Design By Design

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Knowing what makes you tick by discovering and exploring your values is where we begin in this course. By knowing and understanding your values you can lead more authentically, find the best environments in alignment, and uncover better ways to communicate with others. Use this no-cost workbook to define your values and assess your current alignment.

Leading in Alignment to Your Values

Lead in Alignment to Your Values

Get to know your Coach &amp; Facilitator through a no-cost mini course delivered to your email inbox. You will learn to:<ul><li>Enhance Connection and Trust: Learn how to turn annual reviews into opportunities for building deeper connections with your team.</li><li>Streamline Your Process: Discover strategies to make review writing more efficient, leaving you more time to focus on what truly matters.</li><li>Foster Positive Growth: Equip yourself with the tools to provide feedback that inspires and motivates, rather than instills fear.</li></ul>

Email Mini-Course on Humane & Effective Reviews

Not sure if this course is for you yet? No problem! I'd love to get to know you, by focusing on a current struggle you are wrestling with as your Coach. No pressure connection with Alison one-on-one to say "hello" and seek some coaching, perspective or advice

Coaching Chat with Alison

FREE: Email Mini-Course, Humane & Effective Reviews

Aspiring or new-ish Manager? Step into UX Mgmt with the vetted knowledge, skills and frameworks from an expert Design Leader. 

Alison Gretz

Head of Design, Leadership Coach & Trainer

Design Manager Foundations

Senior Product Designer

Manager, Product Design

Product Design Manager

Rise in your Design Career: Build your confidence & skills, then create your path from craft leader to business leader.

Design Leader Accelerator

Anthropologist - UX Research Manager

Director

Senior UX Designer 

Design Strategist

Design Lead

Lead UX Designer

Senior Growth Designer

Product, UX &amp; Content Design folks seeking to grow and enhance their leadership practice, welcome home! This course, community and live coaching sessions are your guide to stepping into the Leader you aspire to be. Leading teams is a "what got you here" (craft, leading the work) "won't get you there" (leading through others, business results, visionary leadership) moment for many – especially as you scale. It's my mission to demystify what is needed to be seen as a business leader and be known for excellence in craft AND in leadership. From imposter syndrome → confidenceFrom overwhelmed → organized focusFrom tactical work → strategic influenceFrom feeling stuck → career plan Shift from feeling isolated and overwhelmed, to feeling confident and centered in this supportive environment led by sought after coach Alison Gretz. The course lasts 8 weeks, with one self-paced module and a live cohort call weekly. We'll will dig into the 4 common sticking points that hold Design Leaders back as they step up to management and then evolve to Director+. It's by building key muscles and overcoming these sticking points, while also grounding in your own authentic leadership style that will further you as a leader.

Unblock your Growth in Design Leadership

Course syllabus

You can go at your own pace and jump into topics that are most relevant to your growth ahead of the cohort.

Self-paced videos & workbook

Each week, Alison will host a live cohort coaching call where we'll dig into REAL WORLD scenarios and transformation.

Weekly Group Coaching

Alison will host an intimate community where we can tackle more Q&amp;A, weekly AMA topics, and peer mentorship.

Community Q&A

Flexible Course schedule

I'm ready to scale up to Director, but I'm feeling stuck and blocked from receiving the opportunities to promote up. How do I grow?

I'm a Director of Content Design, but I'm feeling out of my depth and need to up-level my soft skills expertise.

I want to lead in Design with authenticity and impact – is this possible while still being a respected boss?

I'm struggling with imposter syndrome, and my tough stakeholder relationships are causing burnout.

Does this sound familiar?

Walk away with the soft skills needed to grow in Design Leadership

Direct and frequent access to accredited coach + executive Design Leader Alison Gretz alongside a supportive peer group.

Coaching and advice on your leadership journey

Learn about common pitfalls to avoid, in a space where you can ask questions and identify key blockers or bumps that are in your way.

Ability to overcome the top 4 pitfalls of design leadership

Define and explore how you will show up as a human-centered leader.

Leading in alignment to your values

Each week, Alison will share a value-packed workbook and video/audio recording. Since you get life-time access, many students utilize our frameworks for months and years!

Expand your Toolkit with Workbooks, Frameworks & Tools

You'll leave the course with a clear path forward, broken down into actionable steps.

Design Your Next roadmapping and goals

Whether you are considering seeking your first Manager role, or are embarking on your first management role it's like stepping into a new world—one filled with opportunities, challenges, and the chance to make a real impact. But without a map, it's easy to feel lost. Designed specifically for first-time or aspiring managers, this course is your guide, and I can become your coach. In just two weeks and four one-hour sessions, we'll navigate together from the basics of transitioning into your new role to mastering the art of communication, leading high-performing teams, and creating systems that work uniquely for you. Each module is crafted to transform your approach to leadership, empowering you to lead with confidence, inspire your team, and drive innovative projects to success. You're not just learning to manage; you're learning to lead with vision, empathy, and effectiveness – which is great if you decide official Managing is not for you too. By the end of this course, you'll not only have the tools and insights to excel in your current role but also have assessed your readiness for Management, and a plan for your next steps. This isn't just about becoming a manager—it's about becoming the kind of leader who shapes the future of Design.

Join the missing training for aspiring & new Design Managers

Our live sessions will focus on a single topic, collaboration with peers, and open Q&amp;A with Alison.

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Each Topic will be covered LIVE, and you have the freedom to go deep in your Course Workbook.

Beautifully Crafted Workbook

There will be two keystone projects that are immediately applicable to up-skilling as a manager, and carving a future path of more ease and expertise.

2 Projects Your Future-Self will Thank You for

Course schedule

New Managers in Design and Creative fields – UX, Content, User Research, UI, Design Systems, Creative.

Aspiring Managers seeking to step up into an official role within 12-18 months.

Managers in role, experiencing a sense of "is this right for me?" seeking a place to safely assess and plan next steps.

Who is this course for

What you’ll get out of this course

Find your new identity as you step up to a new context, even when leading former peers, or navigating complex change.

Assess Your Management Profile
 

Learn to delegate effectively, confidently balancing deep critique and empowering your team, while cultivating trust in their capabilities.

Inspire & Lead Through Others, vs Doing it Yourself

Discover how to design personalized systems and routines that elevate your management style, reduce stress, and enhance team productivity.

Wrangle the Calendar Overwhelm

Learn alongside and workshop with others in your shoes, who can become go-to peer support or mentors.

Meet a new Network of Peers who Get it

Manager Skill Session: Strategic 1x1s

Alison Gretz, ACC

2x VP, ex-Target, ex-Shutterfly. Credentialed Coach

Identify the multiple layers of company, department and team goals and assess where you can have impact.

How to Interpret Organizational Objectives

Know the real motivators for your individuals and help them focus on impactful work that inspires them.

Ways to Translate & Connect for Individuals

Take a strategic approach to team rituals and checkins that create inclusive AND effective environments.

Learn directly from Design By Design

Design By Design

Courses

Design Leader Accelerator

Design Manager Foundations

Lightning Lessons

Manager Skill Session: Strategic 1x1s

Managing for Design Impact: Strategic 1x1s

Managing for Design Impact: Strategic 1x1s

Managing for Impact: Strategic 1x1s

Managing for Design Impact: Strategic 1x1s

Resources

Leading in Alignment to Your Values

Leading in Alignment to Your Values

Lead in Alignment to Your Values

Email Mini-Course on Humane & Effective Reviews