Design partner
Also called: development partner
ELI5
An early customer helping shape the product.
Used in conversation
“The design partner should not control the whole roadmap.”
Definition
A customer collaborating closely on product development, usually receiving early access or influence.
Here “Design partner” means: A customer collaborating closely on product development, usually receiving early access or influence.
Pitch context
You will see “Design partner” in product strategy decks, roadmaps, experiments and architecture reviews when the discussion reaches prototype, mvp, pilot & release stages.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret prototype, mvp, pilot & release stages without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Sources & evidence · 2
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- Scrum Guides — The Scrum Guide — official current versionSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- National Institute of Standards and Technology — Computer Security Resource Center GlossarySupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16