Design Better

Cassie McDaniel: How Medium eliminated its PM function and started moving faster

May 30, 2025
Cassie McDaniel, Head of Design at Medium, shares insights from her nearly 20 years in design leadership. She discusses Medium's bold move to eliminate product management to enhance speed and efficiency. Cassie emphasizes the importance of diverse skill sets and a culture of experimentation in design teams. She also reflects on balancing thoughtful design with rapid product development, and the vital role writing plays in advancing a design career. Her fresh perspective is a must-listen for anyone in the design field!
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INSIGHT

Leadership is Bridging Gaps

  • Leadership for McDaniel means bridging communication gaps and enabling execution, not gaining control.
  • She aims to connect creative teams and management to help deliver excellent work and make things happen.
INSIGHT

Design Requires Thought and Responsibility

  • True design power comes from thoughtful, responsible application, not just tools or aesthetics.
  • Designers must consider the societal impacts of their work as the industry learns from past outcomes.
ADVICE

Handle Critiques With Humility

  • Designers must not take critiques personally to move work forward fast.
  • Developing humility and detaching pride from designs speeds iteration and improvement.
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