DX Perspective: From Generic To Iconic, Fighting Entropy, and The Future of Agentic Systems
Hi all!
Here’s your weekly dose of DX Perspective, a list of what I’m exploring and thinking about. Feel free to forward this along to friends.
kw picks
From Generic to Iconic: Using Design to Create Unique Value Scrolling through a list of startups, I realized half could swap logos, and no one would notice. Playing it safe might keep you in the game, but it won't win it—especially when customers crave authenticity. Let’s explore how to escape the "me too" trap and create something truly memorable.
6 Questions to Find Out How Your Employees Are Really Doing Do you know how your employees truly feel about their roles, work, and relationships? Asking the right questions in focused one-on-one settings is key to making sure you’re in tune with your people.
Everything in Business is About Fighting Entropy — Here’s How Rippling Does It Matt MacInnis, COO of Rippling, shares why most companies slow down as they scale, and his advice for how startup founders and executives can prevent it.
Leaders Shouldn’t Try to Do It All Many important tasks can be done by other people. Focus on what you can do a lot better than anyone else.
What I'm watching + listening to
Inside the State of AI for Business With Google Cloud and Anthropic - AI That Means Business What’s next for artificial intelligence? And how are companies putting it to work in the here and now? Join Google experts for a deep dive into the technology that’s changing the world of business—and pretty much everything else.
What I'm reading
Microsoft New Future of Work Report 2024 Over the past year, organizations have begun deploying generative AI at scale, revealing both its promise and its challenges. This report centers on actionable insights derived from Microsoft’s research and beyond, offering insight into how these tools are shaping work in practice.
A Primer on the Evolution and Impact of AI Agents AI agents are autonomous systems capable of sensing, learning and acting upon their environments. This white paper explores their development and looks at how they are linked to recent advances in large language and multimodal models. It highlights how AI agents can enhance efficiency across sectors including healthcare, education and finance.
Fish Eyes – Amelia Wattenberger We often think of the same information at different levels or abstraction.
Emerging Tech
AI pioneer Mustafa Suleyman shares his vision for the future of AI Mustafa Suleyman has played a pivotal role in the evolution of AI, as co-founder of DeepMind and now as CEO of Microsoft AI. This hour, he reflects on his career and shares his vision for a future.
The great AI gadget debacle of 2024 Most lapel pins are ornamental. Some are used to signal political or social affiliations. This one was going to change the world.
Apple Is Working on AI Chip With Broadcom Unlike other tech companies, Apple has committed to using its custom chips as opposed to ones made by vendors like Nvidia, with the aim of processing AI data more privately and securely.
Tools and Resources
Collaborative Writing and Coding with OpenAI Canvas - DeepLearning.AI Explore a new way to write and code with OpenAI Canvas, a user-friendly interface that allows you to brainstorm, draft, and refine text and code in collaboration with ChatGPT.
My recent articles
Leading Beyond Authority: The Power of Influence in Design Leadership
Fueling Innovation: How Design Leaders Drive Product Transformation
Moving Beyond Execution — The Evolution to Strategic Design Leadership
Decoding The Future: The Evolution Of Intelligent Interfaces
Scaling Quality: 4 Steps To Foster A Culture Of Empowerment And Accountability For Design Excellence
🔈 Design Leadership at Scale
Whether you're a design leader refining your path or preparing for an executive role, Design Leadership at Scale courses are designed to equip you (and your team) with the skills, strategies, and insights needed to thrive in today's evolving landscape.
Design Leadership at Scale: Career Strategy
Your career journey deserves intention and strategy. This weekend immersive is designed for design leaders who are ready to map out their path, elevate their impact, and align their leadership trajectory with long-term goals. Whether refining your current role or preparing for new opportunities, you’ll gain actionable frameworks to craft a career that stands out in a competitive market.
🗓️ Feb 8–9, 2025
Design Leadership at Scale: Operations
Scaling a design organization without compromising quality or culture is a challenge every design leader faces. This course equips senior and emerging design operations leaders with the tools to build robust infrastructure, optimize processes, and drive operational excellence. From talent development to systems that support rapid growth, this program is crafted for leaders ready to take their teams to the next level.
🗓️ Jan 28–Feb 6, 2025
🗓️ Feb 4–13, 2025
Design Leadership at Scale: Director+
Built for experienced design leaders ready to step up to executive roles, Director+ focuses on leading in complex, matrixed organizations, scaling your influence, and making high-impact decisions. This course will empower you to lead with clarity and confidence, bridging design with broader business goals to drive value across the organization.
🗓️ Feb 10–20, 2025
Design Leadership at Scale: Executive
This advanced course is tailored for senior design leaders—Senior Directors, VPs, SVPs, and CDOs — who are ready to lead at the intersection of design, business strategy, and emerging technology. Dive deep into aligning design with business objectives, fostering product culture transformation, and building scalable operations that support innovation and growth.
🗓️ Mar 3–13, 2025
And please give me feedback. Which bullet above is your favorite? What do you want more or less of? Other suggestions? Please let me know.
Have a great weekend.
— Rachel