Log in or create a free Rosenverse account to watch this video.
Log in Create free account100s of community videos are available to free members. Conference talks are generally available to Gold members.
Summary
Against increasing automation and instrumentation, community curator Uday Gajendar argues we will see the rise of what he calls meta-design, whose aspects are strategic, humanistic, and — dare we say — philosophic. It’s about designing the conditions for good design to thrive, for the long term, with a sense for continuity of value. So, how does someone operationalize behaviors and spiritualize values into an organization’s ethos? This talk offers complementary models to shape and own dialogues around meta-design with cross-functional peers, based upon Uday's own leadership experiences. The first model is grounded on what Uday calls “vectors of influence” while the second model is focused on "scopes of craft." This talk’s goal is to inspire and equip designers to lead what’s next for our profession, or at least the beginnings of it!
Key Insights
-
•
Enterprises often have significant political and operational silos that complicate UX efforts.
-
•
Mechanization in UX processes can dilute the humanistic and aspirational goals of design.
-
•
Craft in design extends beyond artifact creation to include stages of facilitation and influence processes.
-
•
Stagecraft involves the facilitation of discussions to align stakeholders on design goals and processes.
-
•
Influence in design stems from understanding cultural, strategic, and process elements that shape outcomes.
-
•
Meta design involves creating conditions for successful design processes to thrive beyond mere implementation.
-
•
Reflection in action emphasizes understanding the implications and accessibility of design decisions on diverse user groups.
-
•
Human values and virtues should infuse design practices to provide meaningful user experiences.
-
•
Differentiating roles within UX and product management can lead to more effective project outcomes.
-
•
A safe space for dialogue in organizations can help alleviate the burdens of burnout and encourage creativity.
Notable Quotes
"Enterprises are places where one hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing."
"We need to reframe what craft means and how to apply it in organizations."
"We're not just designing interfaces; we need to design systems that support good experiences."
"There is a sense of being trapped in conventional UX design processes."
"Meta design is about setting up the conditions for good design to emerge."
"Design shouldn't happen in isolation; we have competing interests that we must navigate."
"Craft, influence, and the interlocking rings of both are crucial for effective design."
"To do this work, you can't do this with a Jira ticket."
"If our work embodies trust, care, and dignity, maybe we can start to change the world."
"The essence of design must reflect humanistic values to truly resonate."
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
"Talking to the people that I work with about the experience of doing their job in order to improve their job experience is probably the most overlooked skill set that we have."
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
"You don't want to miss out on one of the really cool parts about the conference, which is going home with a bunch of cool swag."
Bria AlexanderOpening Remarks
October 3, 2023
"Data management is crucial; AI doesn't function well when organization and data are siloed."
Erika FlowersAI-Readiness: Preparing NASA for a Data-Driven, Agile Future
June 10, 2025
"Teachers need actionable insights, not just raw data."
Kristin SkinnerFive Years of DesignOps
September 29, 2021
"There are no mistakes, just missed opportunities."
Jim KalbachJazz Improvisation as a Model for Team Collaboration
November 6, 2017
"Diverse teams lead to better outcomes by forming teams of different experiences."
Surya VankaUnleashing Swarm Creativity to Solve Enterprise Challenges
June 10, 2021
