Summary
What’s the most important question regarding today’s theme of innovation that we, as a community, need to address? We’ve asked you, you’ve spoken—and now we’ll tackle it with the aid of Jon and some of today’s speakers.
Key Insights
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AI can optimize design processes and improve efficiency.
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There is a need for stewardship within design operations to maintain a balance between innovation and organizational integrity.
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Establishing clear core values within teams facilitates better collaboration and focus on innovation.
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Fostering a culture of empathy among team members enhances creative problem-solving.
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Effective workshops require not only innovative ideas but also improved relationships and communication among participants.
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Standardizing operational processes across teams can reduce friction and enhance productivity.
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Understanding user needs is critical to driving meaningful innovation in design.
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AI can handle routine tasks but should not replace human judgment and accountability.
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Organizations need to manage the tension between optimizing for business needs and creating customer value.
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Successful innovation often requires patience and gradual integration of new tools and practices.
Notable Quotes
"Hi, my name is Joe Mesman. I have a couple decades under my belt as a designer and researcher."
"In order to move things forward, it’s an invitation and you’re bringing people along with you."
"Getting honing in on one single thing and focusing on that innovative idea is critical."
"It’s about having visibility from that atomic unit to the organism level."
"AI will have outsize impacts in certain areas, but it won't transform everything all at once."
"AI can provide approximations that allow us to achieve our goals faster."
"There's always that rhythm and tempo from the organization to the people using whatever innovation is going to be."
"If we focus too narrowly on certain goals, we risk overload and unsustainable work practices."
"You have to get to the person on a human level; relationships drive success."
"Emphasizing empathy in design helps dismantle biases and foster better collaboration."
More Videos
"AI should support real human research, not replace it entirely."
Noz UrbinaRapid AI-powered UX (RAUX): A framework for empowering human designers
May 1, 2025
"These same rules of engagement apply everywhere."
Jim KalbachJazz Improvisation as a Model for Team Collaboration
June 4, 2019
"I want to talk to you about are you really doing user-centered teamwork when you're thinking about growing a team."
Holly ColeUnderstanding Experiences: When you have to do more than work
November 8, 2018
"We're not doing just a simple flip of our boards, this is actually contained code."
Jack BeharHow to Build Prototypes that Behave like an End-Product
December 6, 2022
"We are still a community, and we are obligated to treat each other with kindness and respect."
Bria AlexanderOpening Remarks
October 3, 2023
"Culture over technology is critical; technology cannot help you out of cultural problems."
Erika FlowersAI-Readiness: Preparing NASA for a Data-Driven, Agile Future
June 10, 2025
"Data is not just numbers; it tells us the story of student learning."
Kristin SkinnerFive Years of DesignOps
September 29, 2021
"If we had to make up the rules of engagement as we went along, it wouldn’t be nearly as smooth."
Jim KalbachJazz Improvisation as a Model for Team Collaboration
November 6, 2017
"Embrace diversity to unleash creative power in organizations."
Surya VankaUnleashing Swarm Creativity to Solve Enterprise Challenges
June 10, 2021
