Learning is a crucial part of working in a company. It builds not just the company itself but it enriches the self – providing a lasting knowledge to the designer that she can carry over from project to project and even to different endeavors.
It is important to identify roles that are crucial in a design team. These roles are divided into two: core and tangent roles.
Core Roles belong to the Discipline of Product Design. Tangent Roles are portrayed prominently across the stages of the Design Journey.
| Roles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Interaction Designer | User Interface Designer | Visual Designer | User Experience Designer | Design Manager | Design Head |
| Tangent | User Researcher | Project Manager | Product Developer | Front-End Developer | ||
Contribution-Management Framework
The non-variable that is the basis of this framework is the Level of employment (Associate, Lead, Manager, Head). It comprises the different roles of designers in a team.
The Contribution-Management Framework divides the Level into two: direct contribution and management responsibilities.
| Track | Level | Professional Responsibilities | Personal Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contribution | Associate | Design Tasks, Design Activities | Self-learning |
| Lead | Design Process, Design System | Training, Mentoring | |
| Management | Manager | Career Development, Team Management, Company and Industry Activities | |
| Head | Business Development | ||
In Contribution, the Associate and Lead Designers team-up to work on Projects. On the other hand, in Management, the Manager and Head manages the entire department – ensuring that Design is empowered in the People and Business level of the company.
Employment Levels
| Level | Role | Responsibilities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate | Level 1 | Interaction Designer, User Interface Designer, Visual Designer | Design Tasks |
| Level 2 | Design Activities | ||
| Lead | Level 3 | UX Designer | Design Process |
| Level 4 | Design System | ||
| Manager | Level 5 | Design Manager | Career Development and Team Management |
| Level 6 | Company and Industry Activities | ||
| Head | Level 7 | Design Head | Business Development |
Learning Pathways – Technical Skills
Associate Level
| Levels | Interaction Designer | User Interface Designer | Visual Designer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Role-specific | IxD Basic | UID Basic | VisD Basic |
| Level 2 | Role-specific | IxD Advanced | UID Advanced | VisD Advanced |
| Discipline-wide | UID Basic | IxD Basic | IxD Basic | |
| VisD Basic | VisD Basic | UID Basic | ||
| UX Design-focused | Design Process Basic | |||
| User Research-focused | User Research Basic | |||
| Project Management-focused | Project Management Basic | |||
| Product Development-focused | Product Development Basic | |||
| Front-end Design-focused | Front-End Design Basic | |||
Lead Level
| Levels | User Experience Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Level 3 | Discipline-wide | IxD Advanced |
| UID Advanced | ||
| VisD Advanced | ||
| UX Design-focused | Design Process Advanced | |
| Organizational Management Basic | ||
| User Research-focused | User Research Advanced (Optional) | |
| Project Management-focused | Project Management Advanced(Optional) | |
| Product Development-focused | Product Development Advanced(Optional) | |
| Front-end Design-focused | Front-End Design Advanced(Optional) | |
| Level 4 | UX Design-focused | Organizational Management Advanced |
| User Research-focused | User Research Main | |
| Project Management-focused | Project Management Main(Optional) | |
| Product Development-focused | Product Development Main(Optional) | |
| Front-end Development-focused | Front-End Development Main(Optional) | |
| Management-focused | Career Development Basic | |
| Team Management Basic | ||
| Events Management Basic | ||
Discipline Crossroads
The role of an Associate focuses on specific Core Discipline (Interaction Design, User Interface Design, and Visual Design). As the designer goes along the learning path, she will move on to a role with wider scope – UX Designer which is in the Lead level.
At Associate Level 2, the designer begins to have opportunities to gain more knowledge on Tangent Disciplines (User Research, Project Management, Product Development, and Front-End Development).
At Lead Level 4, the designer delves deeper into the different Tangent Disciplines – moving on from introductory topics. At this point that the Designer already has the confidence either to trudge onto the Management Track or shift her focus onto Tangent Disciplines.
Learning Pathways – Soft Skills
- Presenting
- Facilitating
- Interviewing
- Collaborating
- Writing
- Communicating
- Sharing
Course Levels
Courses are divided into two:
- Introductory
- Deep Dive
| Course Levels | Core Courses | Tangent Courses |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory | Basic | Basic |
| Advanced | ||
| Deep Dive | Advanced | Main |