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Design Operations

Amber Sawaya, Creative Mentor and Design Leader, Nurturing Creative Growth

Designing great experiences doesn’t stop at the user interface—it extends to how teams work together, how projects flow, and how people feel day to day. For me, design operations is about crafting better experiences for everyone involved: clients, coworkers, and end users. That means clear systems, strong communication, and a culture where great work happens consistently. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

A hybrid design team working around a conference table with laptops, notebooks, and coffee, while remote colleagues join via video call on a large screen. The room is bright and modern, with large windows, plants, and a casual seating area.
Design System Summit at Zorroa, Oakland, CA, c. 2018

An Honest Day’s Work, Every Day

For the bulk of my career, I’ve been a consultant or run an agency, read more about how I build teams and mentor creatives, which meant I’ve been in charge of projects from contract negotiations through delivery. For 20 years, projects were on time, always created positive business metrics, and business was done honestly and transparently. We never underbid just to win work and then jack up costs later. More than once, we lost a project only to have the client come back after it wrapped and say: “Your bid was right all along—we wish we’d gone with you.” It takes a lot of experience and the right systems to bid work correctly. 

Pitches that Perform

Sales decks—which combine strong design, clear storytelling, and strategic business goals—have played a key role across my work, supporting startups, fintech ventures, and established brands. Pitch decks I’ve helped craft have earned millions in venture funding (see examples of past work in my portfolio) for the founders I support. Alongside a long-time creative partner, I’ve worked on high-stakes pitches for companies like MasterCard, American Express, Mattel, and American Girl.

Concrete Tactics

Along the way, I’ve built and maintained robust design systems in Figma, created repeatable onboarding processes (including an Onboarding Buddy and Checklist used at three companies), and introduced Focus Days and thoughtful meeting cadences that protect deep work while keeping teams aligned.

I also developed vacation documentation protocols that help people truly unplug—used successfully at multiple companies.

These are but a few of the systems I’ve developed, tested, iterated, and share with my teams. 

Operations That Empower

I believe good design operations are intentional and clear—they create flow, reduce friction, and make it easier for people to do great work. Whether it’s cutting task time by 90% or helping land major investor pitches, I focus on outcomes that support both business growth and team health. people respectfully thrive, collaborate deeply, and grow as creatives.

Leadership in Motion

I’ve worked on the leadership team at eight startups (including the one I’m at now) and have enjoyed four successful exits. When I’m on a leadership team, I take ownership of the systems, strategy, and workflows that drive real progress. Learn more about me.

I handle things like negotiating service contracts, setting product direction, prioritizing roadmaps, and balancing team health with business needs. I lead design teams (design systems, critiques, production), dev teams (standups, triage, retros), and help steer initiatives with a long-term view—always aligning design decisions with broader business goals. I’ve built design teams from scratch, mentored juniors into leads, and hire for potential, curiosity, and a strong work ethic.