The Design Practice

Emotional Intelligence and AI to Help Design Leaders Streamline Operations, Inspire Collaboration, and Elevate Creative Work.

what we do

We Streamline Design Ops

We help creative teams solve operational inefficiencies, enhance collaboration, and elevate the quality of their work using emotional intelligence frameworks and custom AI-powered tools.By addressing both human and system challenges, we create environments where innovation thrives.

What Problems We Solve

We Tackle Inefficiencies & Poor Team Dynamics

Creative Teams Struggle When Operations and Human Interactions Fall Apart.Most operational problems have their roots in human behavior.By addressing emotions with empathy and transforming systems with AI, we help you create environments where creativity and people thrive.The result? Less chaos. More focus. Better design.

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We address challenges like:

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Inefficient Workflows:
Remove bottlenecks and streamline processes to help teams deliver faster results.
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AI Adoption:
Build tailored AI agents and tools to enhance creativity and simplify operations.
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Team Communication:
Enable large teams to communicate efficiently while maintaining cohesive design language and intent across projects.
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Talent Retention and Development:
Reduce costly turnover by creating a culture where your team feels empowered to stay and grow.

how we do it

We Leverage Emotional Intelligence Framewors & AI Tools

Our transformative framework relies on emotional intelligence and AI to help teams overcome bottlenecks, scale sustainably, and create with purpose.

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We focus on:

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Emotional Intelligence:
→ Resolve interpersonal challenges with empathy-driven strategies.
→ Strengthen relationships, trust, and alignment across teams.
→ Cultivate a collaborative and creative team culture.
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AI-Driven Optimization:
→ Develop custom AI agents tailored to your team’s specific needs.
→ Coach teams on the latest AI tools to boost creativity and productivity.
→ Leverage AI to automate tasks and streamline complex workflows.
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Scalable Systems Design:
→ Establish workflows that ensure consistency and reliability.
→ Create processes that balance efficiency with creativity.
→ Enable seamless collaboration across distributed or hybrid teams.

Who We Help

We Help Design Leaders Empower Their Teams

Each creative team faces its own challenges, which is why our solutions are tailored to fit their unique needs

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We support:

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Corporate Design Teams:
Overcome scaling challenges and enable seamless collaboration across global or distributed teams.
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Creative Agencies:
Streamline operations to meet tight deadlines, reduce burnout, and foster creativity while supporting business growth and client development.
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Independent Designers & Freelancers:
Build efficient systems that balance attracting clients with maintaining creative freedom.

Our Process

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Intro Call
A free consultation to assess your needs and ensure we’re the right fit.
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Assessment
We audit your team’s workflows, tools, and dynamics to uncover the biggest opportunities for improvement.
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Transform
Using emotional intelligence principles, we enhance collaboration, trust, and team communication.
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Optimize
We implement AI-driven tools, custom AI agents, and streamlined workflows tailored to your specific needs.
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Measure and Elevate
Set up systems to track ROI, measure the impact of changes, and help your team achieve new levels of performance, creativity, and measurable success.

About The Design Practice

The Design Practice, founded by award-winning designer and two-time founder Manuel Saez, transforms the way creative teams work by blending emotional intelligence with cutting-edge AI tools.With access to a global network of talent specializing in AI and design operations, our team brings deep expertise to help leaders streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and unlock their team’s full potential through proven systems and personalized guidance.

About Manuel Saez

Manuel Saez is a designer, entrepreneur, and emotional intelligence coach with over 20 years of experience leading creative teams, leveraging AI solutions, and delivering innovative strategies.He founded Beyond, the first U.S. micromobility subscription service, achieving a successful exit, and led a multimillion-dollar design consultancy that launched over 50 award-winning products for brands like Herman Miller, Humanscale, and Crate & Barrel.

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Learn More:

manuelsaez.com → Explore Manuel’s journey and work.

advisemyself.com → Read Manuel’s insights on emotional intelligence and design.

Testimonials


“Manuel’s guidance helped me transform how I approach my work. I’m more organized, confident, and productive.”
— Joey Flores, Growth Lead @Pinch (YC-W25)

“Manuel helped me elevate my mindset, refine systems, and sharpen leadership skills with his people-first perspective.”
— Lev Markelov, Founder @Wordbrew

“Manuel introduced systems that took our operations to the next level, allowing us to focus on what we do best: creating.”
— Lachezar Tsevetanov, Founder @Studio Novo

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