Documenting the design process is an essential part of managing a creative team.
However, the work can be cumbersome and laborious. It is not typically a designer's top priority. As a result, engineers don't have a "source of truth". Stakeholders don't have proper visibility. Creative leads don't have a repository of ideas.
Managing a team of designers can be a bit like herding cats.
Designers are independent and strong willed. I wanted to create a process they would see value in and embrace.
I set about designing our wiki process as I would any other experience. I interviewed engineering and product leads to get a better understanding of their "world view" and requirements. I met internally with our design team to understand the pain points. I researched tools and methods other teams were using.
The result was a simple, effective process that designers embraced, and got big shout-outs from the rest of the team.
THE PROCESS
Designer is tasked with a New Feature
Designer reviews work internally with Design Leadership
Designer presents to Product Team in person
After review, Designer creates a new entry under Presentations and posts their deck and notes
Designer makes revisions, process repeats until Final Approval
Designer documents UX/UI Specs and posts to Wiki