I gave myself one day to build something animated, cinematic, and interactive using nothing but prompts. No design tools, no code, no Figma. What came out surprised me and somehow felt like 1999 again. This is what happened when a LinkedIn bio became a Tolkien story, and what it made me think about the future of creative tools.

The latest round of AI-driven layoffs hit hard. But after thirty years of tech waves and an honest conversation at Ocean Beach, the data surprised me. This is what it actually says about the future of design jobs — and why I think it's still worth paddling back out.

The design job market is recovering. Most designers don't know it — and even if they did, their portfolio still isn't ready. This is what the research showed me, why I decided to build something about it, and what I still don't know.

The designers who thrive in the AI era aren't just fluent with the tools—they know exactly where human judgment takes over. This is my journey from cautious observer to AI-native practitioner, learning what to collaborate on and what to protect.

Product design without user input is guessing. Product strategy without validated intent is theater—polished, fast, and convincing, until the market punishes you for building the wrong thing beautifully.

It started as a way to make sense of a chaotic year in design—AI hype, layoffs, shifting roles. Looking back, it became something else: a record of what it feels like to design and lead at the start of a new era.

In 2026, as AI becomes standard in everyday tools, the real edge will go to design teams that stop treating it like cheating and build truly AI-native ways of working.

There’s a lot of talk about AI and retail these days, but the truth is, people still want to feel like someone’s looking out for them. The designer’s job isn’t just to make things efficient or smart—it’s to make them helpful, honest, and human.

The old UX maxim was "Don't make me think." The new AI UX maxim is "Please, for the love of all that is holy, think a little bit before trusting what this very convincing machine just told you." We're workshopping a shorter version.

The battle for the soul of human creativity is happening right now, and it's moving at a pace that would make even the most jaded techno-optimist's head spin.

Explore how the Super IC Designer—a strategic, hands-on design leader amplified by AI—redefines innovation without ever becoming a manager.

Careers aren’t ladders anymore — they’re products you create, iterate, and launch. Here’s how designers are doing it after layoffs.

I just completed MIT's AI certification and built MemoryMate for seniors. Here's what I learned about creating AI that works with humans, not just for them.

An inside look at what’s really happening in UX and product design right now—and what it means for your next move.

Leadership isn’t always about being the loudest voice in the room or having a fancy title. Sometimes it’s just about showing up, doing the hard stuff, and giving a damn about the people around you.

AI is in its hype phase now—big promises, bold claims—but history tells us the real transformation will take longer and be much bigger than we expect.

Learning, networking, and publishing: three essential practices that build lasting Career Karma for leaders navigating today's unpredictable professional landscape.

Design is losing its edge. Creativity is being crushed under the weight of algorithms, templates, and endless A/B tests. It’s time to stop optimizing for sameness—and start designing for impact.

From dot-com to AI, design leadership feels like déjà vu. In '99 we wondered if every business needed a website. Now we debate if every product needs AI. Same questions, new era.

I believe there are more opportunities than ever to help companies succeed with great design. And I am excited as ever about where my career can take me.