Surabhi Rathi

Have you listened to The Design Imposter Podcast? Monique and I have some remarkable guests in the coming weeks and the conversations are 🔥 Actually, our pre-recording vibe checks have been 🔥🔥🔥 We really need to start recording the vibe checks for b-roll. ---- Here's one of my favorite episodes which discusses the benefits of working in a corporate environment over freelancing and entrepreneurship. https://lnkd.in/eYKW3sTA

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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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🎨✨ "Great design isn’t about what you like—it’s about what works." Sophie Shand 🌸🌱💚 of Studio Flora dives into the fascinating world of strategic design for mission-driven brands. 🌿💡 From studying shelves to testing what truly sells, she explains why research and strategy are the real foundation of impactful packaging. 🌱👇 Curious how design choices can make or break a vegan brand? Tune in to hear Sophie’s expert insights and real-world tips. 👀🎧 Catch the full episode at https://lnkd.in/dV-UGnF8 #StrategicDesign #MissionDrivenBrands #VeganPackaging #StudioFlora #PlantBasedOnFire #DesignThatWorks #CreativeStrategy #VeganMarketing #SustainableDesign #PlantPoweredBusiness

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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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Have you ever wondered how to create work that is truly engaging and fulfilling? In our latest Meaningful Work Matters episode, Mat Duerden shares a fascinating insight into how we can design work to be more impactful - by understanding the difference between ordinary and extraordinary moments. He explains that while most of our day is made up of routine tasks, it's the impactful experiences that stick with us and shape how we find purpose. Mat dives into the science behind memorable, meaningful and transformative experiences. He discusses how emotions, insights and changes in perspective are key to making work resonate on a deeper level. If you want to learn how to elevate work from just a paycheck to a place where people can grow and develop, this episode is a must-listen. Mat provides practical tools you can apply right away to create work that truly matters. Tune in now: https://lnkd.in/ePGTVwrW #MeaningfulWork #EmployeeEngagement #WorkplaceCulture #ExperienceDesign #TransformativeLeadership #PurposeDrivenWork #LeadershipDevelopment #WorkplaceInnovation

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🚀 Exciting insights are here! We just wrapped up two dynamic panel discussions in the Ecosystem Leadership Report: Design 2024 series, and I’m excited to share some key takeaways. In these panels, we explored essential themes for today’s design leaders: Cross-Functional Collaboration and From Design to Business Leadership. Here’s a quick look at what we covered: 💡 Building Bridges Across Functions: Breaking down silos to foster stronger collaboration between design, product, and engineering teams. 💼 Design as a Strategic Partner: Practical steps for positioning design as a key player in achieving business goals. 🚀 Transitioning to Business Leadership: The mindset shifts and skills design leaders need to step into broader roles. 📈 Driving Organizational Impact: Aligning design efforts with business priorities to create measurable value. 👉 Want to dive deeper? Subscribers get exclusive insights straight from industry leaders on strengthening cross-functional teamwork and elevating design’s role in business. Gain access to the full panel recordings by joining the diegoNMTZ community here: https://lnkd.in/eHriBjSb At diegoNMTZ, we’re an agency dedicated to empowering leaders and building solutions for organizations, their customers, and teams. Our team is here to support your growth and impact through strategic consulting, thought leadership content, and customized leadership workshops. Thank you for being part of this forward-thinking community. We look forward to collaborating with you to navigate the evolving challenges in leadership!

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Hello fellow designers and creatives. I’ve decided to jump back into writing. Find me on Substack where my musings will focus on industrial design, design, strategy, sustainability, and systems thinking. Thanks for the sub. :) https://lnkd.in/e4Wpfbrp #industrialdesign #designstrategy #systemsthinking #sustainability

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While others rushed toward AI-generated mediocrity in 2024, we doubled down on human creativity and authentic storytelling. Through Kinesis, we proved that meaningful motion design still matters - especially when budgets shrink and timelines tighten. This year validated what I've always believed: motion design is more than visual gloss, it's an essential storytelling tool that deserves real creative investment. Every visual should layer deeper narrative meaning. Some proof points from 2024: • Delivered over 3,200 graphics across major streaming documentaries while upholding a high quality bespoke standard across all assets. • Helped tell iconic stories for Bon Jovi, Serena Williams, and Aaron Rodgers • Won an Emmy for Outstanding Graphic Design on "World War II: From The Frontlines" as one of two Lead Designers (CONGRATS TO THE TEAM!) • Built Kinesis from core team to handling major projects with rotating teams of 10-16 • Established sustainable model for high-end motion design that doesn't burn out artists Three posts that captured what matters: "The single most shocking thing about generative AI is that there are people who understand so little about art that they think it's something we should automate" On pushing back against the rush to mediocrity https://lnkd.in/gPqvaq5x "Even people with high levels of intelligence, ambition, success, and determination are just barely hanging on" On industry-wide challenges and staying true to quality https://lnkd.in/gg2ZfKtv "When someone says 'pick a lane', you should ignore it. Stop letting other people try to mute your creativity" On the value of diverse creative capabilities https://lnkd.in/gz7AEhXq Beyond motion design, we're building something bigger. Much bigger. We're proving that small, nimble teams can deliver work that rivals major studios while treating artists fairly and maintaining creative standards. It's about finding ways to say something meaningful through visual storytelling, even when the industry pushes for faster and cheaper. Looking ahead: 2025 will continue seeing the growth of our motion design business, but also an expansion into development of original content. We're taking everything we've learned about layering narrative meaning through visuals and applying it to bigger creative challenges. To every creative fighting to maintain quality in an industry obsessed with shortcuts: Keep pushing for what matters. The work that lasts isn't about being faster or cheaper - it's about being meaningfully and personally better. Human creativity isn't something you can automate or create shortcuts for... It's messy, personal, and worth protecting. Keep fighting!

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In 2025, the creative industry is likely to be shaped by AI. Adobe Firefly - https://lnkd.in/eva_JWvV - is emerging as the top tool for designers. According to a survey by Design Week, Firefly is the most widely adopted AI tool in the industry. It’s praised for its ability to generate images, text effects, and automate tasks like background removal with ease. The fact that it’s Integrated with Adobe Creative Cloud, helps streamline collaboration and speeds up the design process, making it a useful side kick for staying competitive. I’m still figuring out how best to utilise it. Love to hear how you’re using it, and where it’s strengths lie. #AIDesign #AdobeFirefly #Design

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In the digital world, it seems a frustrating pattern has emerged—a cycle that starts with promise, slides into mediocrity, and leaves users and businesses disillusioned. This is 'enshittification' (shoutout to Kouch Culture friends David Bloom, and Ben Dietz), the decline of once-unstoppable platforms. Enshittification isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a warning. We should stay mindful of where they invest our time, exploring new platforms that put us first. For businesses, it’s about diversifying, don’t rely on one platform to define your brand. Ultimately, success comes from making a living, not a killing. The platforms that survive will be those that balance user satisfaction with growth. For more, head to Unorthodox Blend on Substack.

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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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I know that @Ben Syverson and I are “strange” in the universe of potential business buyers, but I think there is method to our madness (at least that is what I tell myself 😅). Check out why we think we could be a perfect fit for the right business. Know of any leads? Send them my way! #design #designthinking #entreprenurship

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Feel like this is the future use cases for AI. Despite all the fear mongering about AI taking everyone's jobs (and of course, legitimate copyright questions), I think it'll ultimately boil down to a great toolset that augments existing tools and platforms, enabling us to make better work. Just because there's a camera in every phone, doesn't make us all photographers. Sure, everyone might be able to make a video in Sora once they release the public version, but great work will still require taste, experience and skill. Exciting times ahead, once the initial mainstream hype dies down. #ai #adobe #sora #runway #pika https://lnkd.in/eP2aYxx8

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🎙️ Welcome to this episode of the Disambiguation Podcast, “Brand Consistency and Generative AI in Design”. 🌟 Our special guests, Cathy Clark, co-founder and COO, and Lee Swearingen, co-founder and CDO, DXM. 🔍 In this episode, we discuss: -Why consistency in brand content is important. -How brand consistency has historically been achieved in creative content development for marketers. -How AI is changing the creative content process for marketing. -The pros and cons of using AI to generate content today. -Brand risks associated with these new AI-enabled processes. -How DXM addresses the opportunities of using AI while solving the problem of on-brand content consistency. -Why DXM’s agent-driven platform is a better approach for marketers. -Customer examples of how companies are using the DXM platform for content / design. #ai #genai #podcast #design

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Imagine being one of the earliest designers on the VR and AI teams at Meta 💭 Lots of ambiguity right? That's why this week's episode with Maheen Sohail is a deep dive into designing without a clear playbook to follow (and the power of tinkering on side projects to learn) Get the full thing here 👇 https://lnkd.in/gfHQxBUV

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Every purchase feels personal, yet (as many designers are acutely aware) our shopping habits are meticulously engineered. Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy recently released on Netflix reveals how major corporations craft irresistible consumer experiences, with former insiders from Amazon to Apple exposing the tactics that drive endless consumption—and the massive environmental toll of our shopping addiction designed to get consumers to replace products as quickly as possibly. Which begs the question: should designers be required to plan for a product’s end-of-life from the start, or is that up to consumers and regulations to address later? In an age where sustainability is critical, the design community must reevaluate its role in shaping products that don’t just benefit businesses but also the planet. Find the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d5mSeTtu #netflix #design #sustainability #marketing

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