Evo DK #375 - Design Generalists Vs Design Specialists

Today's episode is hosted by Sean Thompson and they are joined on the podcast by Hugo Corzo Isenrich, Product Design Director at Pleo HQ, Amit Aggarwal, Senior Interaction Designer at Maersk and Jean-Nicolas Gilles Hopfer, Head of Product Design at Dibber. The conversation explores how teams balance the strengths of design generalists and design specialists within modern product organisations. By looking at skill diversity, collaboration models and evolving expectations across the design lifecycle, the episode examines how different expertise profiles can complement one another to deliver stronger outcomes. The guests reflect broadly on the ways design roles continue to adapt alongside growing complexity in digital environments. The exchange highlights approaches that help leaders build resilient, user-focused design functions, including flexible structures, shared foundations and thoughtful resource planning. As the discussion widens, the episode considers how organisations can use both generalist and specialist perspectives to enrich innovation and strengthen long-term design strategy.