100 Design Manager Job Posts Have One Thing in Common

And Here’s How You Prepare for It?

By Jue Feng I 2024

Through a hundred job descriptions for design managers, you may have noticed one requirement standing out across the board. Whether it’s a tech startup, a retail giant, or a global consultancy, there’s a universal demand:

The ability to lead with empathy and strategy.

Here’s a look at what makes this skill so essential, and practical steps to ensure you’re ready to step into a design management role with confidence.

What’s the Key Requirement? Empathetic, Strategic Leadership The art of balancing empathy with strategy is at the heart of every successful design manager’s toolkit. It’s no longer enough to be a skilled designer; as a manager, you’re expected to think big, make smart trade-offs, and understand both user and business needs.

This entails:

Empathy for Users and Team Members: Being able to step into others’ shoes to create solutions that genuinely solve user pain points and to foster a supportive, collaborative environment for your team.
Strategic Vision: Guiding the design direction with a clear, long-term view that aligns with business goals and market needs.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working with diverse stakeholders, from developers to product managers, to achieve a shared vision.

Why do companies care so much about this? Simply put, a design manager with these qualities can drive both user satisfaction and business success, turning design from a nice-to-have to a must-have asset.

Breaking Down the Skill Set: What You Need to Cultivate

1. Empathy-Driven Leadership

Active Listening: Practice active listening with your team, understanding their challenges and goals. By fostering open communication, you can create an environment where designers feel supported and valued.
User-Centric Decision-Making: Incorporate user feedback at every stage of the design process, even when business goals push you in another direction. Balancing these needs takes finesse and an ongoing commitment to prioritizing user experience.

2. Strategic Vision

Align Design with Business Objectives: Get comfortable working with KPIs and metrics that measure success. Understanding how design decisions impact business outcomes helps you build a case for the design direction you advocate.
Stay Ahead of Trends: The best design managers keep up with industry trends, emerging tools, and evolving user expectations. This foresight positions you to make proactive, informed decisions.

3. Effective Cross-Functional Collaboration

Bridge Gaps Between Teams: Design managers often act as liaisons between design, product, and engineering. This role requires understanding the language and priorities of each department.
Facilitate Productive Meetings: Meetings can either be an invaluable tool or a time drain. Developing a knack for facilitating focused, action-oriented meetings can make a huge difference in team alignment.

How to Prepare for the Role: Actionable Steps

Here are some steps to help you build these skills:

1. Cultivate Empathy through Real-World Experience

Mentorship and Shadowing: Find opportunities to mentor junior designers or shadow current design managers. Observing how leaders balance user needs with business goals provides practical insight.
Practice Empathy in Critiques: When giving feedback, focus on understanding the designer’s intent and guiding rather than directing. This practice will make you a more effective manager when it comes to supporting a diverse team.

2. Develop Strategic Skills

Take Business and Analytics Courses: Platforms like LinkedIn Learning and Coursera offer courses on business strategy and analytics. Familiarize yourself with basic metrics and KPIs that measure the impact of design on business goals.
Map Out a Design Strategy Case Study: Pick a product or project you’ve worked on and outline a design strategy for it. Practice presenting your strategy, focusing on how it aligns with the business vision and metrics.

3. Hone Cross-Functional Collaboration Abilities

Work Closely with Non-Design Teams: The more you work with teams like engineering and product, the better you’ll understand how to communicate and advocate for design effectively.
Facilitate Mini-Workshops: Organize mini-workshops with other departments to align on goals or brainstorm ideas. It’s a great way to build rapport and show your willingness to bridge cross-functional divides.

Final Thoughts: Bringing It All Together

Landing a design manager role is a journey, and it’s one that requires both a design mindset and a leadership mindset. By focusing on empathetic, strategic leadership, you’re preparing not only to manage design projects but to elevate them in ways that resonate across teams and drive true business value.

If you’re ready to dive into the world of design management, start with these skills and build from there. Remember, the best managers are lifelong learners, continuously evolving to meet the demands of both users and businesses alike.

Photo by Vlad Hilitanu on Unsplas

How are you thinking of the design leadership? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!