How We Work Remotely as a Design Team 🎯

This post is a quick breakdown of how we run remote performance reviews on the design team. It’s not just for scorekeeping—it’s about clarity, rhythm, and making sure everyone’s in sync.

We’re fully remote, so communication and alignment matter a lot. Here’s the simple framework we use to keep ourselves accountable and growing.

🔍 What We Measure Every Month

On the 15th of every month, we do a light performance check-in across five areas. Each one gets 2.5 points, but honestly, it’s less about the points and more about whether you’re showing up intentionally each week.

🧠 Remember: Progress > perfection. The goal is rhythm, not rigidity.

Here’s what we’re looking at:

• Standup Quality – Are you clear and to the point?
• Output Quality – Is your work sharp and aligned with the brief?
• Timeliness – Are you hitting the delivery times you set?
• Documenting your process + suggestions – Are you thinking out loud and nudging the team forward with ideas?
• Team collaboration – Are you showing up as someone others want to work with?

🧭 What a Great Standup Looks Like

We try to keep standups light but intentional. You shouldn’t be logging 10 tasks a day.
3 solid issues per day max—that’s the sweet spot. No carryovers from two weeks ago unless it’s critical.

✅ “Less noise, more signal.”

Here’s the checklist we use internally to grade standups:

• 🎯 3 max issues per day
• ⏰ Specific time estimates for delivery (e.g., “Design v1 ready by 3:45 pm”)
• 🚧 Clear blockers – if something’s in your way, flag it early. Don’t let things fester.
• 🤝 Where you need input – if you’re waiting on feedback, say it out loud.
• 💬 Suggestions in advisory tone – if you’ve got an idea to push the work forward, bring it up—but with the right tone. Not every suggestion has to sound like a command.

💡 Tips presented with clarity become culture. Blockers mentioned late become bottlenecks.

📹 Updates & Communication Flow

We run a pretty tight async loop. Here’s how we stay visible and connected without constant meetings:

• 📽️ Daily morning standups – with a short Loom or screen capture when needed
• 🌇 Evening standups – a quick end-of-day wrap to show what’s shipped or still in play
• 🚀 Friday Epic Demos – this is the fun part. Show off the big stuff. Bring some energy.
• 📝 Docs-as-you-think – treat Notion, FigJam, or wherever you sketch ideas as a living journal. Don’t wait till things are perfect to share.

✨ Document the why, not just the what.

Why This Matters

Remote teams live and die by how well they communicate. This system helps us cut through noise, stay accountable, and create space for better conversations.

🔧 It’s not about micromanaging—it’s about designing a culture that respects each other’s time, craft, and flow.

Got feedback or want to adapt this system for your team? Hit me up.

— Ayo