As VP of Product and UX, I focus on alignment between business goals and user needs. I facilitate collaborative workshops with design and marketing to prioritize user outcomes while achieving brand objectives. For example, in a debate over a prominent homepage CTA, marketing may push for aggressive messaging, while design prioritizes user clarity. I guide the team to test both approaches, using A/B testing to gather data on engagement and conversion. This approach ensures decisions are evidence-based, fostering trust and reinforcing a shared commitment to user-centric design that drives business growth.

Design and marketing clash, it can feel like a tug-of-war, but I’ve found the key is collaboration. I bring both teams together early to ensure we're aligned on the ultimate goal of delivering a user-centered experience while meeting business objectives. I focus on creating design solutions that support marketing messages without compromising usability. A/B testing is a game-changer here, letting data guide our decisions.

Anchor Decisions in Data: Bringing user data into the conversation can shift the debate from subjective opinions to evidence-based discussions. Heatmaps, click-through rates, and user feedback are powerful tools to align everyone around user needs. Collaborative Workshops: Facilitating workshops where both teams map out user journeys and pain points can uncover shared priorities. It often reveals that design and marketing are more aligned than they initially thought.

Design is there to improve marketing (and conversions ideally), so think about the business goals first as they are more important than your creative ego. Ask more questions, come up with suggestions that you think will help the business goals and always keep in mind that whatever is suggested needs to be A/B tested and is before that it's just a hypothetical thing.

Balancing Design and Marketing for Optimal UI Decisions Navigating the clash between design and marketing requires a strategic approach. By prioritizing user experience, leveraging data-driven insights, and fostering open collaboration between teams, we can make informed UI decisions that resonate with both users and business goals.

When design and marketing teams clash over UI decisions, collaboration is crucial. I focus on fostering open communication where both teams can voice their concerns while keeping the user experience at the forefront. Establishing shared goals and using data-driven testing, such as A/B tests, ensures we find solutions that satisfy both design and marketing objectives.

Align on a shared vision by facilitating discussions that link both design and marketing goals to the product's overall objectives. Prioritize user experience by ensuring design decisions reflect usability, accessibility, and brand consistency while balancing marketing needs. Conduct A/B testing to validate design choices and gather data that can satisfy both marketing KPIs and user preferences. Compromise where necessary by iterating on designs that meet both aesthetic goals and marketing requirements without sacrificing usability. Maintain open communication with both teams to create a collaborative environment that resolves conflicts early and leads to integrated solutions.

It's crucial to prioritize what truly matters be it marketing, development, sales, or advisors as nothing outweighs the importance of achieving a perfect product and user fit. - Prioritize Product and User Needs: Focus on what benefits the product, users, and team to minimize confusion and align priorities. - Leverage Team Strengths: Identify strengths and weaknesses within the team to facilitate efficient discussions. - Use a 2x2 Matrix: Categorize tasks/features by impact and importance to determine priorities objectively. -Conduct Thorough Research: Explore scenarios and possibilities like Dr. Strange to guide informed decisions. -Facilitate Open Communication: Set meeting agendas, allow everyone to share ideas, and actively listen.

We're currently working with marketing for a rebranding of all of our products, including changes to our UI Kit/Design System. Several strategies have worked so far are creating goals, user a/b testing, and creating a dialogue through meetings and a FigJam board. Creating common goals between two departments in the first meeting helps to set the expectations and outline the work needed to get to a decision like performing A/B testing. A FigJam board allows both departments to write notes and questions. Metrics are essential for a new Design System/UI Kit because it shows with data how the user interacts with the product and shows the areas where refinement is needed. E.G. WCAG testing to make sure the branding design is inclusive.

If design and marketing clash, focus on the shared goal. what is best for the user and the business. Bring both teams together, rely on data to guide decisions and test ideas to see what works. Stay user-focused, find compromises that balance needs and escalate only if alignment isn’t possible.