Darren Smith – Medium

Darren Smith

he/him

Mediocrity by design: the patterns that keep teams stuck

No one sets out to build a mediocre design team. Yet most product organizations accidentally design their way into mediocrity.

2d ago

Mediocrity by design: the patterns that keep teams stuck

2d ago

Big D vs Little d: The two faces of Design Leadership

Design leadership isn’t one thing. It’s a spectrum, but more often than not, it divides into two distinct archetypes.

Jun 28

Big D vs Little d: The two faces of Design Leadership

Jun 28

The Culture Code: Why Feedback Isn’t Just Nice to Have, It’s Essential

Jun 21

Jun 21

On Critique, Culture, and the Cost of Silence

A Whispered Warning

Apr 9

On Critique, Culture, and the Cost of Silence

Apr 9

Full Circle: A decade of growth, resilience, and returning to Seattle

Feb 20

Full Circle: A decade of growth, resilience, and returning to Seattle

Feb 20

The job search marathon: Lessons, rejections, and writing through it

The past few months have been a deep dive into the reality of job searching in 2024/2025. Countless applications, exploratory chats, and…

Feb 17

The job search marathon: Lessons, rejections, and writing through it

Feb 17

The impact of Generative AI on Product Management and Product Design

The Fear, the Shift, and the Global Perspective

Jan 24

The impact of Generative AI on Product Management and Product Design

Jan 24

Who should Product Design report to? Unpacking the remit of design in organisations

The role of design in organisations has transformed from an aesthetic afterthought to a critical driver of business strategy, product…

Jan 22

Who should Product Design report to? Unpacking the remit of design in organisations

Jan 22

Has quality in tech peaked? The downward curve of craft and commoditisation of products

In the grand narrative of technological innovation, there have been moments of triumph that defined entire generations. The invention of…

Jan 21

Has quality in tech peaked? The downward curve of craft and commoditisation of products

Jan 21

Paying the tax: The hidden costs of shipping unverified — Insights from two decades in Product…

Every product organization faces a critical choice: ship fast and adapt later or invest time in validation and research upfront. While the…

Jan 10

Paying the tax: The hidden costs of shipping unverified — Insights from two decades in Product…

Jan 10

Darren Smith

Darren Smith

he/him

Design Leadership | Teams and Culture, Craft practice, Strategy and execution | Change leader, Inspiring excellence.

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