DESIGN OPS

Team and capability building

I built the design function end to end — partnering with recruiters, defining role profiles, and establishing a structured interview process that assessed craft, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Once the team was in place, I focused on sustainable growth through regular 1:1s centred on development, mentorship, and long-term progression. Knowledge sharing was embedded through regular design catch-ups, creating space for the team to stay aligned and continuously learn.

To support flexibility and scale, I also established a small, trusted freelance network — covering disciplines such as copywriting and motion — allowing the team to adapt quickly during high-demand periods without increasing long-term overhead.

Operating model and ways of working

Alongside team growth, I introduced ONMO's first design operations framework to bring clarity and consistency to how work moved from discovery to delivery.

This included:

Clear ownership across design, product, and engineering
Defined stages and decision points in the design workflow
Lightweight review and alignment checkpoints before production

The result was a more predictable and transparent way of working — reducing rework, improving cross-functional alignment, and enabling the team to deliver with greater confidence in a regulated environment.