Product managers: basic mistakes and how to avoid them (Part I)

In the first part of this article I want to talk about the mistakes in working with designers, and in the second part I want to reveal how you can avoid them. And so let's begin:

Product managers play a key role in the development and successful launch of products. They are responsible for coordinating the team, defining the product strategy, and ensuring that the product is successfully marketed. However, despite their importance, one of the most common mistakes I've seen pms make is underestimating design. What I mean by "underestimating design" is that many sellacts think they know design. It's not even that they think they do, but they're sure of it most of the time.

In the past, when working in a studio there were clients who didn't like the design we developed for a website/app. In the beginning he assures that he trusts us, but in the end did not like the color palette, font, button color, sections and had to redesign everything to his taste. At the time I thought it was because the client is very attached to their brainchild (project/product), but that was not the main reason.

The main reason is that clients don't want to see designers as experts of a certain field. For clients, a designer is a doer / tool that can reflect their "visual representation" on paper. While designers are experts who apply their knowledge and experience to create an effective and attractive product.

PMs as well as clients have personal preferences regarding design and visual style based on their own taste and experience. But, for some reason, they think that this is an objective and valid opinion, although it is always subjective and tasteful.

I've worked with many pms and seen their interaction in a team. A common mistake not only of juniors, but also of seniors is that instead of explaining and setting clear tasks to the product designer, more often than not they told what to draw and how to draw it.

When I saw such situations I always tried to explain to my colleagues why this is not the right thing to do, as it eventually leads to burnout and quitting.

After such situations, the question arises: Why can't we as pms trust the professionalism and experience of designers? We don't go to the dentist and tell him how best to treat a tooth. Because we don't have enough knowledge and understanding about the work of a dentist. But, in the case of design, we believe we have some understanding about visual representation, colors and compositions, which always pushes us to express our preferences and expectations.