Being simultaneously data-driven and creative seems paradoxical. So does building statistics into the creative process. John Paul de Guzman has managed to do both. As the founder and chief creative of Frost Design and Consulting Group, and speaker at the upcoming DesignOps Summit, millions of Filipinos have been impacted by their work with major FinTech and telecom projects.

Much of the UX/UI talent in the Philippines is self-taught, often struggling with the gap between academic training and industry expectations. To address this, John Paul developed a systematic approach to training and design processes.

John Paul and Lou discuss how Frost has embraced data-driven design, which, contrary to the creative chaos one might expect, has led to more efficient workflows and better client outcomes. By integrating tools like Trello and Figma, and leveraging AI for task management, John Paul has significantly reduced administrative overhead. This approach allows designers to focus on their work rather than getting bogged down in busy work. They can track work in real time, eliminating the need for status meetings and improving overall productivity—a win-win for both the team and their clients.

What You'll Learn from this Episode:

- How John Paul and his team at Frost systematically integrated data into their creative processes

- How John Paul addressed the talent gap in his company

The tools he uses to track workflows and achieve always-current status on projects

- How probabilistic analysis helps predict project timelines and manage client expectations more accurately

- How John Paul is integrating AP in the project-tracking process

Quick Reference Guide:

0:13 - Introduction of John Paul

2:16 - The path that got John Paul where he is today

5:18 - What it means to be data-driven

8:39 - Systematizing the data-driven design process by tracking workflows

11:58 - Mapping the workflow

16:01 - Break

18:45 - Tools for probabilistic analysis and managing time

24:11 - The level of granularity John Paul’s team tracks

25:56 - Handling aspects of work that are more conceptual and difficult to atomize

30:46 - John Paul’s gift for listeners

Resources and Links from Today's Episode:

DesignOps Summit 2024 https://rosenfeldmedia.com/designops-summit/2024/