Your team is capable. So why does every project still end up in late-stage firefighting?

You didn't become an Engineering Manager to spend your days explaining why finished work needs to be redone. I help engineering teams build quality into the front end of product development — so problems get caught early, when they're cheap to fix.

25+ 

Years Experience

3 

Signature Frameworks

150+ 

Podcast Episodes

Pierce the Design Fog: Solve Your Toughest Product Development Challenges

You know the pain of the "fuzzy front end"—when your team works in silos, jumps to solutions too early, and discovers critical problems too late.

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The 'Ta-da Flop'

Your team designs for weeks, then unveils their solution—only to watch it get torn apart because it doesn't solve the real customer problem or meet stakeholder expectations.

The cost: Wasted engineering hours, demoralized teams, and delayed launches.

Functional Silos & Poor Communication

Marketing promises features Engineering can't deliver. Manufacturing says the design is unbuildable. Quality finds compliance gaps at the last minute.

The result: You're stuck playing referee instead of leading product strategy, while critical knowledge stays locked in individual heads until it erupts in crisis.

No Repeatable Process

Every project starts from scratch. Wild ideas chase unproductive meetings. Projects stall in false starts or burn budget on endless prototypes.

The problem: Quality depends on "hero" individuals. When they leave, their knowledge walks out the door—and you can't scale what you can't repeat.

Late Quality & Risk Analysis

Critical reliability issues, safety concerns, and regulatory gaps surface when design is "95% complete"—when fixing anything requires expensive rework and timeline extensions.

The pattern: Risk analysis happens too late, turning what should be early design inputs into late-stage firefighting.

Confused concentrated mixed race woman dressed formally wearing big round eyeglasses being focused on her future project having some problems with it. Serious woman being busy at her workplace

You know the cycle: You gather requirements, brief the team, and weeks later engineering delivers something that completely misses the mark. Now you're stuck explaining why it needs to be redone...again.

There's a better way. Get proven frameworks that align your cross-functional team before design starts, not after prototypes fail.

Explore our Approach

Three Frameworks that Work Together

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Concept Space Model

Strategic Integration • Structured Co-work • Systematic Customer Exploration

Learn more about frameworks

Where do you want to start?

Every engagement begins with understanding your specific situation. Choose the path that matches where you are right now.

Help

I have an urgent problem right now

A design review is coming up. Stakeholders are misaligned. Requirements keep shifting. You need expert guidance on a specific challenge — fast.

→ 90-Minute Power Consultation Deep-dive on your specific challenge. Walk away with an actionable plan. Perfect for: Engineering Managers and PMs facing an immediate, high-stakes decision.

Book a Session

Teams

My team needs better tools and a shared process

Your team is talented but misaligned. Every project starts from scratch. Critical knowledge lives in individual heads. You need a repeatable process your whole team can use.

→ Pierce the Design Fog Team Intensive 2-day facilitated workshop. Your real project. Your actual team. Frameworks they'll use the next day.

Perfect for: Engineering Managers and R&D Directors ready to change how their team starts projects

Learn about the Workshop

Organizations

I want to transform how my whole organization works

You're done with hero dependency. You want quality thinking embedded across every project, not just the next one. You need an ongoing partner who understands your team, your challenges, and your goals.

→ Quality during Design Partnership Monthly or quarterly embedded advisory. Custom playbook. Internal facilitator training. Capability that stays after I'm gone.

Perfect for: Engineering Directors and R&D leaders building long-term organizational capability

Explore Partnerships

Individuals

I want to learn before I commit

Not ready for an engagement yet? Start here. 150+ podcast episodes, the book, free templates, and Substack insights — all free or low cost.

Perfect for: Engineers and managers exploring Quality during Design on their own terms

Free Resources
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Hi. I'm Dianna Deeney,

I understand engineering and new product development. I've worked across the entire product lifecycle, from production floor to quality engineering.

I've spotted what consistently trips up product development teams, like yours.

IEEE Senior Engineer | Senior ASQ Certified Engineer, Auditor, & Manager

Learn More About Me

Trusted by Leaders

"You covered a lot of material in a very clear practical manner."

-Cary Enslow, HP

"A real thought leader in quality."

-Greg Hutchins, PE

"Dianna demonstrated leadership and tremendous competence in all of her activities."

-Jim Watkins, Teleflex

Engineering Managers and Product Managers: stop explaining why finished work needs to be redone.

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