Packing the Right Bag: A Beginner’s Guide to Managing Design Teams

Being a new design manager feels like packing for a trip you’ve never been on. You’re excited, a little nervous, and somehow convinced you’ve forgotten something important. Will your “bag” of skills and tools be enough for this journey? Trust me – I’ve been there.

When I was promoted to manage my first design team, I quickly realized that my “bag” was full of individual contributor tools – Figma expertise, design systems knowledge, pixel-perfect mockups – but lacked the essentials for leading a team. I once spent hours fixing a junior designer’s work, thinking I was being helpful, only to realize later that I had stifled their growth and burned myself out in the process.

Lesson learned: managing is less about doing and more about empowering.

Here’s how I repacked my metaphorical bag and how you can too:

Pack Patience (and Unpack Perfectionism)

Your team will make mistakes. Instead of fixing them yourself, guide them to solutions. This not only develops their skills but also builds trust.

Bring Clear Communication Tools

Misalignment is the enemy. Learn to convey your expectations clearly – whether it’s a project brief or feedback. This keeps the “trip” (your project) running smoothly.

Keep Space for Empathy

Each team member is on their own journey. Get to know them, understand their strengths, and tailor your guidance to help them grow.

The journey from designer to manager is not linear, and you’ll add new “tools” along the way. The key is knowing when to unpack old habits and pack new ones.

Here’s my question for you: What’s one “tool” you’ve added to your bag that has made your management journey easier?