InsideOut Design Leader Community

Super fun exercise - and an AI Wish List for Design teams! This Spring we met with the smart leaders in our InsideOut Community who constantly navigate a world fueled by innovation. At the start of every roundtable, we asked them to share one thing they WISH AI could do for them at work, that it can't – yet? 🤔 Their answers we received were as insightful as they were diverse. So we asked AI to summarize a long wish list into key themes and ideas, and we're publishing those results here to spark some ideas for you! BONUS: If you're looking to draw your own team into exploring real solutions for AI, this icebreaker exercise might be just what you need. And meanwhile... 🚀 What do you wish AI could do for YOU at work? 🚀 Share in the comments, so we can all keep learning together. #aiwishlist #aitips #aifordesign #aiforcreative #aiprocessideas #aquentinsideout #designleaders #creativeleaders #creativeoperations #creativeprocessimprovements Aquent Simon Lusty Kate Gottfried Susie Hall

October conferences are just around the corner and it's time to be inspired. From navigating change to amplifying creativity to all things AI - there's something for everyone. ✴ Henry Stewart Events will navigate change (October 8) in Los Angeles. ✴ AI, Data & Analytics Network is leading the AI revolution at Generative AI Week (October 7-9) in Georgia. ✴ Pendo.io is hosting the "biggest event of the year for people in product" (October 7-9) in Raleigh, NC. ✴ Circles Co. Collective is hosting Circles Conference to amplify creativity (October 9-11) in Grapevine, TX. ✴ UnderConsideration, LLC is bringing together corporate and brand-identify leaders for the Brand New Conference (October 10-11) in Salt Lake City, UT. ✴ AIGA Design is redefining the boundaries of creativity (October 10-12) virtually! ✴ Adobe MAX will ignite your imagination at The Creativity Conference (Oct 12-16) in Miami. ✴ BrainXchange is sharing real experiences, deploying, and scaling XR technologies at The Augmented Enterprise Summit (October 15-17) in Dallas. ✴ The Association of National Advertisers is shaping the future of marketing at ANA Masters of Marketing Conference (October 21-25) in Orlando and virtually. ✴ Creative Works is empowering creatives (October 24-26) in Brooklyn, NY. We're gearing up for our IRL sessions this October in Chicago, New York, LA, San Francisco, and Seattle. We can't wait to connect with you there! Susie Hall, Kate Gottfried, Aquent, Phillip Lewis, Rohshann Pilla (she/her), Kelly Collins, Laura Ceccato-Chopp, Elisabeth Svensson, Maggie Moreno Keeton, Maggie Patterson, Lauren Monroe, Angela Castelo, Lisa Mitchell, Brian Shellhorn, CCWP, Mark Brim, Noelle McDonald, Ryan Krivonick #designleadership #designconferences #creativeconferences #creativeleaders #creativeoperations

No time, no budget, no career advancement? Time to get creative. Last week in our Chicago Design roundtable, leaders explored ways to provide growth opportunities to their teams, despite constraints. Need ideas to get started? Here are some great ones from some brilliant senior design leaders: ✴ Mentorship: Consider free resources like @ADPList, intentional peer connections and reverse mentoring ✴ Better Meetings: Carve out "no meeting" time to use for development or host a Fika (with or without the princess cake) ✴ Meaningful Projects: Give them a "Tour of Duty" (inspired by the book The Alliance by Reid Hoffman) and help create their story to show increased value This topic reminded us of a popular InsideOut article with even more tips called Bringing the Outside In (check out the comments for the link). Aquent, Susie Hall, Kate Gottfried, Rohshann Pilla (she/her), Phillip Lewis, Maggie Patterson, Lauren Monroe, Lisa Mitchell, Angela Castelo, Ryan Krivonick, Brian Shellhorn, CCWP, Laura Ceccato-Chopp, Elisabeth Svensson, Mark Brim, Kelly Collins

As students head back to school, we're excited to continue learning with the amazing members of our InsideOut Design Leader Community. This August, the Design, Creative, and Operations Leaders in our Community have discussed a variety of topics, all based on timely, real-world challenges they've selected. Over the past week, we've explored: ✳ How to Unlock More with Less ✳ Guiding the Org through Change ✳ Brand Refresh Best Practices ✳ Building Career Paths through Continual Learning What are you excited to learn this year? 💬 Share in the comments 💬 Aquent, Susie Hall, Kate Gottfried, Maggie Moreno Keeton, Amanda Malone, Brooke Fredette, M.A., Dan Stone, Haekyung Kim, Ellen Straus, Greg Ceneviva, Isabelle Blanes, Jason Pudim, Jennifer Clark, Jeremy Hernandez, Jodi (Jo) Nachtrieb, Joey Caporicci, Josh Van Steenbergen, Kacie Tompkins, Madison Sand, Megan Gibson, Patricia Price, Samantha Stevenson, Sarah-Tyler Moore, Tucker Jackson, Yuliia Pokusa, Albert Daily, Melissa Sharples, Andy Dosev #continuallearning #designleadership #creativeoperations #backtoschool

Leaders are constantly faced with the challenge of doing more with less. Add PTO to the mix and how can teams possibly hit deadlines? This week, Leaders in our San Francisco Ops group will explore how to deliver on tight deadlines with available resources. Can't wait to hear what we learn? Here are a few tips from our article about How Leaders Maximize Results Despite Limited Resources: ✅ Close skill gaps ✅ Accelerate with technology ✅ Revisit the org chart Aquent Susie Hall Kate Gottfried #morewithless #designleadership #creativeoperations #pto #aquentinsideout

Change is accelerating. Technology, economics, and workforce dynamics are in flux. This week, our West Coast Design Leaders will explore how to rebuild culture for today's dispersed teams who are longing for connection, opportunity, and meaning. Bottom line: Culture is critical to productivity and retention. As the economy rebounds (and it will), companies with strong cultures will retain top talent. Don't wait for someone else to prioritize it – or get ready to replace your team. Aquent, Susie Hall, Kate Gottfried #culture #remotework #designleadership #creativeoperations #aquentinsideout

The pandemic forced us to rethink connections. While nothing beats face-to-face interactions, virtual connections have become invaluable tools for building relationships when geography and cost remain barriers. So MEET people in person, but don't discount virtual connections either. Two years ago, we hosted a virtual summer party and planted our own terrariums. Below is our very own Susie Hall's creation (and she has the brownest of thumbs!). We're proud of our growth and know there's more to come! We’re committed to offering both virtual and in-person sessions for our members (and we're told we're pretty great at making them both memorable and worth the time). Susie Hall, Kate Gottfried, Aquent #virtualcommunity #inpersonconnection #growth #designleadership #creativeoperations

As many prepare for the school year to start, we're excited to get back into learning with the amazing members of our InsideOut Design Leader Community. With 11 sessions this August, the Design, Creative, and Operations Leaders who join our discussions–all based on timely, real-world topics they selected–will tackle challenges head-on and inspire each other to reach new heights. What are you excited to learn this year? Share in the comments! Aquent, Susie Hall, Kate Gottfried #learning #backtoschool #aquentinsideout #designleadership #creativeoperations

Conference season is back and hotter than ever! Over the past year, we've seen conferences and events slowly returning to in-person. From AI-fueled creativity to leadership lessons, September is shaping up to be a HOT month and there's something for everyone. ☀ Hatch Conference is where experienced UX & Design Professionals in Europe meet to learn, get inspired, and connect. ☀ Bureau of Digital hosts Leadership Live, connecting leaders for practical insights and innovative strategies. ☀ Design Management Institute hosts dmi: Design Leadership Conference to discuss Design & Innovation at a Crossroad. ☀ Rosenfeld Media hosts the DesignOps Summit to dive into optimizing, building, and innovating DesignOps teams for maximum impact. ☀ UX Y'all Conference will discuss the Blueprints of User Experience. ☀ HOW Design Live is where inspiration, community, and creativity converge. ☀ Chicago Camps hosts Leadership By Design 2024: Expanding Perspectives to explore how to lead with inclusivity and resilience in design. ☀ Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) is where design leaders converge to propel the future of design. We're gearing up for our IRL Fall Sessions in Chicago, New York, LA, San Francisco, and Seattle. We can't wait to connect with you there! Where will YOU be soaking up inspiration and connecting with fellow creative leaders this September? 😎 Share in the comments ⤵ #designleadership #designconference #creativeleaders #creativeconferences Aquent Susie Hall Kate Gottfried Brian Shellhorn, CCWP Kelly Collins Elisabeth Svensson Phillip Lewis Noelle McDonald Mark Brim Laura Ceccato-Chopp

Change is everywhere. Is your team ready for whatever is next? Design used to be seen as merely aesthetics. But now, businesses need to use design to help them succeed - helping companies come up with new ideas, work faster, and make customers happy. In the era of rapidly evolving technologies, design is critical to get to the next level. Next week, leaders in our InsideOut Design Leader Community will discuss how to position design as a strategic advantage and build a resilient organization. 🤓 Share your pro tips for fostering a resilient team culture. #designleadership #creativeoperations #community #roundtables #leadershiptips #aquentinsideout #insights #creativity Aquent Susie Hall Kate Gottfried Simon Lusty