In a world where the traditional “command and control” management style is rapidly fading , a new philosophy is taking center stage: Employee Experience Design (EXD). On a recent episode of the Inside Personal Growth podcast, host Greg Voisen sat down with Dean E. Carter, a seasoned HR visionary with 25 years of experience leading transformations at iconic brands like Patagonia, Sears, and Guild Education.

Dean, along with co-authors Samantha Gadd and Mark Levy, recently released their groundbreaking book, Employee Experience Design: How to Co-create Work Where People and Organizations Thrive. The book provides a comprehensive framework for designing a workplace where both people and organizations can truly flourish.

Designing With People, Not For Them

The core of the authors’ philosophy can be distilled into just eleven words: designing with people and not for them. This shift marks a departure from traditional HR approaches. Instead of top-down mandates, EXD focuses on co-creation—ensuring that the humans hired to do the work have a direct hand in shaping their environment.

Dean shares a powerful lesson from his time at Patagonia: “No people, no company”. This realization led to a “regenerative” approach to work, asking critical questions such as whether a business benefit results in a better relationship with a spouse or more time to spend with children.

The “Titanic” Lesson: Finding Mutual Value

One of the most challenging mindsets for leaders to adopt is finding mutual value. Dean illustrates this with a raw story from his tenure at Sears. Recognizing the brand was a “sinking ship,” he didn’t offer empty bonuses or ping-pong tables. Instead, he focused on the intrinsic value of learning and growth, promising his team that by doing their best work even as the “ship” went down, they would become highly sought-after experts. Today, 28 of those former team members have gone on to become heads of HR.

Practical Frameworks for Change

For leaders looking to start their EXD journey, Dean recommends the Double Diamond Design Method. This process encourages leaders to move through specific phases rather than jumping straight to delivery:

• Discover: Truly listen to people to understand their current experience and level of energy.

• Define: Pinpoint the actual problem you are trying to solve before seeking a solution.

• Design: Co-create and develop solutions around that specific problem.

• Deliver: Execute the solution to improve the employee experience.

The Future of Work: Wisdom, Wonder, and Wit

As we look toward the future, Dean emphasizes that preserving what is uniquely human—wisdom, wonder, and wit—will be the ultimate competitive edge. By fostering curiosity and a sense of play, organizations can move away from the “loneliness epidemic” and toward a community where both the person and the organization thrive.

“Be curious. Don’t assume that what you think is going on is the thing… be curious and then when you’re curious and you discover… then take action.” — Dean E. Carter

Connect with Dean E. Carter

Dean is dedicated to reimagining the world of work by co-creating environments where people and organizations thrive together. To explore his work further, learn about his regenerative HR models, or access his insights on transformational leadership, visit him through the following official channels:

• Book: Employee Experience Design: How to Co-create Work Where People and Organizations Thrive

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/deancarter/