How Does Joining Google Differ From Joining Meta as a Designer?

Nicholas Jitkoff says joining Google and joining Meta asked for different ways to practice design, even at companies of the same size. At Google he essentially grew up inside the company, moving from engineering into design and establishing hundreds of connections. At Meta he entered a company of the same size with no connections, so design leaders and executives had to create room for pathfinding.

The room replaced having to form relationships quickly in order to get work done. Over the 20 years he has been working, design has gained a seat at the table and no longer has to argue for one. People show almost overwhelming enthusiasm and ask design to figure everything out and to name the resources required.

The opening is a real opportunity, and it also puts more product weight and directional strategy work on design.