Design Thinking recommends we teach others to design, but how could this work in practice? Our teammates are working towards goals which may not align neatly with user experience. When building a culture of designing for the user, it must be self-sustaining. Allow me to introduce the practice of Integrative Thinking. In this talk, I’ll explore the process of an effective designer. Design Thinking recommends we teach others to design, but how could this work in practice? Our teammates are working towards goals which may not neatly align with user experience. If we are to build a culture of designing for the user, it must be self-sustaining. The most effective designers are bridges between functions. These folks are practicing Integrative Thinking. Integrative Thinking holds opposing ideas at once. It observes their dualities and generates a new solution. We unblock and enhance process instead of forcing design onto others. In this talk, we will explore Integrative Thinking. I will share a practice which will have your team to: - Navigate complex, and often conflicting, user needs. - Build a self-sustaining culture of user centered design. - Enjoy multiplier effects on productivity and fulfillment at work. Susan Lin is a Lead Product Designer at Cloudflare. As a design lead, she’s worked in cross functional multidisciplinary teams for the past 10+ years.