HOW TO BUILD A RESILIENT DESIGN TEAM

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

Figma design manager Jonas Downey outlines seven strategies for building resilient design teams that can adapt to rapid technological changes and high-pressure environments. Key approaches include prioritizing team health through open communication and realistic workloads, encouraging experimentation across traditional role boundaries, and treating craft as a competitive differentiator. Downey emphasizes building cross-functional bridges, implementing just enough process to avoid stifling creativity, scaling teams intentionally rather than filling headcount, and incorporating levity to maintain team morale during challenging periods.