Anne Lyons Johnston

Did we really need that free delivery in under 15 minutes? Did we fully explore all the potential side-effects of one-click purchasing? Sure, some millennial pet parents may have been able to afford to put their little fella in a luxury dog spa, but was that really the best use of that precious real estate? Over the past 15 years, it feels like user-centric thinking (in its most myopic form) has become increasingly co-opted as a way to ruthlessly target a subset of the population at the cost of others, prioritizing the needs of a brand’s ‘most valuable segment’ with little regard for the secondary and tertiary effects on wider society. Now, a new generation of organizations and business leaders are calling this into question. And, as a broad set of strategists and creatives, we have the opportunity to do the same. As part of the NYCxDESIGN festival, DesignStudio is opening its doors to discuss ways in which government, organizations, agencies, and brands are starting to ditch pure user-centric thinking in favor of more community-minded approaches and what it means for the design industry as a whole. On Wednesday May 22, we’ll be hosting an evening of conversations and ideas with experts from civic, commercial, non-profit and academic institutions, along with music, and light refreshments from local LIC businesses. If you’re interested in attending, snag yourself a ticket: https://lnkd.in/es4at7JS #enduser #communitycentricdesign #nycxdesign

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Incredibly excited to be giving a new talk—"Design is 'Connection' Made Manifest"—on Seattle Design Festival 's main stage this August 18th. The themes in this presentation have been congealing for me over the past few years, evolving through my other conference talks, written works, and even business / career decisions. Across "why" we're creating, "how" we're creating, and "where" we're creating, our value is infinitely greater than the sum of our choice of digital tools. I'll (currently) be giving this talk only twice this year, with the second event to be announced soon. The 'formal' talk description: "What is design, if not ‘connection’ made manifest? Given the state of the world over the past few years, with designers navigating the global pandemic, mass layoffs, hybrid / remote work, and a struggling economy, connection is at is apex of relevance. The connection of us to one another, us to our work, and our work to those who engage with it. Be it a concert venue poster, a website, or an app icon, design is solving the problem of engaging people—agnostic of their circumstances—to connect and convey an experience. When we’re in touch with our values, focus on craft evolution over tool loyalty, and create in an environment of support and inclusion: ‘connection’ is the result. Via the power of storytelling with actionable methods, Justin Dauer will show us how to get there." And on the Seattle Design Festival itself, via their website: "The Seattle Design Festival is a platform for bold design conversations. We believe that design is for everyone and that inclusive co-design practices are essential to shaping an equitable Seattle. We are multidisciplinary, socially engaged and civic minded. The Seattle Design Festival was founded in 2011 as a strategic initiative of AIA Seattle to promote public dialogue and community engagement about the role and impact of design in urban life." Seattle Design Festival is a FREE event for the public. My presentation's page: https://lnkd.in/gaQNA5GD The full list of festival programming: https://seadesignfest.org/ #ux #productdesign #uxdesign #creativity #design #culture #seattle #seattledesignfestival

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This is a bit out of my comfort zone as it ventures into entirely new territory for me. I've just launched my very first book: "Design Unlocked - Navigating a Career in Industrial Design," eBook now available through Google Books. https://lnkd.in/eY5aUAGG #DesignUnlocked #IndustrialDesign #NewBookRelease #DesignEducation #CareerGuidance

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If you're a Designer or Design Leader, you should sign up to receive the upcoming Ecosystem Leadership Report: Design 2024 from friend and colleague Diego Núñez. I had the opportunity to sit down with Diego a few weeks ago to provide insights and views on what the future holds and why it is important for Designers to live life creatively. The report delivers an in-depth exploration of the transformative trends in design leadership from top industry leaders and voices sharing actionable strategies on innovation, team dynamics, and leadership in the digital age. Link to sign up to receive this report is in the comments section below! #design #designleadership #trends #creative #ux #product #business #impact #insights #ai #ethicaldesign #collaboration #ecosystems #report

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🚀 Exciting Opportunity for Design Leaders! 🚀 The Ecosystem Leadership Report: Design 2024 is launching on October 10, 2024, and we’re inviting YOU to join us as a panelist in our exclusive panel series! 🌟 Starting October 16, we’ll be hosting weekly 60-minute panels at 12 PM US ET with top design leaders, discussing key topics like: • 🤖 AI Integration in Design • 🤝 Cross-Functional Collaboration • 🌍 Sustainable and Ethical Design • …and more! 🎤 We’re looking for 4 panelists per session to share their insights and expertise on these important topics. If you’re passionate about design leadership and want to be part of shaping the conversation, here’s how you can participate: 1️⃣ Choose from the panel topics below: • AI Integration in Design • Cross-Functional Collaboration • From Design to Business Leadership • Measuring and Communicating Design Impact • Sustainable and Ethical Design • Balancing Specialization and Generalization in Design Roles 2️⃣ Send me a DM with: • Your preferred topic(s) • Your HD headshot • Job title and company • A short bio ⏳ Seats are limited to 4 panelists per session, and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to sign up before October 9, 2024, to secure your spot! Let’s dive into the future of design leadership together! 💡 #DesignLeadership #EcosystemLeadership #AI #Sustainability #DesignImpact #Leadership

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A new #TheBuilders podcast episode is out! Join us for an intriguing conversation with a fellow web designer, Monica Pitts, as she shares her unique approach to web design. She views websites as key team members working hard for your business. Here are some key takeaways from this episode: ✨ The importance of treating your website like an active employee ✨ Using a consultative approach to create sites that attract talent and automate processes ✨ Aligning design and functionality with business goals Don’t miss Monica’s insightful tips on how to make your website a powerful asset for your company! 👉 https://lnkd.in/gE3FUzQu #Podcast #WebDesign #BusinessGrowth #ClientSuccess #TechTalks #WebDevelopment #DigitalStrategy

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