An Holistic Framework for Shared Design Leadership

A healthy design team requires both a Design Manager and a Lead Designer, who should be viewed as tending to different aspects of the same organism. The Design Manager focuses on team psychology, career growth, and dynamics (the mind), while the Lead Designer focuses on craft skills, design standards, and execution (the body). These roles overlap, requiring collaboration in three critical systems: the nervous system (people & psychology), the muscular system (craft & execution), and the circulatory system (strategy & flow). The Design Manager primarily oversees the nervous system, supported by the Lead Designer, who primarily oversees the muscular system, supported by the Design Manager. Both share responsibility for the circulatory system, ensuring strategic alignment and information flow. Clear feedback loops and explicit handoffs are crucial for successful partnership. When things go wrong, isolation, poor circulation, or an autoimmune response can occur, requiring reconnection, clearer communication, and a focus on shared goals. This partnership yields better decisions, stronger teams, and sustainable design work, scaling effectively as the team grows. Ultimately, the Design Manager and Lead Designer multiply their impact by working together to nurture the entire design organism.