Adobe Design Talks: What is good design management?

A conversation about the challenges and rewards of leading creative teams

Two men in conversation are seated on a stage, in modern armchairs, against a backdrop of black curtains. The man on the left is wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans and the man on the right a light-colored sweater and black jeans. Between them is a small table holding a pitcher and two glasses of water. The backs of the heads of the audience are visible in the foreground.

Photography by Thor Radford

At Adobe Design Talks in Seattle, Washington, Ken Ouellette (Director of Design, 3D & Immersive, at Adobe) and Riccardo Giraldi (UX Director, Gemini, at Google) considered the question: What is good design management?

Their conversation focused on their shared work history and management journeys, the satisfaction they feel helping people succeed, and the importance of approaching management with humility, empathy, and candor. They see successful management as more art than recipe, and shared recommendations that can help other managers build design teams that are confident, capable, and creative. (Ken recently shared his approach to design management in a story on Adobe.design.)

Insights from the conversation

What managers can do to help their direct reports be successful
How to balance supervision and autonomy
Things to consider before taking a role in management
The importance of continuous learning and honest self-reflection
How remote work affects the manager/direct report relationship

About Adobe Design Talks

Adobe Design Talks is a series of learning and networking events for creative professionals that foster connections, community, and conversations on the role and practice of design in technology.

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