Forging growth frameworks for 21st century designers
Challenge
How might we enable the next generation of designers to forge intentional career growth paths?
Opportunity
The rise of design roles have sparked the need for a deliberate and intentional career growth framework. To date, organizations such as Medium.com have been proponents of such a pathway for their own internal hires, namely, Engineers. This brings about the question of a model that casts designers forthward into their careers. Imagine HR teams that are enabled with a framework that acknowledges and supports the possible career pathways within a company and even more holistically, a model that a designer can carry with them beyond the walls of any one employer!
Orb Growth Framework
Persistent Practice
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Sphere 1
Behavioral Temperament
Drives continuous growth in the field of design through applied experiential knowledge
Attributes
- Applies a persistent growth mindset to design challenges
- Sees design as continual practice (beginners mind)
- Charts a design-led growth plan for advancing into industry
Systems Mindset
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Sphere 2
Behavioral Temperament
Processes design decisions through the lens of a systems-based, problem-solving framework
Attributes
- Frames the world through (both/and) thinking
- Connects dots at micro/macro scales
- Views human design challenges as complex
Creative Influencer
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Sphere 3
Behavioral Temperament
Builds unrelenting alliances across the organization to positively inform the value of design-driven practices
Attributes
- Confronts challenges by embracing ambiguity
- Embodies a human-centric design ethos
- Beholds thinking from a collective mindset
Team Togetherness
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Sphere 4
Behavioral Temperament
Evangelizes continual advancements of team process, policy, and procedure
Attributes
- Builds alliances across teams in the organization
- Considers communication workflows as ever-evolving
- Perpetually experiments with advancing team dynamics
Future Forward
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Sphere 5
Behavioral Temperament
Views the world as perpetually regenerative through the advancement of “other”-centered design practices
Attributes
- Orients thinking towards a future yet seen
- Sees design as a continually advancing practice
- Proactively engages in the future of design
Circular Impact
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Sphere 6
Behavioral Temperament
Promotes impactful design work that is mission-driven individually, organizationally, and at the industry level
Attributes
- Self propelled to lead through impact
- Interweaves the org mission and personal impact
- Creates circular networks to galvanize design
Design Champion
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Sphere 7
Behavioral Temperament
Forges connections that are deep-seated in strategic design-led leadership
Attributes
- Seeks/offers design mentorship
- Evangelist of design methodology
- Engages as a design industry thought leader