Welcome to Outpost

Strategic design consultancy, fractional design leadership, UX and product analysis, design leadership coaching & presenting

The Logbook method of designer performance management

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago my belief that observation-driven performance management processes do designers a particular type of disservice in typical tech organisations. I also mentioned that I had a developing thought on what a good alternative might be. Today I’m going to expand on that a

The Logbook method of designer performance management
20 posts

Design for Impact

Design for Impact

I co-wrote the foreword to my friends Erin’s brilliant book on experimentation. Go buy a copy! Buy now

Design Systems as vehicle for leadership

Design Systems as vehicle for leadership

I first did at-scale design systems work a decade ago whilst leading a team of 200 designers in an organisation of 20000 people1 and quickly came to see the output of this work as both: 1. Infrastructure to create scalable high-quality user experiences, and  2. The recasting of the role

Why aren't designers getting invited into big fun meeting where all the imagineering happens?

Why aren't designers getting invited into big fun meeting where all the imagineering happens?

Throughout the 20 odd years that I’ve been designing products and designing organisations, I’ve repeatedly heard designers lamenting their lack of access to long-term strategy-making and vision-setting circles. I feel like this was even a core part of the whole ‘seat at the table’ meme which spent a

Your job needs a new job description

Your job needs a new job description

Design leadership is a heady blend of Culture, Strategy, Organisational Design, Talent Management and Collaboration. So just the easy stuff.

Writing – or not writing – your first Levels & Expectations Framework

Writing – or not writing – your first Levels & Expectations Framework

AKA Career Ladder, Career Progression Framework, etc.

Why Design Leadership Matters

Why Design Leadership Matters

As I sat down to start work on what would become this newsletter in the summer of 2024, I was in reflective mood having reached a milestone in my Design Leadership career. I was now a decade into my work at the helm of design organisations, and a mind-boggling 22

Your link has expired. Please request a new one.
Your link has expired. Please request a new one.
Your link has expired. Please request a new one.
Great! You've successfully signed up.
Great! You've successfully signed up.
Welcome back! You've successfully signed in.
Success! You now have access to additional content.