Early and often.

Weekly reflections on my week as a design manager, jotted down in 15mins during my commute.

#1

As we work together trying to solve problems it’s sometimes more comfortable to digest and work through the discovery and early stages by ourselves. We collect and interpret our thoughts and render the ideas into mediums that are presentable or considered acceptable.

Consistently, I am reassured by the approach of sharing those initial ideas early and often as a means of building and improving on those internal hunches, inspirations and routes we begin to plot.

Whether it’s a workflow design, presentation or a branding idea, the value of opening up that idea with those around you and listening to the response and reaction is pivotal to developing and growing (or not growing) the Idea.

Try not to wait for official kick-offs and presentations to garner all of the feedback, those scenarios can be full of varying noise that might not be best suited to the stage your idea is at. It can also come as surprise if you receive a reservoir of feedback in one go.

Whether it’s a napkin sketch, a conversation at the whiteboard or walk around the block, try to share what you have early and often. Those early riffs, beginnings of an idea and initial melodies will be better off for letting those around you listen to them.