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Episodes
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
Thursday Aug 24, 2023
In this episode, we are joined by Mr. Praveen Nambupitchai, the Design Lead at Galaxy Weblinks Inc. A self-taught design expert with 6.5 years of experience, Praveen specializes in UI and product design. His profound knowledge of UI design has honed his ability to craft intuitive and visually striking interfaces that deliver an enhanced user experience. Beyond his expertise, Praveen mentors aspiring designers, guiding them in skill development and career advancement.
Discussion points -
Could you share the journey that led you to become a design extraordinaire and educator? 2:08
Did the self-taught learning journey, including discipline and reliance on online resources, ever lead to self-doubt or uncertainty about your ability to succeed as a designer? 4:11
Apart from talent, what key factors do you consider pivotal in shaping you into the accomplished designer you are today? 5:18
When facing intermediaries like managers or client representatives who filter design feedback, how do these challenges influence your design attitude and motivation? 6:59
Transitioning from solo work to collaborating with teams on multiple projects, what key differences have you observed in your design approach and overall experience? 9:48
Rapid fire round 11:19
Shifting from a designer to mentor and course creator, how challenging was it to adapt your focus, develop a curriculum, and bridge design approach gaps? 20:03
With Figma introducing new features like variables, multilingual support, data sets, and AI capabilities, what's your perspective on these changes? 22:59
Regarding generative AI tools in the creative industry, do you see them as a threat or a benefit? Will they reshape your design approach, or have a more positive impact? 25:47
Could the integration of advanced features like generative AI in tools like Figma result in a steeper learning curve for designers and the need for specialized professionals in prototyping and interactivity? 29:04
What advice would you give to aspiring designers who admire portfolios like yours and dream of becoming accomplished designers themselves? 30:31
Show notes -
I didn't attend any school to learn design, and during that time, there weren't any online platforms available for learning either. The only source I had was YouTube. I absorbed all the videos that people had recorded and posted. This was also a period when the design was undergoing significant evolution.
I don't closely follow design trends, as they change constantly. Instead, I focus on maintaining consistency through practice and frequent iterations. I don't settle with just one design; I keep iterating until I'm truly satisfied.
I gather various inputs to determine what will work well visually and experientially. While some might believe visuals alone suffice for a product, the experience also plays a significant role.
When working alone, your decisions rely solely on your own judgment and experience. However, collaborating with a team introduces new perspectives and surprising possibilities that you might not have considered on your own.
Teaching is something I aspire to do beyond this industry, given my personal journey through challenges. Recently, I've observed individuals enthusiastically taking online courses in various fields, including UX. However, there remains a significant gap in teaching the art of crafting quality designs. This gap is what I aim to address through my mentorship.
Figma's recent foray into AI is quite intriguing, particularly the demo they showcased. There have been concerns that AI might take over jobs, but as seen in the demo, these tools aren't actually performing design tasks.
As a designer, you are understanding how engineering functions is essential, as your role extends beyond creating a design. Designing is just the beginning; you're involved in the entire process, from building the design to development, leading to a sense of satisfaction once the product is complete.
When starting your career, gather references from established professionals, especially those focused on consistent enterprise and real product design, rather than chasing trends that are ever-changing.
Links -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/praveen-n-964560151/
Company website: https://www.galaxyweblinks.com/
Portfolio/ website: https://www.behance.net/pravinrj27
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
Thursday Aug 17, 2023
In this episode, we are joined by Jarek Kucharczyk, the Design Lead at DIFF—a true polymath, spanning art, education, and innovation. From teaching design to rocking out with his metal band and crafting captivating oil paintings, his creativity knows no limits. With over 22 years of experience, he effortlessly melds user-centered design and Shopify brands for exceptional experiences. His commitment to innovation has led to partnerships with Nestle, Samsung, and Discovery Channel.
Discussion points -
With your various roles and being a family man, how do you manage such a diverse set of responsibilities effectively? 1:52
How did you begin your career and how did you arrive at your current position? 3:14
How has your experience of bridging the cultural context between Europe and North America influenced your approach to user experience design and product development? 6:23
What's the connection between art and UX design, given your background transition, and how does problem-solving and design thinking fit into this relationship? 9:16
Rapid fire round 12:07
Why do you believe networking is crucial for designers, and why is it important to ensure that conversations within your network remain relevant and valuable? 18:08
Do you think remote work for designers is less productive than office work, and how does it impact creativity, considering your company's remote setup? 19:46
Could you provide more details about the online courses you teach and the subjects you cover in your courses? 24:03
What advice would you give to those entering the design field about navigating their career journey over the next decade or so? 26:58
Show notes -
Balancing life and work is often easier said than done and it greatly depends on your personal circumstances. For instance, having small children can make it more challenging.
As far as I remember, I knew I wanted to be an artist. I recall as a child, I would look at other people's works and try to replicate them. I always knew I was going to be an artist.
When I came to Canada, it was the biggest surprise for me. I was expecting advanced technologies, and while they do exist here, their implementation is not as intense as it is in Europe.
I would always advise every designer to go big with your ideas. There is no such thing as a bad idea, especially in the ideation phase. Every idea, even if initially considered not suitable, could lead to another idea that inspires better solutions.
Collaborating with other people is in my blood; it's something I feel is the most effective way to achieve incredible things by drawing inspiration from one another and creating something together.
A lot in terms of creativity depends on how ideas are bounced off each other. The facilitator of the conversation plays a crucial role, whether it's in a digital environment or a physical meeting room. They set the foundation for productive and creative discussions.
I teach three courses. One is called "Visualizations," which covers the fundamentals of visual design. The other one is "Information Design," focusing on data collection, interpretation, visualization, and drawing conclusions from it. The third one is "Physical Interfaces," which is particularly intriguing as it involves blending the digital and physical worlds.
When I observe my students and the industry, people often kill ideas too quickly before exploring their potential variations. Being brave is crucial; it's the key to success. Be bold with your ideas, think of the impossible, and then consider how to make it a reality.
Links -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarekkucharczyk/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarek_designer/
Company website: https://www.diffagency.com/
Portfolio/ website: http://www.jarekdesigner.com/
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
Thursday Aug 10, 2023
In this episode, we are joined by Mindy League, the UX Director at Elevated Third. A true master of design thinking, research, and UX expertise, she has the remarkable ability to align business objectives with user needs, making her a valuable asset to enterprise stakeholders. With a unique blend of empathy, design thinking, and research expertise, she crafts exceptional product experiences for top global brands like HP, Emerson, and IBM.
Discussion Points -
Can you share your journey and what led you to choose a career in UX design, ultimately reaching the position of UX Director at Elevated Third? 1:35
How was the transition from living in Texas to moving to New York and working as a product designer there? 5:23
Do you believe that experiencing the humane side of New York city contributed to your empathic approach to user experience design? 7:03
What were the similarities and major differences you experienced during your transition from physical product design to software product design, and how do you find both roles? 10:36
Do you believe having a variety of experiences in their career is crucial for designers aiming to become design leaders and make a bigger impact? 16:13
Rapid fire round 18:12
How does UX connect with marketing, considering that marketing revolves around business goals and financial outcomes? 26:53
What are some leadership challenges that you think you learned the hard way? 32:18
What is the advice you would give to green designers? 33:35
Show notes -
It was interaction design when I started; UX hadn't been defined. The people at IBM had backgrounds in human factors and engineering human interactions. I had been doing it for a long time. And so as we were stepping out, we were saying, "We do UX, user experience design."
Vulnerability is something that people are sometimes shy to show, but once you do, you can really connect with other people, including your clients and users, and bring that through the whole process.
Comparing physical and digital product design reveals similarities and differences. Physical products offer tangible satisfaction and visibility, while digital products provide flexibility for adjustments like fixing typos. However, rectifying errors in shipped physical products can be more complex.
Design thinking really helps when you have a brief. It's abstract, and you don't know exactly what they have in mind. With design thinking, you can tease out more information, explore it, and dissect it like a prism.
Continually learning, evolving, and being open to keeping up with technology while relying on mentors to help with transitions are extremely important, even if the mentor is not in your field, as they have the background to guide you and apply proven learnings to your work, ushering you into those transitions.
The type of work we do at Elevated Third involves working with B2B SaaS companies, where our focus is on creating websites that generate customers for them, rather than directly working on the SaaS product itself.
A lot of the companies we work with are collaborating with branding agencies. These agencies bring us new brand elements for which we design new websites, reflecting the invigorated and youthful nature of the brand. However, their old products don't resemble this new brand in any way.
We are really focused on website marketing, particularly for selling products, occasionally dipping into product design. However, we prioritize hiring designers with marketing backgrounds and individuals who are open to business objectives.
I have continued to use mentors today, even though I might be the director of the organization, for accountability purposes. Luckily, my organization sees the value of mentors and brings in consultants and people for us to work with, even though we are on the leadership team.
Links -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyleague/
Company website: https://www.elevatedthird.com/
Portfolio/ website: https://www.behance.net/mindyleague
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Thursday Jul 27, 2023
Join us in this episode with Bruno Serge, Sr. Manager of Product Design at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. With over two decades of cross-disciplinary design, writing, and technology leadership experience, Bruno is a true creative mastermind. From renowned brands like Guitar Hero, Blizzard, and Bungie to contributing to Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's success, he solves complex human problems with boundless creativity, leaving a lasting impact on the design industry.
Discussion points -
What inspired you to choose a career in design, and how do you see the intersection of engineering and design in your professional journey? 1:26
Engineering & Design - How do these two worlds meet in your opinion? 4:52
How did your background in different cultures and countries impact you as a professional? 8:35
Rapid fire round 18:43
What are your thoughts on the widespread adoption of the new vision pro and its potential impact on culture and society? How will designers and individuals cope with its addictive nature and the influence of the reward economy? 31:19
With the convergence of various technologies like AI techniques, voice interfaces, and advancements in AI, what role do you think it will play in the field of 3D design? 34:11
What advice would you give to young professionals who are just starting out in this field? What actions should they take, and what should they avoid? What's the mantra for success in their career? 39:04
Show notes -
Throughout my life, I've always been eager to build things. And it was kind of a divide between an artistic form of building things and engineering problem-solving.
As a generalist, I was never able to really focus on one thing, I always wanted to learn more and more in terms of what I like, to broaden my horizons, and learn multiple skills in order to adapt and combine them.
We were applying research and best practices to make the games more addictive , which was a great problem-solving approach from a business perspective. It allowed us to sell more games, and indeed, we achieved that. However, I also had moments of reflection where I questioned the social and cultural implications that might arise from this. It led me to reconsider the ethics of what I was doing.
There's nothing that a human being can create, be it problem-solving, or a machine, anything that doesn't have a little touch of artistry to it.
When you build a website, it's not exactly like painting, you have to consider the limitations of technology, you have to consider how users will perceive it, and how they will interact with it. So there's a lot of best practices, a lot of rules that go into that.
Throughout my career, I've encountered this situation numerous times: while trying to solve a human problem, I get interrupted by a business problem that I haven't quite cracked. These two issues are not exactly the same thing.
There is inertia toward having more visual interfaces, and I believe the Vision Pro is a symptom of that. It will undoubtedly steer things further in that direction in the coming years.
I believe a technology like (AI/VR) will always have a little bit of an osmosis effect, influencing the development of anything related to 3D, due to the heightened awareness that customers will have.
Designers should be more selfish, particularly when considering their portfolios. The nature of a designer is iterative, focusing on solving problems and creating better experiences for humans, which is great. However, in our current system, designers also need to consider how their work will look in their portfolio in the long term.
A while back, I switched from Dribbble to Behance. And I'm much happier in the way that I can showcase my portfolio.
Links -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theartist/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/sergesfeed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brunosthings/ Company’s website:https://brunoserge.com/ Portfolio/website: https://www.behance.net/brunoserge
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Thursday Jul 20, 2023
Our guest today is Ana Bel Campos, the Director of User Experience Design at Exygy. With 17 years of experience, Ana is a powerhouse in design and product management. She embraces fundamentals, explores new ideas, and puts the user at the heart of the design process. Known for her expertise in storytelling, product strategy, and growth, Ana combines creative freedom with a strong product management background to create impactful user experiences.
Discussion point -
How has the journey been so far? What are the things that you have experienced and how has the path been for you? 1:23
How did you get into this field? 4:09
What is the difference between human behavior economics and human behavior psychology? 5:35
Rapid fire round 12:07
What is the difference while you're designing for social impact versus when you're designing for profit? 19:40
Can you elaborate on the terms - equity-centered design and community-centered design? 24:34
At Exergy, what kinds of projects are generally undertaken? What is the clientele? 28:16
What would be your advice to young professionals starting their careers in design? 30:28
Show notes -
I always like to say that even as a product manager, I was actually a UX designer. Because even as a product manager, my main focus was always making sure that we are crafting experiences that are intuitive, simple, accessible, and delightful.
I was always passionate about understanding humans and how they think and why they make the decisions that they do.
I think empathy is a really big thing in UX and human-centered design. And I think it's one of our core values.
Designer needs to have this ability to sometimes forget about themselves, and what the solution is, just listen to the user's needs and let the solution come naturally.
When you're designing for social impact, the designer is far removed from the lived experience of the user.
When you're designing for social impact, you need to go above and beyond. You need to actually close that gap between the designer and the user, which means really bringing the user to the design process.
I think that idea of inclusivity, and equity is way more important when you're talking about designing for social impact.
I see a disconnect between the tech world and the social impact world. And, what we're trying to do at Exergy is bridge those two worlds.
I don't think that AI will be able to understand humans in the way we understand humans.
If I could give people advice, focus on the human aspects of user experience.
Links -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anabelcampos/
Company website: https://www.exygy.com/
Medium: https://medium.com/@anabelcampos
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Thursday Jul 13, 2023
Joining us today is Tiago Estrada, a multitalented guest and the Director of Experience Design at Kenvue. With an impressive track record of nearly 25 years in product design for renowned brands like Citibank, Amex, and Ferrari, Tiago brings extensive expertise in AI Conversational Interfaces and global e-commerce. As a design ninja, he excels in Omni & multi-channel retail, and his fluency in Portuguese, Spanish, French, Italian, and English adds to his diverse skill set.
Discussion Points -
What are the key moments in your career, and where are you right now? How has the journey been for you? 2:38
Let's talk about the entrepreneurial parts of product design, and how you see it with the current scenarios. 2:56
Can you elaborate on the significance of conversational interfaces or conversational UI? 4:27
One of the clients that you worked for one of the companies that you've been associated with was Ferrari. So can you tell us anything about your experience working with a brand, which is globally renowned for luxury? 5:28
Given the evolving dynamics of the industry, where machine learning and AI have become omnipresent, how do you plan to leverage ML recommendation engines to drive business growth in the context of product design for e-commerce sites? 7:25
To what extent do you believe design systems have become crucial in establishing or scaling up design operations within agencies, departments, and the industry as a whole? 9:07
Rapid fire round 13:36
How can design systems be enhanced to become a global language and effectively contribute to addressing significant societal issues? 19:00
Do you believe designers can initiate an open-source project that establishes a universally accepted design system, starting from scratch and aiming to create a globally embraced standard? 22:28
What advice would you like to give to anybody who is starting as a product professional in the industry? 24:25
Show notes -
I started my career early working in e-commerce, but I was more interested in the data side of things.
Because designers sit closer to customers and users, they have that advantage in understanding and anticipating those so-called customer needs.
You see a lot of attempts in terms of coming up with interfaces that simulate that type of simplicity that exists in a conversation. Just think of breathing, think of the silence and moments, those are very difficult things to translate in terms of technology.
In terms of personalization, it's not just you know, about providing data to customers, it's about providing data too.
I was astonished to know that Ferrari allows for that deeper customization, they do white gloves kind of customization where your car is taken out of the assembly line and then goes through an authentic, white glove type of step by step customization and obviously, it’s super expensive.
Most of the brands that I have worked with don't realize what design systems are all about, what are the new components that you're going to build? What are the new experiences that you're going to build? Because if you're going to scale within two or three years, so will the interfaces.
It always astonishes me that we're not at that point yet, where there are no more universal canons and universal standards for design.
That's a very interesting idea, for example, if I invite designers to contribute, it would allow us to devise a universal design system that caters to various ethnic groups and geographies.
Looking into the discipline of design with a strong sociological input, research is vital. Know your users, and know who you are making the particular application for. It's the most important.
Links -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiagolimaestrada/
Company website:https://www.kenvue.com/
Portfolio/ website: https://www.estradaportfolio.com/new-page
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Thursday Jul 06, 2023
Joining us today is Carmen Branje, the Director of Product Design at Maple. With over 15 years of experience and a wealth of academic achievements, including a Ph.D., Carmen is an exceptional designer, driven by a deep passion for serving others. Through his expertise in design, research, development, and teaching, he has consistently crafted innovative solutions that have a profound positive impact on those in need. Carmen's unwavering commitment to his craft and his dedication to helping others make him a true inspiration in the world of design.
Discussion Points
What inspired you to become a designer? How has the journey been so far? 2:13
What are the challenges generally faced when designing for healthcare? 14:59
Rapid fire round 20:43
What is the current theme in academia about artificial intelligence and design? 27:35
How is the field of product design and user experience evolving? How are you addressing the common confusion surrounding the definitions of product design and user experience design? 34:11
You coach up-and-coming designers, what sort of coaching do you provide? 40:06
Show notes
I've always been a tech geek, as a young kid, when I was 10-ish, I ran something called a BBS. It was like a pre-internet server, people could call in through the phone.
A lot of the things I designed for are things that at least in theory should help people.
I'm taking a pretty optimistic approach to AI, for even the newest version.
The first version of Excel was called Lotus 123, when that first came out, a lot of accountants were very scared. But I think what happened is, instead of there being fewer accountants, there was way more accounting.
With chat GPT we're going to do more UX, and we are going to do more research.
I want to solve problems and just tell some AI “Hey, AI, fix all the padding”, shoot! it fixes it. That's what we want to focus on.
What they mistakenly believe is people want the cow, not the milk, right? But people want the milk. So, we just have to remember that and I think we're going to be fine, I'm optimistic (with reference to AI).
We have to figure out a way to simulate and practice because I find that what's really missing in UX education is practice. Universities do theory, they're really good at theory like physical theory, and chemistry but design is a practice.
Getting a junior person started up in their career is super rewarding. So, we're gonna be doing more of that in the future.
Links -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmen-branje-phd-5179358/
Website: http://www.carmenbranje.com/
Email: Cbranje@gmail.com
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
Thursday Jun 29, 2023
In this episode, we are joined by Lacey Picazo, the Founder & CEO of ZoCo Design. She is an award-winning creative force known for her expertise in transforming and growing nonprofits, startups, and Fortune 500 clients. Lacey is also a renowned speaker and presenter, and a member of the prestigious Business First 2016 Forty Under 40 class.
Discussion points -
How did you start it in design? And, what made you choose this career? 1:29
How do the recognition and accolades received by ZoCo design for being rated as the best place to work and appearing on prestigious lists like Columbus Business First, Fast 50, and the Inc. 5000, validate your agency's mission? How does one plan to build a business like this? 6:02
Rapid fire round 10:33
How did you navigate through the difficulties of being a young woman entrepreneur when you started out your career? What was your support system like? And, do you think the times have changed? 17:25
You are focused a lot on your team and the cultural building that you do within ZoCo. Would you mind shedding some light on how you go about it? 20:19
What advice would you give to someone who is starting a career in design? 25:31
Show notes
I enjoyed making things, and iterating and experimenting, even as a young child. And so, when I got into this career, as a designer, I was focused mainly on digital design, creating software, and creating websites.
While our team feels very energized, to be recognized and to see the power and potential of their work, they are most motivated by the impact we make for our clients.
The vision is to bring more user-centricity to design and technology and product. That is still the case and still what we champion and what we fight for.
There's so much complexity in different parts of UX, which is fascinating. Because I think for those of us who want to learn about diverse industries and see different parts of the business, it's the best role to be able to get into that.
I found the most value in my own learning and development by creating a community and finding other folks who are trying to solve similar problems to me.
I learned early on at ZoCo, that cultivating a team and creating a path positive and very connected culture is probably the most central motivator for me and building my business more than anything else.
I hope people feel empowered today more than ever to build the career that they want and not feel like it has to fit into a box.
We apply a lot of UX principles and design thinking principles to how we operate the business. But the last piece related to building what you want is making sure you ask for what you want.
Being verbal, candid, and transparent is important in building any career, whether you're an entrepreneur or an agency CEO like I am, or if you're just trying to be the best UX-er in the land.
Links -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/
Company website: https://zocodesign.com/
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Thursday Jun 22, 2023
Philip Wallage, Sr. Freelance UX Designer, ASML, is a master of the digital space. With over two decades of expertise, he serves as a brilliant mentor and advisor to entrepreneurs and startups, guiding them toward success in the digital realm. Philip is known for his innovative problem-solving skills and strategic thinking, leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of innovation.
Discussion points -
What has your journey been like in the creative domains of design and innovation? 2:04
What are your thoughts on the design sprints, planning, and how the work is managed? 7:17
Rapid fire round 10:27
What makes a product user-centered, or ego-centered in the narrative? What is the difference between the two? 19:16
You are in the process of coming up with a solution that is going to help freelancers. What is it about? 23:39
How can one join your program for freelancers? 28:04
What advice would you like to give to somebody who's just starting as a freelancer and has a career in design? 34:42
Show notes-
The thing I always found most fascinating, fun, and engaging to do was talking to the business owners and asking them, why do you do what you do and why do customers choose your product or your service?
It's always quite difficult to place user research in a project, especially on the agency side, when there is hourly billing.
The idea of adopting user-centered design is the exact opposite of ego-centered design. It's about being open and being okay with not knowing things for sure. Being willing to contribute ideas, but not claiming them as an absolute truth.
What I liked about design sprints, it's that you have a very productized service. So it's a way of not only getting away from hourly billing, but having something where you can say, okay, you have a problem, and I have a solution for it.
I'm heading down that direction to build a three-month program in which I want to help freelancers create a unique offering, figuring out who they are, and what do you like to do. and what is the most valuable thing you can offer to a client, and wrapping that in a nice package.
One of the challenges that agencies face is standardizing their services.
If you find something you enjoy and you get good at it, you'll also find a way to make some money from it.
I would highly recommend people get their own CRM to keep track of the people that they've met and spoken to, and not lose those people out of sight.
Links -
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipwallage/
Website: https://www.philipwallage.com/
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
Thursday Jun 15, 2023
In this episode of UX Banter, we are joined by Mr. David Landa, Partner, and Executive Design Director at Free Association. With a passion for design, he helps brands create value through innovative product design, brand strategy, and team leadership. Specializing in Innovation, Brand Strategy, Prototyping, Storytelling, and UX/UI Evolution, David is an expert in navigating complex design and innovation challenges.
Discussion points -
How did you come into this profession, and what made you what you're doing today? 1:43
Why did you name the company ‘Free Association’? 7:43
How was your experience working with Google Maps & Apple Maps? 10:00
What sort of work went into the smart city project of Toyota that you are associated with? Share with us your experience.
How do you differentiate between working for a bigger organization's prototyping, or North star vision versus any North Star development for any startup?
What importance should young entrepreneurs give to the UX for designing the North star? 18:41
Rapid Fire Questions 20:32
What role does psychology play in defining the initial product or prototype that you're working on?
Intuition versus relevance, how does that play and fit into the bigger picture? 28:29
How do you connect the entire narrative - lead designs to intuition to brand personality, and then product design? 30:49
What are your thoughts on generative AI? 33:33
What do you think about the anti-AI voices? 36:54
What advice would you give to somebody who is just starting their career? 38:58
Show notes
I learned through making stuff. And it's always really been the way of just putting myself into new environments, new challenges, and trying to figure it out.
We started to learn what it was about design that we loved, and how to follow that path. And started to move up from doing websites and advertising, moving into branding, starting to get into UX, and that's when it started trending as a real thing.
Another part that's exciting about Toyota is they think of mobility, as movement as in moving hearts and minds. So that's always been a fun part of Toyota.
The Woven City is a living laboratory that they're building on the foothills of Mount Fuji to accelerate automated technologies and technologies connected to this idea of being a mobility company, by having people live work, and play in the city, they can have these different technologies out in a very connected way.
The kind of experience that we're trying to create, and understand that technology is really in service of people or are the people in service of technology?
Picking a horizon is important, as knowing what you're shooting for and how far out. The reason you do North Star vision is to set the idea or the concept for where you're trying to go for right the moonshot.
Society has to be ready for innovations for them to take off and for people to adopt them. Culturally, it has to make sense.
I try to understand a brand and a company through an archetype. There is a discipline called archetypal branding, which is used more in marketing and branding, I tend actually to bring it over into product design.
Believe in your ideas for a little bit, just give them oxygen and let them go. Even bad ideas, good ideas, whatever. Get it out there and see where they take you.
Generative AI is great at sketching business plans and giving you a roadmap to do things and telling you where to research. But I still think humans need to make sense of it, and humans need to put spirit into it.
Do stuff that brings value to the world and know that it'll come back X fold.
Links -
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlanda/
Company website: https://www.freeassociation.com/
A fun and conversational podcast where the design industry experts share their story, learnings, and the processes they follow to create successful digital products and user experiences.