Class is in session
UX & Design Leadership Demystified
2 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Learn the strategies, practices, and mindsets of successful design leaders.
Class is in session
UX & Design Leadership Demystified
2 Weeks
·Cohort-based Course
Learn the strategies, practices, and mindsets of successful design leaders.
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. While the course 'officially' starts May 26, you can access the material starting May 22.
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.
Class size is limited to 25 participants.
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.
What’s included
Live sessions
Learn directly from Peter Merholz in a real-time, interactive format.
Lifetime access
Go back to course content and recordings whenever you need to.
Community of peers
Stay accountable and share insights with like-minded professionals.
Certificate of completion
Share your new skills with your employer or on LinkedIn.
Maven Guarantee
This course is backed by the Maven Guarantee. Students are eligible for a full refund up until the halfway point of the course.
UX & Design Leadership Demystified
Course syllabus
3 live sessions • 13 lessons • 7 projects
Week 1
May
27
Optional: Intro Session with Peter Merholz
Understand Context
Develop an Agenda and Make a Plan
Mediate The Membrane
Establish Quality Standards
May
29
Group Discussion — End of First Half
Week 2
Cultivate Trusting Relationships
Evolve in Your Career
Maintain Resilience
Jun
5
Group Discussion — End of Masterclass
Lightning Lesson / Master The Hidden Demands of Design Leadership
In this 15 minute presentation (followed by Q&A), Peter shares why the 'unlock' for design leadership is to approach it as a function; how design leaders need to "mediate the membrane" between their team and the rest of the organization, and the power of The Trust Equation to establish better relationships.
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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.
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UX & Design Leadership Demystified
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.
Learning is better with cohorts
Learn with a cohort of peers
Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you
Active hands-on learning
This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects
Interactive and project-based
You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams
Frequently Asked Questions
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