Designing with Remote Teams

Generations, technologies, cultures, and organizational goals all influence whether team members can work remotely—and to what degree. Some companies are beginning to dabble with this shift. Others, like 37signals (makers of Basecamp), are fully remote. How do they design together—and successfully—from afar?

According to Jeff Gothelf, it all comes down to communication. Using nine specific tactics and a host of lean methods, Jeff discovered how to design effectively with teams sitting half a world away. He maintains team cohesion, builds trust with colleagues and clients, and takes advantage of tools that improve long-distance collaboration.

Fortunately, he's willing to share what he's learned.

Overcome common challenges of remote design

• Identify the most common obstacles to remote design
• See how context, culture, and trust combine to support remote design

Focus on communication

• Take maximum advantage of video conferencing and create a virtual presence
• Have face-to-face meetings—they are worth the cost to your team

Give your team the means to succeed

• Provide your team with robust project management, document sharing, and IM tools
• Hire people who can demonstrate that they are fit for remote work

Provide opportunities for people to bond

• Sketch together online, so everyone’s work is transparent
• Provide a “virtual happy hour” so teams can hang out and enjoy some camaraderie

Watch this seminar if you:

1. Have team members who work in other departments, offices, and time zones
2. Want to work with others in a more Agile way but aren't sure how to move faster, especially given philosophical, cultural, or political differences
3. Aren't sure which tools actually promote collaboration (or those that just waste time)