Last weekend, our CEO Christian Hanke took the stage at DDX in New York City to tackle one of the biggest questions facing our industry: How do we lead and design in the age of AI?
Designing in exponential times means the old rules don't always apply. In a room full of innovators and product leaders, we shared three key takeaways for anyone navigating this fast-paced change:
Choose Your Speed: There are only two speeds left—super fast and intentionally slow. The trick for design leaders is knowing when to race and when to pause, and supporting teams in finding that balance.
Avoid the "Bland": As AI makes generation easier, the risk of "average" design grows. We must create healthy friction and rediscover our design principles to ensure that even automated processes result in something spicy and unique.
Culture is Key: Your culture needs to be more resilient than your design system. For people to adapt to this pace, they need to feel safe and have clear expectations. It’s about translating Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to the modern workplace.
The Feedback
The response in NYC was overwhelming. The observation that "Culture is the New Design System" sparked deep discussions about how we can make our organizations as adaptable as the products we build. It was a privilege to share the stage with so many brilliant minds and hear how others are pushing the boundaries of innovation.
The Journey Continues
The conversation about AI and leadership is just getting started. We’re continuing to explore how culture and technology intersect to create meaningful brand experiences. Watch this space for more updates from the frontier of design leadership.
