The 7 Resources Your Design Team Really Needs

The 7 Resources Your Design Team Really Needs

Have you ever felt like your design team is missing something? Like, there's some mysterious ingredient or resource that could take their work to the next level if only you could put your finger on it?

As an experienced manager of design teams, I'm here to tell you that the resources you think your team needs may not be as critical as you imagine. Having too many resources can sometimes be counterproductive. It can overwhelm your designers and stifle creativity.

Most design teams need just a few essential resources to do their best work. Resources that allow them to collaborate easily, gather inspiration effortlessly, and focus on the job at hand. Anything beyond that is just extra fluff.

In this article, I'll outline the essential resources your design team needs to thrive. With these fundamentals in place, you'll be amazed at the innovation and brilliance your designers can achieve.

#1 A Streamlined Creative Process

The foundation of any excellent design team is a clearly defined creative process. This provides the necessary structure for designers to do what they do best – design.

Too often, teams waste time debating process minutiae, such as iterations, feedback loops, and approval steps. That creative energy would be far better spent, actually…well, creating.

As the leader, you must establish a simplified process upfront so designers don't have to reinvent the wheel every time. Creative steps, such as brainstorming, mood boards, sketches, prototyping, and user testing, should all be outlined.

Look, you need a map. Otherwise, your team's just guessing. A solid framework I've seen work time and again is the Double Diamond model from the British Design Council. It's dead simple, really.

It has four phases. First, you need to find out what's what, which involves getting out there and understanding the real problem. Then you define it, so everyone agrees on what you're actually solving.

After that, you develop, brainstorm and build out potential solutions. Finally, you deliver the one that's been tested and works best.

Having a process like this gives everyone a shared language. It prevents people from jumping straight to solutions before they even understand the problem. Gets everyone on the same page, right from the start.

Be sure to leave room for flexibility as well. Rigid processes stifle creativity just as much as no process at all. Give designers the freedom to diverge when inspiration strikes.

Once defined, document your team's creative process and share it with the entire team. This could be a simple flowchart, step-by-step guide, or short video. Refer back to it often to keep your workflow lean and focused.

#2 A Thoughtful Workspace

Your team's physical workspace has an enormous (and often underestimated) impact on their performance. Surrounding your designers with an environment optimised for creativity makes an incredible difference.

And let's be honest, the “workspace” isn't just about the physical office anymore, is it? Especially if you've got people working from home. Your digital environment needs to be just as thoughtfully organised.

This means having a proper digital asset management (DAM) system, so nobody has to spend twenty minutes searching for the right logo. It means having dedicated channels in Slack or Teams to reduce email noise and allow informal chats to occur.

It's about building a digital setup that feels cohesive, not chaotic. This is where the real work gets done for remote and hybrid teams.

Create an open and collaborative space that sparks imagination and fuels innovation. Here are some workspace must-haves:

• Lots of natural light. Research indicates that exposure to natural light can enhance creativity and overall well-being.
• Whiteboards everywhere. Visual thinkers need ample room to sketch and ideate.
• Stand-up desks. Standing promotes energy and collaboration.
• Comfortable seating. A mix of chairs, couches, stools, and beanbags.
• Greenery. Live plants boost mental clarity and concentration.
• Inspiring artwork. Showcase designs from past projects or internal artists.
• A community table. A place to gather, share meals, and bond as a team.
• Calming colours. Avoid overstimulation with neutral tones.
• Ambient music. Curate playlists that energise or help focus.

Your workspace doesn't need expensive renovations to support creativity. Small touches, such as plants, artwork, and flexible seating, make a big difference. Spend time observing how your team interacts in the space and continually optimise for collaboration.

#3 The Right Tools

Every designer has their own set of go-to tools. As a manager, your job isn't to dictate which tools they use but to provide access to great options.

Build a digital toolbox that empowers designers to choose the tools that match their style and preferences. Here are some must-haves:

• Design software like Sketch, Figma, and Adobe Creative Suite. Provide a range so designers can pick their faves.
• Illustration tools like Procreate, Illustrator, iPad, and Apple Pencil. Let visual thinkers play to their strengths.
• Whiteboarding tools like Miro, Mural, and Conceptboard. Facilitate remote collaboration.
• Prototyping tools like Adobe XD, InVision, and Framer. These let your team build interactive mockups that feel real, so you can test ideas with actual users before a single developer gets involved. Saves a packet in the long run.
• Version control systems like Abstract or Plant. The issue is that when multiple designers work on the same file, it's a recipe for disaster. These tools track changes and stop people from overwriting each other's hard work. An absolute must-have.
• Project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Notion. Keep projects on track.
• File storage like Dropbox and Google Drive. Centralise assets and deliverables.
• Asset libraries with icons, fonts, photos, and graphics. Speed up ideation and prototyping.
• Research tools like Optimal Workshop and UserTesting. Test concepts with real users.

Having the right tools in place enables designers to transition seamlessly from idea to execution. Invest in high-quality tools and keep them up to date. Meet regularly with your team to ensure their toolkit has everything required to produce their best work.

#4 A Curated Library of Design Inspiration

Inspiration is the lifeblood of great design. Surrounding your team with excellent examples elevates their work by sparking new ideas and perspectives.

Provide a thoughtfully curated library of design inspiration that becomes part of your team's everyday workflow. Share books, magazines, websites, newsletters, podcasts, social media feeds, events, museums, and more.

Here are some sources I recommend:

• Design journals like Communication Arts and HOW Magazine.
• Industry blogs like Design Milk and Dezeen.
• Books by design thought leaders, such as Seth Godin's “This Is Marketing.“
• Newsletters like Design Matters and Next Draft.
• Podcasts like 99% Invisible and [Design] Dialogues.
• Social media feeds from top agencies and studios.
• Local design museums and exhibits.

Create inspiration by gathering a team activity, asking members to contribute their favourite sources. Maintain a shared digital library using tools like Pinterest or Notion.

Build time into your team's schedule for consuming and discussing inspiration. Have them share standout pieces during meetings or over lunch. This infuses your creative process with fresh ideas and influences.

#5 Constructive Feedback Loops

Giving and receiving feedback is how your designers will grow as creators. Make peer-to-peer feedback an integral part of your team's creative process.

Set expectations that feedback should be constructive, actionable, and focused on improving the work. Lead by example in how you give feedback to designers. Focus on potential rather than shortcomings.

However, let's face it, giving constructive feedback is challenging. People get defensive. So, give them a structure to follow. A simple one that works wonders is the “I Like, I Wish, What If” method.

It forces people to be constructive. They start with what they like, then say what they wish was different, and finish by asking “what if” questions to open up new possibilities.

It changes the whole feel of the room from a critique into a proper brainstorming session. It's especially good for getting junior designers comfortable with speaking up.

Here are some tips for fostering healthy feedback loops:

• Review work collaboratively instead of alone. Group critiques build camaraderie.
• Discuss work early and often. More feedback = better results.
• Provide feedback verbally and visually (e.g. sketches). Different styles spark new insights.
• Guide designers in providing feedback to one another. Develop their analytical skills.
• Track feedback and iterate. Don't stop at just giving feedback. Put it into action.
• Close feedback loops. Dedicate time to revisions based on feedback.
• Reward great feedback with praise, compensation, or promotion. Reinforce the behaviour you want to see.

The more your team shares constructive feedback, the faster their skills and work will improve. Make it a truly collaborative process focused on elevating the end design.

#6 Camaraderie Among Team Members

Don't underestimate the importance of camaraderie on your design team. Close professional relationships enable designers to communicate, collaborate, and support one another effectively.

Make relationship building a priority through team activities like:

• Regular social events outside work. Do fun activities together, not just happy hours.
• Showing appreciation. Celebrate work anniversaries, birthdays, and wins.
• Recurring rituals. Things like weekly lunches or design jams.
• Personal check-ins. Talk about life, not just work.
• Remote bonding. Send care packages, have video coffee chats, and more. Try organising virtual team activities that aren't just another awkward video call. Think collaborative online whiteboarding games, virtual escape rooms, or sessions with multiplayer party games from providers like Jackbox Games. These structured, non-work-related activities help build the real connections that often get missed when you're not in the same room.
• Offsites and retreats. Immersive experiences in inspiring locations.
• Orienting new hires. Make them feel welcomed and part of the group.

Don't force relationships. Authentic camaraderie develops naturally when you demonstrate genuine care for your team and make bonding a consistent priority.

#7 Executive Support

Even with all the right resources, your design team still needs supportive leadership that empowers them to do their best work.

Be their most prominent advocate, especially with key stakeholders. Establish trust so designers feel comfortable presenting new ideas. Shield them from bureaucratic distractions.

Empower designers with authority over their projects and processes. Make it clear that you support their decisions. Offer guidance, not mandates.

Allow designers to flex their specialised skills while aligning their work with business objectives. Give challenging assignments that help them grow.

And above all, treat your team with humanity, compassion, and respect. Recognise their contributions and embrace their unique creative diversity. Be the leader you wish you had.

With your support and the other resources outlined here, your design team has everything needed to thrive. Avoid overcomplicating things. Focus on fundamentals, remove obstacles, and let their talent shine.

The results will speak for themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions About Resources for Design Teams

Effective design teams require the right resources and environment to maximise creativity and collaboration. Here are answers to common questions managers have about properly equipping their teams:

Equipping your design team with what they need to do their best work doesn't require huge investments. Thoughtful attention to fundamentals, such as process, environment, tools, inspiration, feedback, camaraderie, and leadership, makes all the difference. With these basics in place, your designers will have the support to unleash their creative potential, and the results will follow.