I'm so proud of the Chief Design Officer School team* for successfully migrating our website from Squarespace to Ghost.
It was filled with long hours learning a new framework, hand-coding in handlebars/javascript/css, migrating 100's of articles/marketing copy, updating graphics, implementing a new information architecture, updating our SEO, and changing name servers and DNS settings.
It was done using Visual Studio Code, Figma, Canva, Notion, Docs, Sheets, Chrome, Zoom, Slack, Zapier, ConvertKit, Cloudflare, Fathom, Ghost, Email, Gusto, Squarespace, and Vimeo.
As the team was doing this work, it reminded me how often time I used "non-design" skills at a job and someone's feelings got hurt. I found myself avoiding work that would elicit a response like:
"Stay in your lane."
"You're just a designer. This data can't be right."
"I'm going to do everything in my power to keep you out of this meeting."
But by holding back, the only one who got hurt was me. I learned I wasn't responsible for someone else's feelings when I showed up with care, kindness, and rigor. I moved from being worried I might cause a stir to ensuring that I responded well to their reaction no matter what it was.
Designers, I think the pendulum has swung too far. In an effort to avoid stepping on toes, we're the ones getting hurt. It's time to bring the outsider perspective back.
Step on toes.
Move out of your lanes.
Show them you mean business.
We're going to win anyway.
*it's me. I am the team.đź‘Ź And thank you Kristi Koeter for all the help with SEO and content strategy work! I would not have had the confidence to make this call without you.
