Badminton to UX Teams: Lessons in Collaboration

In September this year, I participated in a badminton tournament as part of a mixed doubles team. At the start of the game, I felt unsure about my techniques and skills, and my lack of confidence held me back from performing at my best.

During a break, my partner remarked, “You should have gone up to the front and net so that we wouldn’t lose.” Hearing this, I felt a mix of guilt and self-doubt, which only led to more mistakes for the rest of the game. Unsurprisingly, we lost the match.

Afterward, we had a long conversation. Expecting criticism, I was surprised when my partner said, “I wasn’t blaming you. We are a team.” Although his skills were more advanced than mine, I deeply appreciated his words. They made me realize that while techniques are important, teamwork and communication matter just as much. His encouragement taught me valuable lessons about trust and support in a partnership.

Initially, his feedback felt like criticism, which amplified my self-doubt. However, his post-game reassurance, “We are a team,” shifted my perspective. It highlighted the value of constructive feedback in fostering growth—a principle I now apply in UX team critiques to ensure feedback inspires improvement rather than discouragement.

Reflecting on this experience, I learned the importance of recognizing each other's strengths and leveraging them strategically to work as a cohesive unit. A strong team isn’t about focusing on what someone lacks but about amplifying what everyone brings to the table. By emphasizing mutual growth and shared potential, teams can cultivate trust and respect—qualities far more valuable than any single victory. This mindset strengthens partnerships and lays the foundation for long-term success and collaboration.

Sept. 2024, NJBC RIAAN OPEN Badminton Tournament, Me and my XD partner

Understanding Strengths and Strategic Collaboration

In my badminton match, I often hesitated at the net, unsure of my skills. My partner, more experienced, noticed this and commented: “You should have gone up to the front and net so that we wouldn’t lose.” While he intended to provide feedback, it initially added to my self-doubt. Only after the game, during a supportive conversation, did I realize the importance of recognizing each partner’s strengths and playing accordingly. My partner’s ability to read the game and adjust our strategy based on our respective strengths demonstrated how collaboration isn’t just about covering weaknesses—it’s about making strategic choices that leverage each person’s capabilities.

Similarly, in UX design, effective teamwork relies on understanding and utilizing the unique skills each team member brings to the table—whether it’s research, design, development, or content strategy. As Maze explains, “Collaborative UX design involves multiple teams or specialists from different fields working together to create a cohesive user experience.” This means strategically distributing tasks to align with individual strengths: a UX researcher focuses on uncovering user insights, a designer crafts intuitive interfaces, and developers transform these designs into functional realities.

In our UX studio class, we adopt this principle by assigning roles based on strengths. Team members with strong design backgrounds naturally take on the design lead role, ensuring user-centered solutions. Organized individuals excel as project managers, maintaining timelines and deliverables. Meanwhile, those with innovative ideas and strong communication skills thrive as UX researchers, leading stakeholder interviews and gathering critical insights. This thoughtful allocation of roles not only leverages strengths but also fosters adaptability, ensuring that our team can adjust dynamically as projects evolve.

Whether on the badminton court or in a UX team, success comes from building on each other’s strengths and staying flexible. Recognizing and strategically utilizing these strengths allows teams to collaborate effectively, overcome challenges, and create meaningful outcomes. By embracing this mindset, we can foster trust, innovation, and long-term success in any collaborative effort.

Don't blame, but support

During the game, my partner’s initial feedback made me feel criticized, leading to more mistakes. However, his post-game reassurance, “We are a team,” shifted my perspective. This reminded me that success in collaboration isn’t about pointing out flaws but finding ways to improve together.

“High-performance is not about working extra hours. It’s about working smart, sustainably, and having high levels of trust and communication."(
Mark Wu

Likewise in UX design, it is very important to foster a safe, collaborative culture. Critiques during design reviews can often feel personal if not delivered constructively. As LogRocket explains, “Enhancing teamwork within UX projects requires a structured approach, emphasizing the importance of soft skills, open communication, and adaptability among team members.” Instead of saying, “This design doesn’t work,” a more collaborative approach might be, “How can we tweak this to better align with user needs?” This shift from blame to support fosters trust and drives collective problem-solving.

What Does Support Look Like in Practice?

Create a Safe Environment for Experimentation Designers need to feel trusted to try new methodologies, such as design sprints or prototyping techniques, without the fear of judgment. Creating this safe space allows team members to share bold ideas and learn from mistakes, reinforcing a culture of growth. As Mark Wu, Head of UX & Design at Avast, emphasizes, “High performance is not about working extra hours. It’s about working smart, sustainably, and having high levels of trust and communication.”

Encourage Continuous Learning and Curiosity A strong team is one that continually learns and adapts. Encourage team members to seek feedback from peers, other industry professionals, and users to gain new insights. As Jackie points out, “It’s never a bad idea to get feedback from peers or existing research on similar issues they’re facing.” This collaborative approach not only strengthens the project outcomes but also enhances individual growth.

Implement Systematic Feedback Loops Establish structured feedback mechanisms where UX professionals receive constructive feedback from both peers and supervisors. Regular design critiques, retrospectives, or one-on-one reviews can help identify areas for improvement while maintaining a positive and supportive tone.

Recognize and Reward Growth Acknowledge both big and small achievements within the team. Whether it’s a successful project milestone or an innovative idea shared during a brainstorming session, recognition boosts morale and reinforces a culture of mutual respect. Cheryl’s approach of offering team members opportunities to explore new areas of the product is an excellent example of fostering growth and inspiration.

Learn from Mistakes Encourage team members to view mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures. Discussing what went wrong constructively helps the team avoid similar pitfalls in the future while building resilience and trust.

By fostering an environment that prioritizes learning, trust, and constructive feedback, UX teams can achieve more than just meeting deadlines—they can create innovative, user-centered designs while cultivating a strong sense of camaraderie and professional growth.

Conclusion

Whether on the badminton court or in a UX design team, collaboration is more than just working together—it’s about creating an environment where trust, respect, and adaptability thrive. By recognizing and leveraging each other’s strengths, offering constructive feedback, and fostering a culture of continuous learning, teams can overcome challenges and achieve more together than they ever could individually.

Effective collaboration is not only about winning games or delivering successful projects; it’s about building partnerships that inspire growth, encourage innovation, and lead to meaningful outcomes. In UX design, this translates to crafting thoughtful, impactful, and user-centered user experiences—solutions that reflect the collective expertise and creativity of the entire team.

References

LogRocket Blog. “How to Give Design Feedback.” LogRocket Blog, 6 Oct. 2022, blog.logrocket.com/ux-design/design-feedback. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Maze. “How to Structure a UX Team.” Maze Blog, 2024, maze.co/collections/ux-ui-design/ux-team-structure. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

UX Design Institute. “The Key to UX Team Collaboration.” UX Design Institute, 2024, uxdesigninstitute.com/blog/ux-job-roles. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Duhigg, Charles. “What Google Learned from Its Quest to Build the Perfect Team.” The New York Times Magazine, 25 Feb. 2016, nytimes.com/2016/02/28/magazine/what-google-learned-from-its-quest-to-build-the-perfect-team.html. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

IDEO. “What Is Design Thinking?” IDEO Design Kit, designkit.org/methods. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.