Design leader Paul demonstrates how to transform skeptical executives into design champions by speaking the language of business impact rather than design principles. Through a powerful case study of quantifying a $4.2 million "Poor Design Tax," this episode reveals how conducting design debt audits, running strategic pilot projects, and connecting design decisions directly to revenue and operational metrics can fundamentally shift organizational perception of UX from cost center to strategic driver. Learn the proven framework for establishing design as an essential business function.

Key takeaways include:

• Quantify the cost of poor design before advocating for design investment


• Present design opportunities as business analyses, not UX critiques


• Build executive buy-in through observable user sessions, not just data


• Choose pilot projects that are visible, measurable, and quickly solvable


• Translate every design improvement into specific business metrics and ROI