Measuring Design: The Importance of Design Metrics

In this podcast episode, Alan speaks with Kate Rutter, a UX designer and adjunct professor, about the importance of measuring design. Kate highlights the benefits of measuring design for both designers and their teams, including the ability to validate design decisions and demonstrate the value of design work. They also discuss how to find and recognize good design metrics, connecting design metrics to business value, and explaining the value of design to non-designers. Kate emphasizes the need for designers to follow their gut instincts while validating them with rigorous research. She also encourages designers to be pushy, have a strong voice, and not be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them. Kate shares her insights on the role of metrics in design, the importance of empathy and understanding users, and the power of combining quantitative and qualitative data to gain a complete picture of design effectiveness. Finally, she touches on the differences between working as a consultant and working on a product team, and emphasizes the value of gaining experience in both types of environments.