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An advanced-level course for senior and rising design leaders ready to address the most common challenges Design Leaders face. Learn how to build your durable design operating system to withstand scale, restructuring, evolution, and growth. Establish mechanisms and high-leverage activities that maintain quality and effectiveness for your teams and for the business. Course Topics + Content Build and activate high-impact teamsApply effective organizational design, strategic planning, and performance measurement Define and optimize your operating systemEstablish rhythms and rituals, shape a positive design culture, streamline processes and workflows, and build a robust reporting and communication strategy Identify the most effective design team structuresLearn how to choose the right team structures for your organization Activate your team’s strengths through organizational designAnticipate common challenges within and across teams and learn strategies for effectively addressing them Create your organization’s ideal design teamTogether, we’ll design and build your design team and organization 7 Live, Interactive Sessions, with timezone-friendly options for most APAC/EMEA/AMER locales - One Welcome Kickoff Session- Three Live, Interactive Learning Sessions including Q&amp;A sessions with guest experts- Two Office Hours / Q+A sessions with Kristin for personalized guidance- One Reflection/Wrap-up Session

Design Your Organization's Operating System 

Course syllabus

Course schedule

Directors+ of Design and Operations leading teams across a portfolio of products and services.

Senior Leaders and Practitioners who are establishing, evolving, and leading a Design Organization or Operations practice.

Operations leaders who want to sharpen skills, learn new approaches and methods, and accelerate their organizations.

Who is this course for

What you’ll get out of this course

You'll learn how to establish mechanisms, routines, and high-leverage activities that maintain and enhance culture, quality, and community as you grow.

Best practices to build infrastructure that scales

<ul><li>Design and structure a high-performing design organization.</li><li>Effectively prioritize and plan work to maximize impact.</li><li>Utilize visual staffing tools to manage resources efficiently.</li><li>Implement accountability measures to maintain high-quality standards.</li></ul>

Build and activate high-impact teams

<ul><li>Establish effective rhythms and rituals that enhance team productivity and alignment.</li><li>Shape a positive design culture that fosters innovation and collaboration.</li><li>Optimize processes and workflows for greater efficiency.</li><li>Develop and implement robust reporting and communications</li></ul>

Define and optimize your operating system

<ul><li>Learn approaches and tactics that address common organizational and team challenges</li><li>Mitigate these challenges via a fixed vs. flexible framework</li><li>Gain new strategies to keep your team focused and thriving</li></ul>

Identify and anticipate the most common team and organizational challenges 

Guest Experience: Experienced leaders will join to share their stories and give examples of how they navigated similar challenges Instructor Experience: You'll learn directly from Kristin's first-hand experience establishing and leading multiple large-scale global design orgs

Access to first-hand experience and guidance customized to your unique situation

Included are multiple, moderated Q&amp;A sessions with Kristin and other industry leaders so that you can get expert advice on your unique challenges and aspirations.

Q&A Sessions with industry experts

Learn best practices to build a durable design organization operating system.

Kristin Skinner


Cohort 04

Cohort 05

Design Leadership at Scale: Career Strategy is tailored specifically for design leaders looking to define their career path. (6 hours live class, combining lectures, breakout groups, online content, and two in-depth office hours with Rachel and Kristin to discuss your specific challenges and opportunities.) The course is built on practical insights and experiences, offering a hands-on approach to career development. Rachel and Kristin have defined hiring practices for some of the largest global companies and hired thousands of designers; now, they’re bringing the same career coaching and frameworks to this course. Whether you want to advance within your current organization or explore new opportunities, this course will help you define your blueprint for success. // Course Content // 1: ARCHITECT YOUR CAREER • Define Your Leadership Trajectory:&nbsp;Explore diverse pathways in design leadership and carve out a unique trajectory that positions you as a standout leader. • Hone Your Leadership Edge:&nbsp;Understand the essentials that set you apart as a design leader, with a focus on practical application and self-assessment. • Leverage Your Unique Strengths:&nbsp;Conduct a deep dive into your capabilities and align them with industry benchmarks to create a personalized growth plan that propels your career forward. • Craft a Strategic Career Plan:&nbsp;Develop a forward-looking, actionable career strategy that aligns your skills with your professional aspirations, ensuring you’re always moving towards your ultimate goals. 2: ADVANCE YOUR IMPACT • Elevate Your Expertise:&nbsp;Pinpoint critical areas for growth and take decisive steps to elevate your expertise, ensuring you stay ahead at every stage of your career. • Define Success on Your Terms:&nbsp;Set and achieve clear, measurable goals that align with your personal vision of success, driving your progress and holding yourself accountable. • Map Your Career Strategy:&nbsp;Create a comprehensive, action-oriented career roadmap, drawing on expert strategies for long-term success. • Become an Industry Standout:&nbsp;Learn advanced strategies for distinguishing yourself in a competitive market and gain the insider knowledge needed to make your mark. • Make Informed Career Moves:&nbsp;Equip yourself with the knowledge to select the right roles and opportunities that align with your long-term vision, ensuring each move advances your career strategy. BONUS: • Evaluating Opportunities:&nbsp;Learn the art of assessing companies and roles through the lens of experienced design executives. • 2 In-depth Office Hours / Q+A Sessions:&nbsp;Dedicated sessions with Rachel and Kristin to discuss your specific challenges and opportunities, receiving tailored guidance to propel your career forward. Accelerate your career and refine your path. This immersive is an investment in defining and achieving your design leadership career goals.

Shape a design career that provides you growth, development, and success.


Ambitious Senior Managers, Directors, and VP-level design leaders&nbsp;in both startups and large technology product companies.

It's ideal for those planning on staying and growing at your current company for the next 3+ years or are thinking of changing companies.

This course is&nbsp;not&nbsp;for aspiring design managers and early-career design managers. It does not focus on the detailed steps of skill-building.

Gain insights on what hiring managers look for in candidate profiles. Understand factors that make a portfolio stand out, tactics that increase your chances of being hired, recognized, and promoted, + selecting the role and organization that aligns with your career objectives.

Get the career outcomes you want


Immerse yourself in the intricate landscape of the design industry. Gain clarity on various career paths and development tactics, setting the stage for&nbsp;better&nbsp;informed career decisions. Conduct an analysis of the design sector to spot the right opportunities.&nbsp;

Gain deeper design industry understanding 


Formulate a definitive, actionable career plan, anchored in your unique strengths and goals. Establish a personal framework that propels your professional growth and development.

Develop your career blueprint


Equip yourself with strategies to navigate the uncertainties of the job market. Learn the key to distinguishing yourself in a competitive market.&nbsp;

Navigate the current environment


Forge valuable connections with fellow professionals and seasoned industry experts in a dynamic, collaborative setting. Become part of the Defining Experience community to keep the momentum and conversation going.

Grow your professional network


Take advantage of two dedicated Q+A sessions with Rachel and Kristin for tailored advice and insights.

Exclusive Office Hours


Leave with a collection of essential frameworks and actionable tools designed for making informed decisions, effective career planning, and planning your next steps with confidence.

Toolkit for Success


Frameworks, tactics, and approaches we’ve shared in career conversations for years, so you can build a great design leadership career.


kristin skinner