In my role as a Senior Designer at Colgate-Palmolive, I identified several challenges within the design process that were hindering efficiency, collaboration, and overall design quality. The design team was struggling with disjointed workflows, communication gaps, and a lack of standardised tools and guidelines, resulting in missed deadlines and inconsistent design outputs.
Process
- 1. Research and Analysis
- Conducted thorough interviews with team members to understand pain points, bottlenecks, and individual perspectives on the existing design process.
- Analysed project timelines, communication channels, and design tools used to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.
- 2. Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Organised regular cross-functional meetings involving designers, developers, and project managers to foster better communication and alignment.
- Introduced tools like an internal job tracker via Google Sheets and a collaborative internal design email inbox to streamline communication and project tracking.
- 3. Workflow Streamlining
- Introduced a standardised design workflow that included clear stages from ideation to final delivery, ensuring that each step had defined goals, responsibilities, and timelines.
- Implemented design sprints for complex projects, allowing for focused collaboration and rapid iteration.
- 4. Training and Skill Development
- Identified skill gaps within the team and organised regular training sessions and workshops to enhance design software proficiency, design thinking, and collaboration skills.
- Encouraged designers to attend design conferences, webinars, and workshops to stay updated with industry trends and best practices.
- 5. Feedback and Iteration
- Implemented a feedback loop within the design process, encouraging regular critiques and design reviews to improve the quality of work and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
- Actively sought feedback from stakeholders to ensure designs aligned with project goals and user expectations.
- 6. Measurement and Analytics
- Utilised the internal job tracker to track project timelines, task completion rates, and team efficiency.
- Measured design output consistency by evaluating the adherence to design system guidelines and the reduction in design revisions over time.
Outcome
Through the implementation of the above strategies, the design team at Colgate-Palmolive experienced significant improvements in their design process:
- Reduced project delivery times by 20% through streamlined workflows and improved communication.
- Achieved a 30% decrease in design revisions by adhering to the design system and fostering a culture of feedback and collaboration.
- Enhanced cross-functional collaboration and alignment, leading to a more seamless integration of design with development and project management.
- Produced consistent and high-quality design outputs, contributing to an improved brand perception and user experience.
- Empowered team members through skill development and training, resulting in increased confidence and creativity among designers.
Overall, my efforts in optimising the design process within the design team at Colgate-Palmolive not only improved efficiency and collaboration but also elevated the quality of design deliverables, positively impacting the company's bottom line and reputation.