Here's how you can assertively advocate for the importance of design in business decisions.

During a project for a retail client, La’Keisha, the initial business strategy meetings heavily focused on sales targets and marketing tactics. Design seemed like an afterthought. I made it a point to speak up, emphasizing that design isn’t just about aesthetics but also about enhancing user experience and driving engagement.

To bridge the knowledge gap, I organized a short workshop for our team and La’Keisha’s stakeholders. I showcased case studies where good design directly contributed to business success. This helped everyone understand the strategic role of design.

This is an opportunity to bring in relevant case studies. It's important explore the before and after of the new design work. When you add in statistics and real life social proof, design goes beyond aesthetic related decisions.

I prepared a presentation with metrics and visuals, showing how well-designed interfaces led to increased user interaction and sales in previous projects. Demonstrating tangible benefits helped in making a compelling case for prioritizing design.

Want to champion design's role in business decisions? Here's how: 1) Align design goals with business objectives. Make sure your design solutions directly address the company's broader goals. 2) Connect the dots for stakeholders. If the company wants to increase online sales, explain how your design improves user experience and streamlines the purchase process. By demonstrating how your design expertise supports the company's aspirations, you'll effectively highlight design's indispensable value in achieving business success. #designthinking #businessimpact #linkedin #behance #freelance #sparkgemcreatives

Understanding La’Keisha’s business goals, I aligned our design strategies to support those objectives. For instance, if the goal was to increase online sales, our design focused on creating an intuitive, user-friendly e-commerce experience.

I encouraged regular collaboration between our design team and La’Keisha’s business and marketing teams. This fostered a sense of shared purpose and ensured that design considerations were integrated from the outset.

Instead of just pointing out problems, I presented well-thought-out design solutions. For instance, when La’Keisha’s team mentioned their concerns about mobile user drop-off rates, I proposed a responsive design overhaul, detailing how it would enhance the user experience and retain more customers.

Here's how you can assertively advocate for the importance of design in business decisions. Show the Impact: Share case studies and examples where good design led to business success. Highlight metrics like increased user engagement, higher conversion rates, and improved customer satisfaction. Speak Their Language: Use business terms and metrics that decision-makers understand. Explain how design can drive ROI, enhance brand value, and differentiate from competitors. Collaborate Early: Get involved in the decision-making process from the start. Show how design can solve problems and create opportunities right from the planning phase.

Beyond the immediate project, I advocated for a long-term design strategy. I suggested regular user experience reviews and iterative design improvements to keep up with changing user expectations and market trends.