Howdy, stranger!

Boy oh boy has it been a minute, but I'm pleased to say that I've returned to the land of the living!

After a year living as a hermit grinding away to finish our AI & Design Systems and Atomic Design courses, it was SO INCREDIBLY REFRESHING to connect with people and communities in real life. I was fortunate to travel to Valencia (thanks DNA!), Poland (thanks WaysConf!), Prague (thanks Projector!), and most recently Helsinki (thanks Grand One!) to run AI & Design Systems workshops and finally share what we've been so hard at work creating. In many respects, it feels like recording an album and finally getting to take it out on tour!

It's through real human connections & conversations that we establish and strengthen our shared reality. "This is what I'm seeing/feeling/experiencing, is this what you're seeing/feeling/experiencing too?" This is something that is increasingly critical to protect and cultivate. Meaningful conversation after meaningful conversation across geographies and cultures made the trends clear:

1. Things are moving at an absurdly fast pace

2. There's a ton to be both excited AND terrified about

3. It feels impossible to predict where things are going

4. People feel destabilized, “behind”, tapped out, and conflicted

5. The state of social media exacerbates these feelings

6. Creativity, imagination, optimism, and enthusiasm must be skillfully wielded to change the depressing current state of affairs and the broader trajectory

7. It is critical to have healthy spaces to connect, commiserate, share, learn, teach, and navigate this moment together

In order to make sense of this moment, we have to do our part and participate in the collective conversation. You may be asking, well how do I do that? Well, today you're in luck!

Add your voice to the Design Wellbeing Index survey

I had the extreme privilege to talk with Ioana Teleanu on the latest episode of Wake Up Excited! Ioana created the Design Wellbeing Index, a rigorous, anonymous study of how designers are actually feeling in the AI moment.

If you're a designer, please give 12 short minutes of your time to share how you're feeling about this moment. The survey closes on November 10th, so it's urgent to weigh in to help provide some clarity to this blurry moment. And be sure to watch/listen to our entire conversation (and consider subscribing!):

Our conversation mirror the many conversations I’ve had in my conference travels and in our own community. All of this is pointing at where we’re going and the exciting things we’re working on. Looking forward to sharing it when the time comes, but until now, I appreciate you being on the ride with us.

I'll leave you with this question: what was the last social interaction you had that left you feeling that you're not alone in your thoughts and feelings? Feel free to reply; I read every one!

Love always,
Brad