Kevan Kalyan

Programmatic inventory, premium CTV, agentic AI, and brand authenticity: Each come with benefits, but can require overcoming challenges. Explore those issues, then prepare for success in these key areas with our 2026 Trends Report (at the link in comments).

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Looking to level up your design game and master design thinking? This course is for you. Discover the art of crafting user-focused solutions through continuous iteration, testing, and improvement. We’ve partnered with Fouad Jallouli, Director of Service Design at Government of Alberta, to bring you a structured, interactive course designed to help you master Government Design Foundations through practical, hands-on learning. Here’s what you’ll learn: 🔸Learn the fundamentals of design thinking: Build a strong foundation in design thinking principles to approach challenges with a user-first mindset and foster innovation within your team. 🔸Explore problem definition and ideation techniques: Discover how to define problems effectively and generate creative, strategic solutions. 🔸Master prototyping and testing: Gain the skills to build prototypes and run meaningful tests to ensure your solutions meet real user needs. 🔸 Understand leadership and sustainability in design: Learn how to lead design thinking initiatives and embed sustainability and inclusivity into your work for long-term impact. 📚 Whether you're already in govtech or want to apply your design skills to create lasting impact, this course will guide you through every step. 🔗 Start learning today: https://lnkd.in/gJiW_fNd This course is included in Uxcel Pro — our membership that gives you access to 20+ interactive courses, skill tests, certifications, and more. #design #designthinking #creativethinking #servicedesign #productdesign #uxlearning #uxcel #uxeducation #careerboost

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Why do so many designers cringe at self-promotion? It's a feeling we see often in our Future of Design class at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). But today, our fireside chat with Carrie M. helped our students reframe the idea of "selling yourself." Carrie shared her incredible journey through fintech, gaming, and her work with IBM and a sustainability B-Corp. But the most powerful moment came when she described self-promotion not as pitching a persona, but as simply telling the truth about the problems you’ve solved and why they mattered. Her advice on transitioning from UX/UI to product design, staying grounded in delightful experiences, and using storytelling to create opportunities was invaluable. Three simple but powerful takeaways from our conversation: - Lead with facts and outcomes, not just your role. - Hold onto your values, because the right teams and clients will find you. - A career is a marathon, not a sprint. Protect your energy and never stop learning. Thank you, Carrie Mah, for generously sharing your time and wisdom with our students. We run these sessions to bring real-world experience into the classroom. If you were there, what’s one line from your portfolio that best tells the truth about your work? #hereatsait #interactivedesign #UXUI #Graphicdesign #webdev #Gamedevelopment #SADT #SAIT #Designcareers #Portfoliotips #UXDesign

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Every year, the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), Design Professionals of Canada (DesCan) and Société des designers graphiques du Québec get together to review our joint Code of Ethics. This document provides a framework for practicing design as ethically as possible. It's a wide reaching document that covers everything from working with clients, to our responsibilities to society and the environment, competitions and fees, intellectual property and so more. This year, when we sat down to review the document, there was only one word on our lips: AI. (Yeah, yeah it's technically an acronym, I know.) This AI-related update offers guidance for designers on the incorporation of AI into their work. These changes reflect AI's growing impact on the industry and the need to address concerns about transparency, data ethics and fair compensation for creators. We've purposefully kept the rules and best practices vague in an attempt to keep them relevant as the technology continues to evolve. Because we all know it's going to continue evolving, fast. https://lnkd.in/gmKVgz8v

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Cowbell Brewing Co. is one of the largest breweries in Ontario. ⁠ ⁠ They reached out to CODO Design for an initial Brand Strategy engagement that quickly grew into a full identity refresh, sweeping packaging system, merch and an upcoming website update.⁠ ⁠ This deep-dive case study walks you through every step of the process — from positioning, messaging and Brand Strategy all the way to identity and package design, including concepts that didn’t make the cut. ⁠ ⁠ If your brewery is considering a rebrand or refresh this year, this case study shows what it actually takes to do it right.⁠ ⁠ Read the case study here: https://lnkd.in/gCPKWYJT Ontario Craft Brewers (OCB) Natasha Fritzley

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Proud to be part of this thoughtful piece in Campaign Canada exploring how AI is really showing up inside Canadian creative agencies—beyond the hype. As the Disruption Company, we’re not afraid of the change. We’re leaning into it—using AI to amplify creativity, not replace it. As I shared in the piece: “The competitive advantage won’t be having access to AI. It will be having the people who know how to elevate what AI can offer.” Full article here: https://lnkd.in/gRkaK7u2 #AI #Creativity #Advertising #TBWA #FutureOfWork #Marketing

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What a Decade of Industry Leadership Taught Me It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade at the helm of IAB Canada—and it’s been anything but ordinary. The role demands grit, diplomacy, and a willingness to pick yourself up daily and keep going. It’s been challenging, humbling, and deeply meaningful. If I’ve learned anything, it’s this: the work only matters if it’s rooted in something bigger. As Einstein said, “Love is the answer.” Some key lessons…. Big moves come at a short-term price. Long-term vision requires short-term sacrifices. If you believe in what you're building, you need to be unflinchingly “plan-broke” to see returns. The best decisions often feel the hardest in the moment. Get to the finish line. Developing products and solutions is tough—if it weren’t, we wouldn’t be so busy building them. Detractors will try to distract, derail, and even sabotage. Keep your head down. Do the work. Finish. If you were wrong, nothing was wasted—you’ve still built something, learned something, and moved forward. There’s no glory in opaqueness. Transparency is everything—in products, services, and leadership. The best business decisions aren’t just about quick wins; they’re about laying solid, transparent foundations that will hold up over time. Stay true to the mandate. It’s easy to get distracted by corporate dopamine—projects that bring social accolades but don’t serve the real goal. The path of least resistance? Doing the work that directly supports your mandate. That’s where real impact happens. Love is the answer. Gossip, cliques, backchannel meddling—workplace toxicity shows up in many forms. Don’t get pulled into it. More importantly, look out for those who might be quietly bearing the brunt of it. A little support goes a long way. We’re all navigating life at our own pace, often with unseen challenges. Over the past ten years, I’ve faced my own. It’s made me deeply aware that showing up with empathy isn’t just kind—it’s necessary. Own your mistakes. Learn. Keep moving. I’ve made plenty (and will make more), but that’s part of growth. The best lessons come from the stumbles. I’m grateful for every colleague who’s been there as I broke things and figured them out, and I’ve been honoured to witness so many peers build their own paths as well. I’ve never held a role more challenging—or more invigorating. It’s an honour to serve an industry I owe so much to, and a privilege to help sustain it for those building their livelihoods in digital media. It hasn’t been without its bumps, but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. In the meantime, I’ll continue to enjoy building a network of good people doing good things for the industry. To my fellow peers, I see you and quietly toast to the commonalities we share. And to all the great individuals who made and continue to make IAB Canada what it is today, thank you. #Leadership #CareerLessons #WomenInLeadership #Transparency #TenYearsStrong

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