Just spent a few glorious days in NYC at the AIGA Gain conference.
A few takeaways:
- Why do designers wear uniforms? (I know we really don’t officially, but how many of us wore rectangle glasses, mostly black, interesting messenger bags and artful hairstyles?)
- Tom Kelley is smart, engaging, and quite the storyteller. I admire his enthusiasm and style. I’m a Tom Kelley groupie.
- Many of the presenters spoke about their user-centered methodology, using ethnography and empathy to see the solutions that are just staring at us in the face, and my teams have been doing this stuff for longer than I can remember. Wow — I’m on the leading edge! Who’d have thunk it?
- I am re-inspired to design thoughtfully — I can use design to do good
- Everyone has trouble articulating design rationale’s to non-designers. I am not alone.
- My friends Jody, Wendy and Marcy are the best and I miss them.
