Flip the Script on What it Means To Be a Full-Stack Designer

Many designers aspire to be strong generalists or full-stack designers. They may have this goal because they enjoy all aspects of the design process, they believe it will increase their chance of landing a job, or because they come from an engineering background and want to retain coding skills. All of these are solid reasons. However, some of our closest cross-functional partners are encroaching into the design lane via AI capabilities and collaborative design tools. And who can blame them? But, are you doing all you can to stay relevant, compete, and expand your capabilities for the rapidly evolving landscape? Some of the recommendations here are not new, but worthy of revisiting with a fresh lens.

September 18, 2024
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6:00 pm
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7:00 pm
PST
TRACKS:
Groundbreaking Work
ALL SPEAKERS
Kevin Flores
Kevin Flores
Former Director of Product Design, LinkedIn

Kevin has three decades of design experience. He cofounded an agency, freelanced, and was involved in multiple startup ventures. He then built and led product and design teams at Verizon, 23andMe, and LinkedIn. Along the way, he co-authored more than twenty web and mobile technology patents and worked for a pop star. Kevin continues to serve as a consultant, mentor, and coach in the design community. He also recently coauthored the "Design Career Handbook".

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In this insightful session, explore the transformative power of utilizing professional coaching techniques as part of successful design leadership. We will delve into the essentials of professional coaching, how they are both distinct from and complement traditional mentoring or managing, and how these techniques can significantly elevate your team's performance and innovation. This talk will equip design leaders with practical strategies to foster a culture of continuous growth and empowerment in their organizations. Whether you're leading a small team or a large design department, learn how to apply these coaching principles to not only enhance individual capabilities but also drive organizational success.
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sr. Director of Product Design, CNN
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6-Figure Revenue in 6 Months: A Practical Guide for Starting Your Own Design Business
As former colleagues in the corporate world, we embarked on this adventure to create a design studio that's uniquely ours. Despite fierce competition in the field, within two quarters of our inaugural year, we generated over $150,000 in revenue. Join us for a candid discussion of our journey in transitioning from a designer to an entrepreneur and establishing a successful design business. We’ll share our experiences, both the highs and the lows and offer practical insights for aspiring freelancers and studio founders.
Anyi Sun
Anyi Sun
Co-Founder, Koi Studios
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Entrepreneurship
Mastering the Painless Design Critique
A design critique is one of the best ways for a designer to better understand how to improve their work and create great designs. The feedback we get through a formal critique can help us make better decisions, overcome obstacles, and strengthen our craft. However, receiving a critique is probably one of the hardest things we'll do in our work, and if delivered poorly, we can end up feeling demotivated, or even defeated. Join us for a critique workshop, where you will learn from an experienced design director what goes into an effective (and painless!) design critique.
Guy Segal
Guy Segal
Director, Design & Design System, Thomson Reuters
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Groundbreaking Work
Design Thinking to AI Thinking
The world of design is undergoing a radical transformation with the advent of AI. Traditionally, we have relied on Design Thinking to solve problems, but it's time to embrace AI Thinking and explore challenges through the lens of computational intelligence. In this talk, I will delve into what AI Thinking entails and highlight key focus areas that are shaping the future of design.
Alipta Ballav
Alipta Ballav
Sr. Design Manager, Microsoft
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AI & Emerging Technologies