Design-Leadership

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Visual Diary 13 - Open Topic

In Peter Merholz's blog post from 2022, he goes on to write about how design leadership is change management. This was an interesting perspective to take on the matter, and it really intrigued me. Two things that stuck with me were his thoughts on managing relationships and communicating with intent. In the end, good design managers need to have the ability to adapt and be flexible with change. Those who have mastered the art of communicating effectively and managing expectations are light years ahead - and likely the best design leaders in their field.

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Image by Myleen Hollero

Visual Diary 13 - Open Topic

We all know how AI has been a hot topic and emerging trend in recent years. Adobe Design had their inaugural Adobe Design Talks, and the discussion centered around design strategy in generative AI. "By talking to and advocating for people, and using their skillsets to visualize the future, design leaders can define the considerations needed to make AI-powered tools useful, usable, and human-centered." This really struck me as this is the core of our class this semester. I'm very glad to learn that these conversations are happening with designers across the industry. While they discussed that some AI can alleviate busy work, there are some human skillsets that can't be replaced by AI.

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Photo courtesy of Patagonia

Visual Diary 12 - Responsibility Practitioners

Patagonia is another brand that values responsibility in its creation and design of its products. This speaks to the values of the company and one with great stakes in the ground. One example of a product they produce is their "Responsibili-Tee" that retails between $45-$55. According to their website, "they’re all made to last so our planet’s resources are not wasted, and many are made in Fair Trade Certified™ factories." This company does good for the world, and it's a huge reason why so many customers are loyal and understand the value of a company trying to be socially and environmentally responsible.

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Image courtesy of Volvo

Visual Diary 12 - Responsibility Practitioners

Volvo has revamped its sustainability strategy, and it's turning heads. According to their website, "It's essential to ensure our strategies remain sharp and up to date. That’s why we’re now updating our sustainability strategy with new ambitious goals for 2030 and 2040, while also boosting our focus on biodiversity." They also have goals to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, work towards becoming a circular business by 2040, and help protect people's lives within and beyond their value chain. These really make Volvo a company that takes design leadership responsibility seriously and one that I respect even more.

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Photo Courtesy of M360

Visual Diary 11 - Problematic Stake in the Ground

MySpace is another great example of a company putting a stake in the ground that ended up hurting the company. The rise of MySpace in the early 2000's was powerful, and the ability for its users to customize their pages made it a very appealing platform in an era when social media was almost unknown. The release of Facebook made it an instant competitor.

In 2005, Rupert Murdoch acquired MySpace for $580M. After this, many changes were introduced that made the interface clunky, full of ads, and less customizable - which was what users loved the most. This led to a decline in users, and as Facebook became more popular, it resulted in the end of the MySpace era.

Source: https://em360tech.com/tech-article/what-happened-to-myspace

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Photo courtesy of NPR

Visual Diary 11 - Problematic Stake in the Ground

Borders Bookstore is an example of a company taking a stake in the ground and suffering the consequences. In this instance, Amazon was the innovative company that was poised to work with Borders on their online book sales. Ultimately, Borders went all in on music CD and movie DVD sales, just as the industry was entering into its digital era. Interestingly, Barnes and Noble pulled back from this and started gaining speed towards its online sales. In the end, Borders lost out on the online shopping and digital sales market in a way that Barnes and Noble was able to figure out.

Source: https://www.npr.org/2011/07/19/138514209/why-borders-failed-while-barnes-and-noble-survived

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Screenshot courtesy of AirBnb.

Visual Diary 10 - Stake in the Ground

For my second post this week, I'd like to reference the 2017 SuperBowl Ad called "We Accept" by AirBnb. This was a reference to the closing of the country's border to refugees by the Trump Administration. In response, AirBnb aired this ad putting a stake in the ground against the action of the administration and letting it be known that their views were of acceptance and inclusivity. The ad displays the following text, along with images of people of color and various backgrounds: "“We believe no matter who you are, where you’re from, who you love, or who you worship, we all belong."

This is a great example of putting a stake in the ground. The entire ad can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-Dg-z_SojE.

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Photo courtesy of Apple Podcasts

Visual Diary 10 - Stake in the Ground

For my first example, I'd like to reference Tori Dunlap and her NYT Bestseller Financial Feminist. Along with this, she produces a podcast called "Her First $100k" that has become a leading podcast in the financial sphere, even topping that of Dave Ramsey at one point.

Right from the very title of her podcast, it's clear Tori is putting a stake in the ground. If you aren't interested in equality for all genders, then her podcast is probably not for you. She also makes it clear that she will cover topics, such as politics and legislation, on her podcast and is not afraid to share her opinion. She will either attract you or repel you from her orbit, and she is completely fine with either of those.

This all follows her philosophy that if you are smart with your money and investments, you'll eventually become successful enough to be able to make decisions for yourself. Things like leaving an unhealthy relationships and traveling when you want are no longer out of reach. This is a great example of putting a stake in the ground.

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Visual Diary 9 - Cultural Parameters

Individualism vs. Collectivism

Being of Mexican-American descent, I have noticed both cultural differences between the USA and Mexico. In general, the U.S. values individualism more than collectivism. The idea is that individuals have autonomy over their lives. In contrast, Mexico culturally values collectivism more - that is, the betterment of the group as a whole.

In this piece published by Penn State, the idea of an "Employee of the Month" is practiced widely in the U.S., while in Mexico, that's not practiced. When it comes to design problems and solutions, something to keep in mind is how it will affect this cultural value. Will that mean taking into account different intangible parameters, such as the emotional reaction of the audience? Most likely, yes. Keeping this in mind is paramount in creating the best design solutions.

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Image by EEAS

Visual Diary 9 - Cultural Parameters

One example of a cultural parameter is the difference in how things are communicated. In the U.S., for instance, communication tends to be more direct and to the point. In Europe, communication errs on the side of being more nuanced and not as direct. More formal language is typically used, while in the U.S., it can be more common to see informal language in business communication. This all comes into play when coming about design solutions to various audiences. If there is a company or product that has a global reach, then it is very important to be aware of this cultural parameter and plan accordingly.

Here is an article that defines more of the cultural nuances between the U.S. and Europe.

Top 5 differences between USA and EU Business Culture

For North American companies that work with European teams, it is crucial to understand that business culture in the US is different than in

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Visual Diary 8 - Parameters

As I reflect on the intangible parameters, I am curious how those will affect those of us working on design problems using technology. Although it may seem as though we are at the forefront of cutting-edge technology that we'll use for decades to come, the reality is that technology becomes obsolete after a period of time. How will our solutions stand the test of time? How will advancements in technology shift our solutions? These are all things to consider. Let's look at technology within our lifetime, for example. I grew up in the era of cassette tapes, VHS tapes, VCR's, walkmans, landline phones, CD's, digital and disposable cameras, MP3 players, video cameras, and more. The fact that these are all essentially obsolete and can mostly all be used on your cell phone is mind-blowing. How else will this continue to evolve and how will it impact the way we design around us? I am looking forward to seeing what we come up with.

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Visual Diary 8 - Parameters

As I was thinking through design solutions and parameters, I took notice of the compact phone device stand I had next to my laptop. Some of the parameters used here involve materials and space. Regarding materials, a compact and durable plastic was used - something that I imagine is cost-effective yet strong enough to last. Second, the space used... this is an ideal product for those who work at a desk and need a space to place their phones while still making it visible and easily accessible. Ergonomically, it works well standing beside laptops or desktops. I can imagine that the audience was narrowed to office workers who need to stay connected. This was a great exercise to visualize parameters!

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Photo Courtesy of City of Phoenix

Visual Diary 7

Another example of a wicked design problem is homelessness, particularly in my home state and in Phoenix, AZ specifically.

According to the City of Phoenix, "this year 7,419 people experiencing homelessness were counted. Of those, 51 percent were unsheltered. The unsheltered count has been steadily increasing over the years."

This problem is even graver during the summer when temperatures outside can get as hot as 115+ degrees, making it inhumane and, in some cases, deadly.

While there isn't a single "right" answer to solve this, this is an example of a wicked design problem that needs to be tackled. Having one benchmark could be a great way to test and scale a possible solution for various cities across the country.

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Image courtesy of the BBC.

Visual Diary 7

One example of a wicked design problem are flash floods. One that hits close to home is the flash flood that just happened in Valencia, Spain this past weekend. I had students in my study abroad program plan a trip to Spain, and they were slated to travel to Valencia just two days after the incident. At this point, over 200 people have been killed by the devastating flood. There has been criticism of the city who did not notify residents until what many deem was too late. There is debate about the fact that this phenomenon was caused by humans and climate change. This makes it a critical wicked design problem, especially if it is humans who have a direct hand in making these weather conditions happen. This would be a great example of a problem that could benefit by a human-centered solution which, if adopted by a large part of the population, could make a true difference.

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Image by Clear Behavioral Health

Visual Diary 5 - Ethnography

One of the most challenging things with cell phone addiction is the dopamine hits with staying connected on socials and the glorification of working long amounts of hours in our society. This is the recipe to easily becoming addicted to cell phone use. In my research, I hope to understand more of why this happens, along with strategies people use and how much self-awareness people have around their own cell phone use.

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Visual Diary 5 - Ethnography

For my ethnography assignment, I am looking at the issue of cell phone addiction amongst the millennial generation and determining strategies to being more present in the moment.

My interview with Erica (pictured here with baby Michael!) offered a glimpse into the life of a mother with a business trying to keep balance of her everything on her plate.

“Cell phones have played a pivotal role in the success of my business, and it has allowed me to stay connected even when working from home. The big challenge is to know when to put it down and stay present with my family.”

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Visual Diary 6 - Abstract Tools in Action In this example, I can imagine that a Design Thinking mindset was crucial in thinking through a solution to a problem: having all of your medication sorted and delivered. Their slogan is "a full-service pharmacy designed around your life," and it makes good sense that a design tool to work through various iterations, all while gathering user feedback, would be crucial in the success of this idea. Some of the best ideas are simple, and it doesn't get much more simple than a one-step approach to taking any supplements or medications with ease. This is a great example of a company that noticed a problem, assessed a viable solution, and brought it to consumers.