2023 Year in Review

Looking back on the journey of our blog in 2023, it’s fascinating to see the common threads weaving through our discussions. As 2023 draws closer, our blog journey weaves through tech-creative intersections, tackling universal design challenges. Popular posts like “Bringing business impact and user needs together with JTBD” resonated, and heartfelt tributes to icons like Tina Turner added a personal touch. Here’s to another year of insightful exploration.

Common Themes and Trends

2023 was marked by the impact of Artificial Intelligence, especially Generate AI, which reverberated across industries, notably in content creation exemplified by Mint Mobile’s AI-generated ad.

The rise of cozy games emerged as a poignant reaction to the pandemic, highlighting a shift in the industry’s focus towards addressing social and emotional jobs, as outlined in the jobs-to-be-done framework. This pandemic served as a once-in-a-lifetime inflection point, illuminating the heightened importance of emotional jobs like anxiety reduction in gaming.

The design strategy landscape constantly changes, requiring designers and strategists to continuously improve their soft skills, such as thought leadership, innovation, and adaptability. This is critical to staying relevant in an industry that is being disrupted by AI.

My Most Popular Posts in 2023

Reflecting on the top five posts of the year, let’s see what resonated the strongest with my audience:

Bringing business impact and user needs together with Jobs to be Done (JTBD) (1453 views) struck a chord by offering a practical approach to aligning business objectives with user needs, providing a tangible framework for all of us. In a year when established frameworks like Design Thinking and Agile face growing scrutiny, Jobs to be Done emerges as a resilient and effective framework that complements human-centered methods. It stands as a common currency facilitating discussions among designers, product managers, and developers on the inherent value of pursuing an opportunity. The adaptability and practicality of JTBD position it not as a replacement but as a robust companion, enhancing the collaborative process and ensuring that the nexus between business objectives and user needs remains at the forefront of strategic decision-making.

Dealing with Uncertainty and Ambiguity (1000 views) addressed a universal challenge for designers, offering valuable tools to tackle complexity head-on. In the midst of the intricate challenges posed by uncertainty and ambiguity, designers will continue to find themselves navigating complex problems. While AI disrupts various industries, it underscores the necessity for designers to not only adapt but thrive in environments laden with uncertainty. The unique human capacity to grapple with ambiguity, navigate the unknown, and make intuitive leaps remains a distinct skill set that AI, for all its capabilities, cannot fully replicate. Therefore, as technology transforms industries, designers must embrace and enhance their ability to operate comfortably within the realm of uncertainty, recognizing that these skills are not merely resistant to disruption but essential for shaping innovative solutions in an ever-evolving landscape.

The trio of Strategy and Stakeholder Management (756 views), Managing by Outcomes and Jobs to be Done (702 views), and Strategy, Facilitation, and the Art of Asking Questions (665 views) delved into the core aspects of effective design strategy, earning their well-deserved spots among our favorites this year. I believe these posts were popular because they addressed the complex relationship between strategy and execution: in a fast-changing environment, managing stakeholders, adopting outcome-driven approaches, and facilitating discussions are crucial. These posts provided practical guidance to navigate design strategy with a holistic perspective.

The Ones We Lost

In remembering the remarkable individuals we lost in 2023, their impact on my life adds a deeply personal layer to the tribute.

Fernando Botero‘s art entered my world through a dear friend from Colombia, Jorge Otero. It was a casual day in 2005 as we strolled around Jing’An Temple in Shanghai when Jorge introduced me to Botero’s distinctive style. Little did I know then that Botero’s voluptuous figures would become a lasting presence in my artistic journey, shaping my appreciation for the fusion of form and emotion.

Tina Turner holds a special place in my memories. My first experience of her extraordinary energy was when I watched the “Private Dancer” video on a VHS tape in the lounge of CCAA in Belém, where I used to take my early English lessons. Years later, her connection with a significant moment in Formula 1 history left a lasting impression on me. After the 1993 Australian F1 GP, Ayrton Senna, a legendary Brazilian racing driver, attended Turner’s concert. Moved by his presence, Turner dedicated the song ‘The Best’ to Senna, which was a poignant moment that resonated deeply with me. We had no idea that within weeks, the racing world would mourn the loss of Senna in a tragic car accident at Imola.

Andy Rourke‘s passing brings forth memories intertwined with the humor of Luis in Ant-Man and the Wasp and the cultural resonance of Brazilian rock. While not Chicano, I can attest to the profound influence of The Smiths, especially Rourke’s iconic bass lines, on Brazilian rock bands. In the early 1980s, this influence rippled through bands from Brasília like Os Paralamas do Sucesso, Legião Urbana, Capital Inicial, and Plebe Rude. Rourke’s grooves, embedded in melancholic ballads, played a crucial role in shaping the sonic landscape of Brazilian rock, leaving an enduring mark on my musical journey.

Living in Germany

The PISA 2022 study revealed declining scores for German students in math, reading, and science. The results highlight social disparities and lack of linguistic support for immigrant students.

Having immigrated to Germany 10 years ago and now with three school-age kids, I witnessed how hard it is for parents with German as a second language to navigate the education system and help their children with their homework.

This is going to continue to be a challenge for at least another generation: the German workforce is short of 1.9 million skilled workers (costing the economy nearly 90 billion Euros a year), so a short-term boost in the workforce by migration is going to be hampered by the lack of support for migrants to learn the language, or until Germany industry reduces the barriers for non-native speakers to integrate into the workforce (such as countries like Denmark, The Netherlands, and Sweden).

On Social Media

Reflecting on the most engaging posts on social media, a clear trend emerges—our network is deeply interested in topics that directly influence the changing dynamics of work and the critical role of leadership in nurturing well-being.

The post titled Managers Have Major Impact On Mental Health: How To Lead For Wellbeing (with over 28,000 impressions) struck a chord, underscoring the significant influence managers hold over mental health, surpassing even therapists and doctors. It’s a powerful reminder of the pivotal role leadership plays in the holistic well-being of individuals.

Another prevalent theme is the transformative shift in work patterns, exemplified by The Work-From-Anywhere War Is Beginning. With over 22,000 impressions on LinkedIn, this post delves into the demand for extreme flexibility, where top talent seeks not just hybrid work but the freedom to work from anywhere. Insights from Harvard economist Prithwiraj Choudhury highlight a profound shift in job expectations, emphasizing the crucial role of flexibility in attracting and retaining top talent.

Lastly, the post Galileo AI: Co-pilot for Interface Design (with nearly 8,000 impressions on LinkedIn) showcases our audience’s fascination with the intersection of artificial intelligence and design. The rapid integration of generative AI into interface design, as demonstrated by Galileo AI, captures attention, indicating a collective interest in the evolving tools and technologies shaping the design landscape.

Speaking Engagements

I had the opportunity to interview Jim Kalbach, author of The Jobs to Be Done Playbook and Chief Evangelist at Mural, during SAP’s UX Immersive Week. Together, we delve into the essence of the JTBD framework and explore how it enables innovation to happen at more granular levels of product development, and to what extent AI can help.