follow buttons. Are they a mistake? Or a fix for something broken that we’d all become used to? Our opinions on buttons emerge! In The Sidebar, we talk about what to do with time of…
408: News Desk, Vol. 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:34
This week, we talk about Yelp’s new logo and app icons, Apple’s new child safety initiatives, and the miniature masterpieces of the Olympic pictograms. In the Sidebar, we curate practical negotiation tips, strategies, an…
407: Pixel 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:46
This week, we talk about the new Pixel 6 announcement, how it stacks up against the competition, and what we’re most excited about. In The Sidebar, we share our design regrets: things we shipped that ended up being mista…
406: Who Leads UI Design? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 ne…
405: News Desk, Vol. 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:43
This week, we talk about the new Microsoft emoji, a cool Android 12 feature, the joy of watching Apple iterate in public, and the new “King of Buttons” aka the Steam Deck. In The Sidebar, we talk about the challenge of h…
404: Visual Design and Craft ft. Justin Stahl [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:38
This week, we talk with Justin Stahl about visual design and craft, the impact of design systems and tools on the visual landscape, tactical tips for a stronger design interview, and much more. In The Sidebar, we ask Jus…