Beyond UX Design
89. Punching Holes in Red Tape: The Design Consultant's Advantage with Shahed Syed
Jul 30, 2024
Shahed Syed, lead designer at Focused Labs, shares his journey from architecture to design consulting. He reveals how consultants can fast-track their careers by solving diverse problems across industries. Building trust in new environments and finding allies within client teams are crucial strategies he emphasizes. Shahed explains the advantages of consulting, especially for junior designers, and introduces the concept of 'slipstreaming' to help accelerate career growth. If you're curious about the consulting life, Shahed's insights are invaluable!
48:20
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Quick takeaways
- Consultants enhance their problem-solving skills by tackling diverse challenges across various industries, unlike traditional roles that may lead to complacency.
- Building trust is essential for consultants, especially when entering teams with prior negative experiences, requiring proactive involvement and transparency.
Deep dives
Understanding the Consultant's Role
Consultants serve as expert advisors who help organizations improve their processes and outcomes. They differentiate themselves from contractors by focusing not just on completing tasks, but also on building trusting relationships and empowering clients for ongoing success. The consultant aims to 'fire themselves,' ensuring that their clients can sustain improvements after their engagement ends. This approach fosters an environment of continuous growth, enabling organizations to better handle future challenges independently.
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