Are you a Senior Product Designer considering your next career move? Here are some insights and strategies from my time as a product design lead to help you.

A significant difference when transitioning from a Senior Product Designer to a Product Design Lead is the considerable increase in meetings. Previously, you might have had 4-5 weekly meetings; now, that’s the daily count. These meetings are about design discussions, project management, team coordination, and stakeholder updates. This shift can be overwhelming initially, but with time and practice, you’ll learn to manage them effectively. 

The increase in meetings necessitates effective time management, a skill that empowers you to balance hands-on design tasks with leadership responsibilities. I’ve discovered that my most productive time is between 8:30 and 9:30 before the meetings commence. This hour sets the tone for my day, allowing me to provide clear briefs and prioritize tasks with the support of my Product Manager and team. Mastering this skill will give you a sense of control and empowerment in your new role.

Managing Expectations

As a leader, you play a pivotal role in setting standards for quality. Mastering tools like Figma and its components is one approach, but fostering a mindset of quality design is equally important. I actively champion design principles within the team and the organization, helping to establish a shared vocabulary for evaluating designs among designers and non-designers. This influence allows you to shape the design culture of your team and organization.

While not every task will be thrilling, part of your job is to communicate the vision and importance of each task to your team. I often refer to projects with high aesthetic value or innovative solutions as “portfolio work.” These projects are worth highlighting. They are not just about producing great work; they’re opportunities to promote passion, joy, and accomplishment, serving as growth projects for the team.

Managing Others

Successful leadership involves delegation, which may initially feel like shirking responsibilities. However, leadership is a crucial aspect that fosters personal and professional growth. Your role is identifying the right designer for each task, nurturing their potential, and contributing to the team’s overall success. 

Transitioning to a management role also means your interactions with colleagues will change; your words have a higher impact, and your actions set the standard. This shift can sometimes lead to feeling isolated from the team you once were a part of. However, nurturing a positive culture from the sidelines and maintaining relationships with peers in similar roles can be enriching. These connections provide valuable third-party perspectives when needed. I have a circle of ex-colleagues and friends I regularly meet with for a coffee or a walk. Here, I get feedback from the outside and bring new perspectives to my organization. This sense of connection and support is crucial in your leadership journey. 

You will spend much time coaching and supporting your team as a leader. One-on-one meetings are the cornerstone of effective leadership for creative people, providing a structured yet personal way to connect regularly and have a two-way dialogue where feedback and personal development are central themes. These meetings are about discussing work tasks and understanding your team members’ career aspirations, providing guidance and support, and addressing any concerns or issues they might have.

If this aspect of leadership doesn’t resonate with you, then stepping into a product design lead role may not be the best fit. 

For those considering a shift to management, remember that it involves much more than just a title change—it’s about fostering growth, setting standards, and leading by example.