Sixteenfifty Creative Intelligence’s Post

As the design profession evolves, job titles like Design Engineer, Coherence Generator, and Design Futurist may emerge, reflecting the expanding scope and focus areas of the field. However, at its core, the role remains centered on problem-solving and enhancing people's lives through thoughtful design solutions. Regardless of the specific title, taking pride in identifying as a designer who tackles challenges and creates meaningful impact is what truly matters. The ability to reframe design as a problem-solving endeavor enables designers to apply their skills across diverse contexts. As a designer, I take pride in contributing to products that positively impact people's lives. In the case of the ADT video doorbell, I collaborated on the user experience and styled the exterior design. Whenever I see it in commercials, I whisper to myself or tell my kids, "I designed that," knowing it's keeping millions of people safe across the US.

At Humanoids we have been investing in the new generation of designers through our traineeships for 7+ years now. We’ve happily trained 100+ specialists over the years: it’s our mission. What we’ve learned: - What is a “senior”? Experience is over-valued in a fast-changing sector as tech. Many experienced specialists haven’t adapted. Priorities change when you grown older. Seniors lose their hunger. What we need is passionate, eager and flexible specialists. We happily supply those with all the tools they need. - Golden triangle What we’re looking for is the golden triangle of drive - talent - interpersonal skills. This market demands more than just the hard skills nowadays. What we’ve noticed is these are ”intrinsic” talents, more than skills developed over time. We’re perfectly able to find these among the younger generation. - Full-spectrum Often, when you’re working with IT specialists they have their own history of tools and stacks. Working with a “blank sheet” enables us infuse a skillset mirroring the current state of the market. From design thinking methodology to research to execution and everything in between. This way, a designer can bring true value to the table. Then: who cares about the “number of years”?

As employees, we all have dreams of landing our dream job, but what happens when it turns into a nightmare? This post by a designer shares a similar experience and provides valuable insights on how to navigate such situations. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gt-M6s5Q.

WHY is hiring senior designers akin to navigating a labyrinth? Picture this. You're winding your way through a complex maze, every turn revealing a new challenge, a new decision to make. That's the world of hiring senior designers. It's not about just finding talent, it's about finding the RIGHT kind of talent. Often, we focus solely on the technical skills and overlook the importance of adaptability and collaboration. The best senior designers are those who can mold their expertise around the ever-changing landscape of the industry, not those who are merely experts in their field. Here's the twist. It's not only about hiring a designer with a robust portfolio. It's about bringing on board someone who can guide the team, foster innovation, and drive the design vision forward. So, how do we navigate this complex labyrinth? 1. Look beyond the portfolio: Gauge their problem-solving skills and their ability to adapt to new situations. 2. Evaluate their leadership potential: Can they inspire and guide a team while fostering a culture of innovation? 3. Value diversity: Different perspectives breed creativity and innovation. Remember, recruiting senior designers isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. It's about finding the individual who will shape the future of your design landscape, not just fill a position. So, let's change the narrative. Let's start valuing adaptability, leadership, and diversity as much as technical prowess. Let’s turn the labyrinth into a straight path. If you found this helpful, consider resharing ♻️ and follow me Louis Laforest for more content like this.

Interesting career moves I've seen: → Designer > Founder → VP of Design > Senior IC → Head of Design > Head of People → Head of Design > Director of Product → Senior Design Director > Design Partner → Director of Design > Director of Engineering There's so much opportunity to utilise design experience in other areas of the business. Design is one of the only disciplines where design can benefit every part of an organisation. Here's to designers moving into other disciplines, if that is your calling.

Every designer adapts and evolves into different roles as they move up the ladder in their career.

Great discussion and a very important one! Imo, a designer is parallel in his work to an architect. Architect for buildings = Designer for products. If you think about it, there is the entrepreneur (in high-tech this is usually the CEO) and there is the executing contractor (Development and Technologies). In addition, there is a project manager who is supposed to promote what the architect planned (Product Manager). In high-tech, unlike architecture, the role of the designer was divided with the Product, due to the different nature of the fields and the lack of time for the designer to plan. The Product became responsible for the roadmap and adapting it to the customer's needs versus the business goals. This move essentially "stole" the planning part of the designer's role and we were left with a reputation for aesthetics only which is much less valued (even if an understanding of UI entails an entire world in it) I agree that being a generalist puts the power back in our hands and bites back the responsibility for the entire product and its value to the business. As a generalist you should know that every designer actually has two clients: the client who pays us and the client who pays the client (the user), and we must empathize with both and speak their language to articulate a seamless solution and to be the bridge between them. And yes, understanding Marketing and branding is also valuable to achieve this goal. The aesthetics? It's very important, but it has to be a given skill for an experienced designer, that should master various types of it and use it accurately as another tool in their toolset.

#hiring Service Designer, Hartford, United States, all #jobs #jobseekers #careers #Hartfordjobs #Connecticutjobs #Engineering Apply: https://lnkd.in/d7TkadQk 1. Service Designer will drive discovery, user engagement, and experience research; collect and analyze data; and conduct synthesis workshops, facilitation sessions, and journey mapping exercises.2. Human-Centered Research: Use Human Centered Design based innovation approaches

Designers come from all walks of life, and each person has their own unique story about how they got into design. Whether it was a childhood passion for art, a love for problem-solving, or a desire to make a difference in the world, there are many different paths that can lead to a career in design. In the spirit of sharing our design journeys, I'd like to invite you to share your own story in the comments below. 👉 How did you first discover design? 👉 What inspired you to pursue a career in design? 👉 What challenges did you face along the way? 👉 What are you most proud of accomplishing in your design career? I'm excited to hear your stories and learn more about the diverse paths that have led us all to the field of design. #DesignJourney #DesignerStory #ShareYourStory

Being a designer isn’t just about the job title. It’s really about: 1. The dreams you dare to dream - Everything we create starts with a dream. It’s about imagining what could be and then making it happen. 2. The courage in each setback - We all face tough times when things don’t go right. What matters is how we pick ourselves up and keep going. 3. The unity found in collaboration - Great things happen when we join forces with others. It’s about sharing ideas and making something amazing together. 4. The endless wonder in your eyes - Always asking questions and looking for new inspiration keeps our work fresh and exciting. 5. The grace in adapting to change - The world of design is always changing. Being open to new ideas and ways of doing things is how we stay ahead. 6. The spark you ignite in others - Our work can light a spark in someone else. Seeing others take our ideas and run with them is a huge win. 7. The relentless pursuit of growth - There’s always something new to discover. Staying hungry for knowledge is key. 8. The love that shapes every user's journey - The best part of what we do is making something that others enjoy and appreciate. It’s all about adding that special touch that makes people smile. As designers, our impact is bigger than just making things look good. It’s about creating experiences that people love. It’s a reminder that our work is about touching lives, one design at a time. #DesignLife #Teamwork #Creativity #LearningEveryDay #MakingADifference