UX & Design Leadership Demystified
3 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Learn the strategies, practices, and mindsets of successful design leaders.
This course is popular
10 people enrolled last week.
UX & Design Leadership Demystified
3 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Learn the strategies, practices, and mindsets of successful design leaders.
This course is popular
10 people enrolled last week.
As taught at...
Course overview
Learn the Real Work of UX/Design Leadership—In a Time-Effective Fashion
UX/Design leadership is far more than just managing creative teams; it's about effectively managing change.
Drawing from extensive personal experience, operating within a range of companies, as well as deep interviews with dozens of design leaders, Peter shares actionable steps to help you succeed in your leadership journey.
Learn the strategies, skills, and mindset required to lead with impact, drive change, and maintain your sanity.
This course is structured to fit within your busy work life. All the lessons have been pre-recorded, around 3 hours of video, to be viewed when it's most convenient for you, including over the weekend, which is why this two-week course appears to be three weeks in the syllabus—it goes from Thursday to Thursday.
This allows us to get the most out of our time together, with deep discussions on the various topics.
Also, the projects are meant to be light-weight, with enough activity to understand how to use the templates, and can be completed to whatever degree you choose. You're all grown-ups, and don't need me to hold you accountable.
Who is this course for
01
Anyone in UX (design, research, content) leadership who seeks a richer understanding of their role
02
The "sweet spot": Sr. Managers, Directors, and Sr. Directors. (Though VPs will learn something, too!)
03
Super-Senior ICs (Lead, Staff, Principal, and Architect) will better understand how to wield their influence
What you’ll get out of this course
Develop the change management skills needed to encourage companies to embrace UX and Design
The most successful design leaders operate as change agents. Learn the steps they take to make a difference.
Learn how to articulate your vision, and your plan to get there
Too often, design leaders are in a reactive mode, just trying to keep their heads above water. Learn the importance of articulating your agenda, and specifying a plan for achieving it.
Establish standards of quality, and connect the work of your team to business value
It is insufficient to define good design as "I know it when I see it." Peter will step you through a detailed framework you can use to make clear decisions about quality.
Cultivate trusting relationships with your team, your cross-functional peers, and executives and other stakeholders
This course will help you develop your relational power—how you wield influence when you don't have direct authority.
Understand what changes in your role as you advance in your career
As they are promoted, design leaders often have trouble operating at the appropriate 'altitude.' Learn how your relationships and focus evolve with every step in your career progression.
This course includes
3 interactive live sessions
Lifetime access to course materials
14 in-depth lessons
Direct access to instructor
6 projects to apply learnings
Guided feedback & reflection
Private community of peers
Course certificate upon completion
Maven Satisfaction Guarantee
This course is backed by Maven’s guarantee. You can receive a full refund within 14 days after the course ends, provided you meet the completion criteria in our refund policy.
UX & Design Leadership Demystified
Course syllabus
Week 1
May
23
OPTIONAL: Intro Session with Peter Merholz
Masterclass Overview
Understand Context
Develop an Agenda and Make a Plan
Mediate The Membrane
Establish Quality Standards
Week 2
May
29
Group Discussion — End of First Half
Cultivate Trusting Relationships
Evolve in Your Career
Maintain Resilience
Week 3
Jun
5
Group Discussion — End of Masterclass
Meet your instructor
Peter Merholz
Peter Merholz has worked at the intersection of design, technology, and humans for over 25 years. Currently, he’s an independent consultant focused on improving the effectiveness of design organizations. His clients include JP Morgan Chase, Contentsquare, The New York Times, Roblox, and Target.
He co-founded Adaptive Path, the premier user experience consultancy, acquired by Capital One in 2014. He co-wrote Org Design for Design Orgs, still the premier book on building in-house design teams, and co-hosts "Finding Our Way," a podcast exploring design leadership.
Join an upcoming cohort
UX & Design Leadership Demystified
May-June 2025
$449
Dates
Payment Deadline
Course schedule
3-4 hours per week
2 Weeks total
Thursday to Thursday
You take lessons (video, projects, and additional reading) on your own time. We start on a Thursday so you can use the weekend (if you so choose).
Prerecorded Video
3 hours total across two weeks
All presentations have been pre-recorded to be viewed when is most convenient for you.
Interactive Projects
2-3 hours total
At key areas, Peter provides templates to support project-based learning. Projects are meant to be lightweight—enough to get a sense of how to use the tool.
Live Sessions on May 29 and June 5
8am PST, 11am EST, 4pm GMT
Two 90-minute live sessions (which will probably go long) to go deeper into the course material, with Peter and other cohort members.
Respectful of your time
Designed to accommodate busy schedules
Most of the course work is asynchronous, so you can do it on your time, not mine. Our time together is focused on that which is best done in that forum: deep discussions where we capitalize on our collective wisdom and experrience.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Join an upcoming cohort
UX & Design Leadership Demystified
May-June 2025
$449
Dates
Payment Deadline