New Years Resolutions

I was reflecting on the different founders that showed up, with start-ups in different industries, all more or less in the same early level of maturity, from different parts of the world, all so different and yet, all so alike. To be honest, after having been a founder myself, after so many pitches, so many stories of success and failure, I still can’t really say what makes a successful start-up.

But this constant focus on inquiry is tiring and limits other faculties. In my case, my question ability many times decreases with my ability to listen, my brain is wired in such a way that as soon as I am listening to something I am posing questions in my brain, and the fact that is dedicating energy in doing so, distracts me from really listening attentively. But unless I find a mechanism to capture my question, I listen carefully and forget all the questions I had.

And while you do need to understand the entire organization, how it operates, how it makes money, why do people decide the way they do, if there is any sort of empathy, it needs to be aimed at those that are many times treated like a number, those that need to use these products and services to get their jobs done, those that silently comply or abandon companies without complaining, or complain and risk being booted because they are seen as trouble makers. And you know what, when this is well done, it is good design, and it is good business.

I saw a movie called The Taste of Things, I was driven to it because I love movies and other things about cooking, and because I tend to assume any movie with Juliette Binoche is worth seeing. It is about cooking, but also about many other things that made me reflect.

Sounds familiar when you think of what is happening now in design with generative AI? Rock n’ roll didn’t die, musicians had to adapt, and it changed, and though some might like to look back and miss that rock n’ roll, we still have pretty good music and musicians, that know how to use technology to their benefit, using their artistic talent do give us great rock n’ roll.

Let’s talk about collaboration, specifically among designers. Yes, we could have a debate on collaboration itself, is it important and necessary, is the data out there is right about the positive vs. negative impact on creativity. But I won’t get into that because, from experience, I believe in the power and impact of well planned and executed collaboration between designers, period. My question is really about how naturally collaborative are designers.

For me, every time I read something from James that makes me uncomfortable, I remember and remind myself that this is what I liked about him from start. I may not agree with what he thinks and says, but boy does he continue to blow my mind. Thank you, James.

And it’s a shame, because if you love people the way I do, bumping into them, eye to eye with a smile, an exchange of words, a simple hug or a handshake, having this type of thought popping in your mind is really annoying, and almost makes you want to do just the opposite, head towards that large dense crowd of people, down that corridor full of people, basically a feeling of “getting back on the horse”. And maybe, if you can’t control what pops up into your mind, you can what you do about it.

So, it is a message crafted by someone with a particular story, aimed at a group of students in a particular context, and if we left at that, it would probably be Ok. Even when I remind myself of the latest data stating that peak millennials are in fact correct when they say that “it sucks to be 33”.

Yes, she was my mother, but also a remarkable woman, that will not show up in the annals of history as having done anything significant, not even bearing me. And I think of so many other women, doing this and even more, every day, every year, in conditions so many times worse than my mother. And I ask myself, what else does the world need to recognize women for what they are, every day, everywhere, on every situation?