How to Diversify Your Product Design Team

Diversity is essential for any team, but it is especially important for product design teams. Product designers are responsible for creating products that meet the needs of all users, and a diverse team is better able to understand and meet those needs.

There are a number of benefits to having a diverse product design team, including:

• Improved creativity and innovation: Diverse teams are more creative and innovative than homogenous teams. This is because they bring together a variety of perspectives and experiences.
• Better decision-making: Diverse teams make better decisions because they are more likely to consider all of the options and potential consequences.
• Stronger customer relationships: Diverse teams are better able to understand and meet the needs of a diverse customer base.
• Increased employee engagement and retention: Employees are more likely to be engaged and retained if they feel like they are part of a diverse and inclusive team.

By diversifying your product design team, you can create a more successful and innovative company.

Here are some tips on how to diversify your product design team:

1. Expand your sourcing pool.

Don’t just look for candidates from the usual sources, such as job boards and industry events. Reach out to underrepresented groups and organizations, such as women in tech, LGBTQ+ groups, and disability advocacy organizations.

There are a number of ways to reach out to underrepresented groups. You can attend their events, post job openings on their websites, or partner with them on diversity initiatives.

2. Use inclusive language in your job postings.

Avoid using language that could be perceived as exclusionary, such as “rockstar” or “ninja.” Instead, focus on the skills and experience that you are looking for.

Here are some tips for writing inclusive job postings:

• Use gender-neutral language.
• Avoid using acronyms and jargon.
• Focus on the skills and experience that you are looking for, rather than the candidate’s personal qualities.
• Highlight your company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

3. Be aware of your own biases.

We all have unconscious biases, but it is important to be aware of them so that you can avoid letting them influence your hiring decisions. There are many resources available to help you learn more about unconscious bias and how to mitigate it.

Here are some tips for mitigating unconscious bias in your hiring process:

• Use standardized interview questions and rubrics.
• Avoid making assumptions about candidates based on their appearance, background, or other factors.
• Be mindful of your own biases and how they might be influencing your decision-making.

4. Create an inclusive hiring process.

Make sure that your hiring process is fair and equitable for all candidates. This includes using standardized interview questions and rubrics, and avoiding unconscious bias in your decision-making.

Here are some tips for creating an inclusive hiring process:

• Use a variety of interview formats, such as one-on-one interviews, panel interviews, and group interviews.
• Give candidates the opportunity to ask questions about the role and the company.
• Provide feedback to candidates, even if you are not moving them forward in the process.

5. Build a culture of inclusion.

Once you have hired a diverse team, it is important to create a culture where everyone feels included and valued. This means providing training on diversity and inclusion, and creating a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and perspectives.

Here are some tips for building a culture of inclusion:

• Provide training on diversity and inclusion for all employees.
• Create employee resource groups for underrepresented groups.
• Celebrate diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Make sure that all employees have equal opportunities for advancement and development.

By following these tips, you can create a more diverse and inclusive product design team. This will benefit your company in a number of ways, including improved creativity and innovation, better decision-making, stronger customer relationships, and increased employee engagement and retention.

Here are some additional tips:

• Set diversity goals. It is important to set diversity goals for your product design team. This will help you to track your progress and ensure that you are making progress towards your goals.
• Partner with diversity and inclusion organizations. There are many organizations that can help you to diversify your product design team. These organizations can provide you with access to a pipeline of qualified candidates, as well as training and resources on diversity and inclusion.
• Celebrate diversity. Make sure to celebrate the diversity of your product design team. This can be done through events and initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion.

Carl is a Recruiter who has a track record of building Product Design Teams. Before recruiting, he was a UI/UX designer working with many tech startups to design mobile apps. Carl is also the co-founder of a Meetup called Global UXD where he helps connect designers with each other and create new opportunities. Having completed Bloc and DesignLab bootcamps before becoming a recruiter, he’s an expert at helping designers land their first design roles. Find Carl on carlwheatly.com and LinkedIn. Need your Design Portfolio Reviewed?? Check out carlwheatley.com