WELCOME
The future of creativity is at a crossroads. People are questioning the longevity of design.
Are we creating or just manufacturing? Explore creativity and Being Designerly in this issue with curated content on the following topics:
Creativity:
→ The tech industry risks losing its creative edge.
→ Many see tech as a process, not an art.
AI and Art:
→ AI is changing how we think about creativity.
→ It can be a partner, not just a tool.
→ This shift was clear at Deloitte’s AI Forum 2025.
Creative Minds:
→ Creative people now use AI as part of their daily work.
→ A recent survey showed AI is crucial for innovation.
→ Going back to a world without AI seems impossible.
Overcoming Blocks:
→ Overthinking can stifle creativity.
→ Try Wonder Intervention Experiments (WIE) to break free.
→ These simple exercises can spark new ideas and joy.
Nurturing Creativity:
→ Creative individuals share how they stay inspired.
→ They focus on routine, exploration, and openness.
→ These habits fuel their creative fire.
The Artist’s Way:
→ The Defector team shared their journey through ‘The Artist’s Way’.
→ They explored their creativity with morning pages and artist dates.
→ Staying committed to the process is key.
Skills on the Rise:
→ LinkedIn lists the top skills in Arts and Design for 2025.
→ AI is at the top, along with the designerly skills of collaboration and visual communication.
Design and Collaboration:
→ Product and design must work together.
→ A strong partnership leads to better outcomes.
Design Challenges:
→ The "death of design" is a trending topic.
→ Good design starts long before the first draft.
→ Creating the right conditions is essential for success.
Remember: Creativity is not just a skill. It’s a mindset.
FEATURE
Why design goes wrong and how to set it right (2 part series)
A deeper dive into the recent discussion about the "death of design". The work of design starts long before you open Figma. We must first seek out – or create – conditions in which good design is even possible, by building our own relational power.
beehiiv.com
CREATIVITY
The End of Creativity in the Tech Industry
Are we still creating tech at this point? Or are we just manufacturing it?
inc.com
Algorithmic Artistry: How AI is remixing creativity
This discussion at Deloitte’s AI Forum 2025, highlighted AI's emerging role as a creative collaborator rather than a replacement for human ingenuity.
cnbctv18.com
How the world's most creative people are using AI
How are the world’s most creative people using AI to drive their work forward? This was the question at the heart of an in-depth survey Fast Company recently conducted in partnership with Whalar Group, a global creator company. They found that AI has become a routine part of the creative process—and a return to an AI-free working life has become almost unfathomable.
fastcompany.com
How to Overcome Overthinking and Spark Breakthrough Ideas
Try Wonder Intervention Experiments (WIE) to create a mindful, playful container that interrupts analysis paralysis and sparks creative intelligence. These micro-experiments take two forms: as a daily habit or as a creative disruption and joyful diversion.
psychologytoday.com
How do you keep your creativity alive?
Insights from creative individuals on how to maintain and nurture creativity. Get inspired by contributors sharing their personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of inspiration, routine, exploration, and openness to new ideas as key factors in fostering creativity.
boldjourney.com
‘The Artist’s Way’ Week 11: We Are Dying To Be Done
Read about the Defector team's experience in week 11 of a 12-week-long Artist Way odyssey into unlocking their inner artists. Morning pages, artist date and more... Did you keep up?
defector.com
VISUAL
LinkedIn Skills on the Rise 2025: The 10 fastest-growing skills in the US in Arts and Design
LinkedIn's inaugural list of Skills on the Rise in Arts and Design calls out the 10 fastest-growing skills that creative professionals should be investing in to get ahead in today’s world of work. AI tops the list, and designerly skills of collaboration and visual communication are up there...
linkedin.com
The designer who "made" Steve Jobs work on his terms
How Steve Jobs bent over backward to get Paul Rand to work on the logo for NeXT.
luxurylaunches.com
COLLABORATE
Product, Design and AI
A co-authored post by Marty Cagan and Bob Baxley discussing the necessary and distinct contributions of Product & Design, so that product teams can focus on the important work, and not waste time naval gazing, or worse, assume their colleague is unnecessary.
svpg.com
