Matt Judge

An excellent piece of advice on what to do for pre work and facilitation to drive successful strategy conversations. https://lnkd.in/gWQdTG-e

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Most conversations about AI focus on big breakthroughs and bold predictions, and that’s often where teams get lost. Businesses treat AI like a magic solution that will fix everything at once, instead of a practical tool that needs direction and purpose. In the rush to adopt the latest technology, teams expect AI to replace analysis, judgment, or strategy. In reality, its value shows up in much quieter places. In the moments where work feels heavy. The repetitive tasks. The information overload. The decisions that drain more energy than they should.

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Day 1 at Adobe MAX reminded me that the future of design is collaborative. Not man vs. machine, but humans and AI working side-by-side. Here are my top three takeaways: 1️⃣ AI is an amplifier, not a replacement. Adobe emphasized that the human touch still drives meaningful design — creativity can’t be automated. 2️⃣ Integration is the new efficiency. Firefly, Creative Cloud, and Adobe Express now connect seamlessly (even with ChatGPT!) — creating a fluid, accessible workflow built for real creatives. 3️⃣ Time is the new currency. What once took 30 minutes now takes 5, giving us more space to think strategically, create intentionally, and lead creatively. AI isn’t taking creativity away from us — it’s giving us room to elevate it.

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Design is evolving into two lanes: Strategic Operators who define what and why to build, and Creative Builders who focus on how to bring ideas to life with new tools. One of our talented designers, Federico Nigro, outlines this shift on how AI workflows for designers are reshaping how we work at Thumbtack and in our profession. Worth a read. 👇 https://lnkd.in/gNY666n4

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Great to see Libby Tsoi, Tassia Swulinska, and Karun Agimal in conversation with Rob Alderson at Design Week. Lots of insight into different paths to Creative Director and how the role can be shaped on your own terms. Worth reading if you're navigating that journey or building teams around it. https://lnkd.in/e-T8j4qT

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The launch of Claude Design (https://lnkd.in/gvSbzx5M) symbolically represents the "new digital divide" (my made up term).. This is not (only) the historical one discussed since the 90s in the "international development" spaces, but between organizations and individuals everywhere including "rich" countries. We need a GINI-type index for tech-inequalities to measure this within industries, across industries, within countries, across regions. Because the gap is growing very very fast. Bottom line is those who have access to the tools+skills (the Claude max plans, the SOTA models, the tech teams).. are light-years ahead of those who don't... and this is both across the productivity (horizontal) and the vertical within operational efficiencies and insights.

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With mixed reactions to Apple's new Liquid Glass technology post-WWDC, I found myself reflecting on Jobs' approach to controversial innovations. Rather than debate the feature, I channeled that curiosity into a design exercise. I created this conceptual Twitter profile for Steve, focusing on visual hierarchy principles that he championed:  • Clean, purposeful typography that commands attention  • Strategic use of white space for clarity  • The iconic "Think different" as both a header and a philosophy  • Minimalist bio reflecting his core beliefs The "Follow" button prototype explores micro-interactions that feel intentional rather than overwhelming. Notice the subtle glow effect? I designed it to feel premium and inviting without being pushy, just like how great products should draw you in naturally. Sometimes the best way to understand great design thinking is to step into the mindset of those who defined it. If this resonates with your approach to thoughtful design, I'd love to connect and share more insights from my design explorations. #UIDesign #VisualHierarchy #ProductDesign #DesignThinking

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The new IBM Institute for Business Value CMO Study is a wake-up call. CMOs see AI as the future, but most aren’t operationally ready to realize its potential ... and 81% of CMOs surveyed say AI is a game-changer, but only 17% feel ready to implement #agenticAI. The biggest blockers? Siloed systems and legacy marketing models that are not built for this moment. AI shouldn’t be an add-on. At IBM Consulting, we design it into the DNA of the business—so it works across teams, systems, and customer experiences from day one. And, as design leaders, we’re helping clients rethink how marketing works—with AI at the core, and humans still central to the experience. Successful AI adoption depends just as much on people, processes, and culture as it does on platforms. Explore the full report here: https://lnkd.in/en77Tyqh

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"You don’t have to get it right. You just have to get it going." A great read about what we all can learn from the design process 👏

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“As more organizations rely on technology for answers, advantage comes from looking further ahead, drawing on human insight, anticipating what’s next, and exploring the edges of creativity. The companies that do this are the ones taking the lead.” #humancentered #innovation #creativity #design #culture #behaviors #transformation #ideoiq

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Creativity diverges — impact converges. Focus makes design matter. 🎯 See how two AI hosts deep dive into Chapter 9 of #UpliftingDesign. #focus #designleadership #creativity #execution https://lnkd.in/eVkjUgq4

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Chris Risdon and I reflected recently on the impact Orchestrating Experiences has had. Biased, but its concepts are more relevant than ever. Proud of my team at Harmonic Design for expanding on how to do this critical work at the intersection of story and system, where orchestration lives.

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Embracing a futurist mindset can radically change the way we approach product design and business strategy. This article shares personal insights on how applying futurist thinking encourages designers and strategists to look beyond immediate needs and imagine multiple possible futures. By integrating systems thinking and long-term perspective, professionals can create more resilient, adaptable products and strategies that are better prepared for uncertainty and change. This approach helps uncover hidden connections, challenge assumptions, and foster innovation that drives meaningful impact. Read Ian Araujo's full article here: https://ow.ly/cv7a50WxfL3 #FuturesThinking #FuturesDesign #StrategicForesight #SystemsThinking

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I recently ran across John Maeda’s post on the convergence of simplicity and agency in designing for AI (link in comments). I’ve been exploring similar territory in a three-part series on how we might start to shape intelligent systems. At thirteen23, we’ve always tried to champion systems thinking, not just designing screens but designing the relationships and contexts that make technology more thoughtful and human. For all the promise and change ahead, I’m confident that part of design isn’t going anywhere. 👉 Designing the ghost in the machine https://lnkd.in/gv9E9GCB ——— #Design #UX #Designers #AI #ProductStrategy #AgenticAI

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Historically, Jony Ive’s work at Apple often felt like it was defining the next chapter of design. That is what made it so extraordinary. The products did not simply succeed commercially. They introduced a design language that consumers almost universally embraced, despite being a brand new direction. The iMac, iPod and iPhone did not feel iterative. They felt inevitable. Which is why I think much of the discussion around the new Ferrari EV is missing the more interesting design question. Not because the Ferrari Luce resembles other EVs. Not because it doesn’t deliver the aggressive visual drama many people associate with traditional supercars. And not because the interior doesn't have a plethora of detailing to be poured over. What interests me is that this reaction to a product launch feels fundamentally different to the reaction Ive must have became accustomed to during the Apple years. Because one of the most remarkable things about his work was never simply aesthetic refinement. It was the ability to arrive ahead of consumer expectation and create products that people emotionally recognised as “the future” almost immediately. That is incredibly rare. This time though, the visual language feels familiar. The calm digital luxury, softened futurism and seamless surfacing already feel deeply established within the modern EV market, particularly among Chinese automotive brands who have been exploring this territory aggressively for years. And this is true of the interior as well. And I think that raises a genuinely interesting question - not really about Jony Ive specifically, but about where design itself now sits. Has modern product design simply converged around the same visual logic? In this sector, have technical constraints, regulation, aerodynamics and platform architectures compressed the space for true originality? Or perhaps AI and global visual saturation are accelerating convergence itself, making it increasingly difficult for any product to feel genuinely new in the way the early Apple products once did? Because creating products that feel unmistakably original may now be vastly harder than it was twenty years ago. Interested to hear what you think.

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Innovation, product design, and PE-backed environments intersect in a fascinating way: the capital and scale of private equity can accelerate product development. But the real edge comes when innovation happens with consumers, not for them. Heritage brands, armed with resources and legacy, have a unique opportunity to reclaim relevance by democratizing design. Engaging communities by letting them vote on features, colors, finishes, and even new product categories signals: “We’re building this with you.” This isn’t just marketing; it’s strategy. Capital and speed are valuable, but empathy and co-creation are transformative.

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Say "Please" and "Thank you."  My recent Ideo AI X Design Thinking course taught me a tip or two for working with AI. When working with AI, it's important to set the right tone. Treating it with the same respect as another human colleague and expressing our gratitude, such as adding "please" and "thank you," improves performance and responsiveness. Gen AI is trained on human conversations. The learning goes both ways. Large Language Models pick up on the level of professionalism and respond accordingly! It's just like being with your human colleagues. Being polite would likely give you a better response and working relationship. #HCD #AI #Technology, #Innovation, #DigitalTransformation #CX

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Andy Budd offers a clear vision for the future of design in organizations, with a point-by-point playbook and appropriate urgency: https://lnkd.in/ezCayU9i

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