How we used an adaptive design mindset to build a complex internal tool Illustrations by Maude Trudeau. In July 2022, Shopify launched Shopify Flex Comp, our new approach to compensation that puts product thinking at the forefront of how Shopify employees (a.k.a Shopifolk) get paid. It’s a bold and ambitious project that has the potential to rewrite the story of compensation in our industry. Flex Comp gives employees agency over their pay. Until today, the standard way for growth companies to pay employees has been an inflexible, unpredictable mix of cash and equity that takes agency ..read more

Illustration by Alisha Giroux.Why the Flagship Themes team at Shopify has cast off traditional discipline definitions The Flagship Themes team aims to launch 20 new themes by the end of the year. In August 2021, the team launched Dawn, Shopify’s leading theme, packed with features that bring together everything Online Store 2.0 has to offer. Nine months later, the team has built on that foundation and embraced a new way of working that is accelerating our time to launch and most importantly, increasing the value our products deliver to merchants. With the recent release of Ride and Colorb ..read more

Illustration by Alisha Giroux.A research framework for using data and cross-validation to reduce bias and drive action As designers and researchers, understanding our users is core to building the right things, and guiding the design direction we take. Knowing which research direction to take is a challenge in itself. Starting with user feedback is an obvious first step. But how do you gather enough feedback to provide an accurate picture? How can you avoid high-cost interviews, reduce feedback bias, and select the most appropriate research method? This is where a mixed-method r ..read more

Illustration by Alisha Giroux.How to use design thinking for productive kickoffs A checklist for approaching projects with a human-centered lens When you join a new team, whether existing or newly forming, it can feel like there is so much context you need to gain and no obvious starting point. Depending on your discipline, you’ll seek out different information than your colleagues — you’ll likely all gather very relevant context but you’re ultimately developing a view of the problem and/or opportunity area that is unique to you and your role. If you’re a designer, you may not think ..read more