Creative Leader | expert in brand storytelling & visual strategy | Proficient at Scrum methodology in Adobe Workfront | With 10+ years of experience in leading and building in-house creative teams
Designers, must learn to live with their choices, knowing that the beauty of the process lies not in eliminating uncertainty but in navigating it with confidence and grace. After all, the possibilities that remain unexplored are what make the act of choosing so profoundly human.
https://lnkd.in/gfpT63-Q
Love this thoughtful and balanced argument for resetting expectations for what design (lowercase d intentional) and design leaders can and can't fix from Sarah Gallivan Mitchell.
Andy Polaine, in his response (https://lnkd.in/eC959VEc) to the some of the same rhetoric Sarah responds to, has likened the growth of the design industry in the past 15-20 years to the Cambrian Explosion.
It bears considering that the real Cambrian Explosion was followed in relatively short order by multiple mass extinction events. Some species that were less well adapted to the changing conditions for life on Earth didn't make it, but this allowed new forms of life to develop and flourish.
My hope is that some evolutionary selection may take place over time in regards to which voices are anointed to speak for All of Design, so that voices like Sarah's may, too, be heard and flourish.
#design#designleadership#futureofdesignhttps://lnkd.in/eQ-PGgBM
The founder of a renowned design firm reframed one objective, which greatly increased the chances of developing a product tailored to the intricate needs of bike commuters.
On the surface, a reframe can appear quite basic.
In problem-solving, though, this can make the difference between being stuck and repeatedly coming up with the same ideas, and finding new ideas leading to success.
On Monday, I'll be sharing a new white paper telling the whole of this story, plus examining two other case studies, to shed light on the hidden challenge of habitual thinking in problem-solving.
Join my newsletter to be among the first to read it: https://bit.ly/3T92ahx#creativeproblemsolving#habitualthinking
We're experts at the "what" – the products we build, the services we offer, the bottom line we chase.
But what about the "why"? The purpose that drives us, the values we uphold, the difference we truly want to make.
That's where legacy is born.
Does our "why" outlast our latest product launch?
Does it inspire the next generation of leaders?
Does it make the world a slightly better place?
I've been pondering these questions a lot lately. It's a conversation worth having.
#legacyhttps://lnkd.in/gAbaMUms
It seems to me that 'charrettes' are these days elided with or eclipsed by 'co-design sessions.' In that sense, the guiding principle is participation in the design process (as opposed to consultation about the design process). Participate-ability is something that needs to be designed to ensure equity of access to designing for diverse peoples - co-design sessions need to be carefully service designed.
For some reason that I can't track down (after a brief search), 'design charrettes' are in my mind more like 'witnessed' expert designing. I think of a 'design charette' as more like an interactive master class, i.e., publicly staged designing. Designers do their designing in front those impacted by the design who then have the ability to, in real time, input into the design without being called upon to do (lay) designing.
This strikes me as an importantly different thing from co-designing which can necessitate less complex versions of designing precisely to allow non-designers to participate in the designing (e.g., ideating in response to a reductive 'how might we'). But it is also different from the designers merely seeking feedback on design proposals during a public consultation 'crit' because responsive ideas are developed then & there - those providing feedback can see their criticisms being acted upon without having to take responsibility for correcting the design themselves.
It is unfashionable to insist on the role of expert designing (which tends to happen anyway after any co-designing session), but it seems to me that there are many situations in which we need something more like 'post-normal designing' (see https://lnkd.in/gzJfpNxD) rather than hoping that everybody has the time and the capacity to participate in the design of complex systems - and that the concept of a 'design charrette' could and should be the term that holds space for those kinds of situations.
Do you have experience of running design charrettes for digital product design? We Fred HarburgThe Propel LabsVijay A. RajuEspranza Innovations are organising one in a "sprint" form to flesh out and clarify for all stakeholders (client, tech, design, administrator, user/customer and maybe even client's client) the scope and expected outcome of a top-end leadership assessment application and platform. Would appreciate any practical tips/advice.
🌟 Unlocking Creativity: The Power of Curiosity 🌟
As a leader, I've always been fascinated by what drives people to excel. One of my favorite interview questions is: "How would others describe you?" It's not just about the words they use, but the essence of their character that shines through.
I always reflect on a powerful anecdote that perfectly encapsulates the essence of creativity and leadership. It's called the Spaghetti Marshmallow Challenge, where teams are tasked with building the tallest structure using spaghetti, tape, string, and a marshmallow.
Here's the kicker: Kindergarteners outperform MBA students! Why? Because they dive in with unbridled curiosity and fearless experimentation. They don't waste time on posturing; they just start building (Ted Talk: https://lnkd.in/d--jrrGF)
This got me thinking about the importance of curiosity in leadership. Curious leaders, like those kindergarteners, aren't afraid to ask "why" and challenge the status quo. They embrace failure as part of the journey and have a bias for action.
Take Steve Jobs, for example. His mantra of "Stay hungry, stay foolish" perfectly embodies the spirit of curiosity-driven leadership. He dared to imagine a world where technology wasn't just for engineers but for everyone.
But curiosity isn't just about asking questions; it's about taking risks and pushing boundaries. Whether it's creating a new product, building a start-up or learning a new skill, curiosity propels us forward.
So, the next time you're faced with a challenge, channel your inner kindergartener. Embrace curiosity, take risks, and watch as creativity flourishes.
Let's stay curious and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible! 💡
#Leadership#Creativity#Curiosity#Innovation#TechLeadership
Embrace Innovation Over Process!
📈 Steve Jobs once said the best employees focus on content over process. Decades later, research shows he was right. Innovation requires breaking free from rigid processes and fostering creative thinking.
For years, I’ve faced the challenge of being different and dealing with colleagues too focused on process versus innovation. As business leaders and industry professionals, it’s crucial to:
-> Encourage experimentation over adherence to routine.
-> Value fresh ideas more than established procedures.
-> Cultivate an environment where creativity thrives.
-> Integrate M&A effectively by focusing on cultural alignment and innovative synergies rather than just procedural efficiency.
Are you nurturing an innovation mindset within your organization? Share your experiences or thoughts! Let's discuss how we can drive continuous innovation in our teams.
https://lnkd.in/eAmYqaUj#Innovation#Leadership#BusinessStrategy#MandAIntegration
As an interior designer, your creativity is your currency—but did you know 75% of your thoughts operate on a subconscious level? That mental autopilot can either fuel your success or hold you back. So how do you reshape those thought patterns into supportive, success-driven habits? (Hint: You can’t just outwork them.)
This week on Success by Design, we’re joined by Amy Kemp, a thought-leadership expert who reveals how mindset mastery impacts every decision you make—from managing demanding projects to building a thriving design business.
We explore how to:✨ Schedule guilt-free creative recharge time⚡ Sustain emotional energy through intense project cycles🚧 Set boundaries that align with your business goals.
If you’re ready to elevate your interior design career with clarity and focus, this episode delivers more than tips—it’s a roadmap for intentional leadership and breakthrough thinking. Learn how to rewire mental habits that shape your business decisions, improve team leadership, and design a life you love—both personally and professionally.
Tune in tomorrow and start designing your business from the inside out!
Principal, Collective Struggle. Shared Leadership Coach, Power Sharing, & Co-Leadership I Advice, Strategy, Design | Movements, Orgs. & Teams I Interim ED I LGBTQ2S+ Leader, Ex.Co-Exec. @GSANetwork
I had a great talk with Jeanne Bell about the impact and ability of org design to be critical to organizational success. In #sharedleadership we know we inherited a lot of things considered “standard practice” in non-profits that are not necessary or are actively detrimental to running justice oriented organizations. I’m excited to see social justice tech solutions begin applied to one of the main challenges of justice leaders— how to find time to consider an org design that will work for your folks. Check out the video! JustOrg Design may be the answer!
Beautiful Network! I am thrilled to share this 3-minute video that Daniel Tucker and I made to explain what we've been developing for justice-committed organizations.
We believe deeply that alignment is an achievable practice. But we have to move beyond stale organizational structures and opaque decision-making to practice alignment together.
If you are a justice-committed leader or consultant and want to be in dialogue about designing organizations for sustained alignment, we'd love to talk.
20 pieces of uncooked spaghetti. 18 minutes. 4 people. 1 yard of string. 1 roll of masking tape. 1 marshmallow.
Industrial designer Peter Skillman developed this creative challenge asking teams to complete a simple mission – build the tallest tower you can to hold up the marshmallow.
He asked groups of CEOs, lawyers, business school students, and kindergarteners all over the country to complete this test. By far, the lowest performing group was business students. And the team that consistently excelled beyond all other groups? Kindergarteners.
Why?
They didn’t waste time talking about the problem, they started solving it.
They relentlessly iterated and asked for support.
They embraced chaos and quickly bounced back from mistakes.
Good leaders help figure out what to do next. Great leaders lay a foundation for trust and innovation in their organization.
https://lnkd.in/eatgYCqa
