James Stanier, Winter Wi, Janet Balneaves a panel discussion at LeadDev London 2023

Learn the importance of collaboration and alignment between engineers and designers at LeadDev London 2023, as James Stanier, Winter Wi, and Janet Balneaves share their insights on avoiding misunderstandings and finding the best solution.

Key takeaways
  • Collaboration is crucial, but it’s not always easy, especially when strong opinions are involved.
  • Engineers and designers should learn to speak each other’s languages and understand the challenges and opportunities of the other field.
  • Product and engineering teams should work together to prioritize and communicate clearly about what needs to be done.
  • Technical debt is a real issue that can cause friction and slow down projects.
  • Estimating complexity and time is difficult, but it’s important to do so to avoid misunderstandings.
  • Speed and quality are important, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of each other.
  • Alignment is fleeting and requires continuous effort, but it’s essential for successful projects.
  • Decisions should be made collectively and based on shared principles.
  • Communication is key, and engineers should be able to explain technical challenges in simple terms.
  • Designers should be able to design with technical feasibility in mind.
  • Engineers and designers should work together to find the best solution, rather than pushing their own ideas.
  • The trifecta model (product, UX, engineering) is essential for alignment and shared goals.
  • Teams should be encouraged to work together and learn from each other.
  • Collaboration and alignment are not a one-time event, but an ongoing process.
  • Janit and Winter share their own experiences and insights on engineering and design.
  • It’s not always easy to explain complex concepts, but it’s essential to try.
  • Engineers and designers should respect each other’s perspectives and work together to overcome challenges.
  • Alignment is not just about individual perspectives, but about shared goals and principles.
  • Decisions should be based on shared principles and not just individual opinions.
  • Collaboration and alignment require effort and commitment from everyone involved.