Revolutionizing DesignOps: Accelerating Workflow in Design Teams

Today, market conditions have elevated the role of designers to a more strategic level within organizations. This shift has led to the rapid growth of design teams, often including professionals spread across different regions or even countries. Mexico is no exception to this trend.

As design teams expand, process complexity increases, creating the need for new roles and responsibilities that often go beyond the original scope for which teams were initially hired.

In fact, according to The State of Work 2020 report, employees spend only 40% of their work time on key tasks within their roles. Unnecessary meetings, email overload, poor prioritization, and a lack of standardized processes are among the main issues hindering efficiency in organizations.

To address these challenges, companies in Mexico are adopting tools and strategies that improve operational efficiency and facilitate team collaboration. This is where DesignOps plays a crucial role.

What is DesignOps?

DesignOps, short for Design Operations, is the practice of eliminating inefficiencies in design workflows through the implementation of tools and methodologies that increase the impact and value generated by design teams.

The term was introduced by Dave Malouf, who based his approach on Agile and Lean Startup methodologies. Malouf developed a framework designed to manage design operations in large teams, with a strong emphasis on strategic planning and continuous improvement.

This approach aligns design activities, resource allocation, and team logistics with strategic business objectives, enabling more efficient execution. For Mexican companies striving to stay competitive in dynamic markets, this is particularly relevant.

Why is DesignOps Gaining Traction?

In the Mexican market, several key factors are driving organizations to adopt DesignOps:

• Business expansion: Mexican companies are exploring new markets, products, and business models, requiring more efficient processes.
• High employee turnover: Design teams in Mexico face significant turnover rates, complicating recruitment and onboarding processes.
• Increased specialization: Design teams now require specialists in UX, UI, research, and prototyping.
• Distributed collaboration: Many Mexican companies have teams spread across multiple cities or collaborate closely with marketing, development, and operations teams.
• Lack of standardization: Using different tools and methods within the same team can lead to inconsistencies, inefficiencies, and lower quality outcomes.

The Benefits of Implementing DesignOps

Adopting DesignOps in Mexican design teams can bring significant advantages in terms of cost reduction, faster time-to-market, and improved quality:

For Design Teams:

✅ More efficient workflows that save time.
✅ Higher-quality deliverables.
✅ Reduced errors, optimizing costs.

For Design Leaders:

✅ Faster time-to-market for products and features.
✅ Improved customer experience metrics.
✅ More time and resources available for innovation.

For Organizations:

✅ Higher return on investment (ROI) in design resources.
✅ Competitive advantage by launching products faster.
✅ Development of more innovative solutions that drive market impact.

How to Implement DesignOps?

At 2Brains, we have embraced DesignOps based on the Nielsen Norman Group framework, which is built on three fundamental pillars:

1. What We Do

• How do we structure teams and select the right talent?
• How do we ensure hiring, onboarding, and career development prioritize people first?
• How do we create an environment that fosters effective communication?

2. How We Work

• How do we enable high-quality design through standardized tools and processes?
• How do we share knowledge and build collective design intelligence?
• How do we set priorities and choose the right projects?

3. How We Create Impact

• How do we measure design quality and accountability?
• How do we educate others about the role and value of design?
• How do we promote an organization-wide understanding of design activities?

Each organization in Mexico has different goals and levels of operational maturity, making it essential to customize DesignOps implementation for maximum effectiveness.

Boost Your Design Team’s Efficiency and Impact

The Mexican market demands agility, quality, and continuous innovation. With DesignOps, your company can transform its design operations to meet these challenges and gain a competitive edge.

At 2Brains, we have the expertise to help you implement this framework in your organization. Contact us through our online form, and let’s explore how to improve the efficiency and impact of your design teams in Mexico.