Our prototype for Design expertise

Designing Futures by empowering designers

We believe that all design is anticipatory. It’s an optimistic approach to realizing a preferred tomorrow. However, strategic foresight isn’t enough to get us there – you can articulate nuanced drivers of change, and assemble a portfolio of strategies, but it is design that drives meaningful change. Developing a practice of design is challenging, and this prototype is our take on getting started.

PROMPT cards

ANALOG

Our collection of design prompt cards are intended to stoke interests and nurture growth. Pick a card, combine two cards and engage in activities. The collection is divided into seven abilities.

Design Abilities:

Good Design starts with Advocacy

Design Literacy Matters

Go beyond the algorithm & nurture curiosity

On the road to mastery, learn from travelers

Design is an anticipatory state of being

Design for depth over scratching the surface

Discovering Designers

Flexibility:

The cards may be used individually, or in groups. Wildcard and blank cards allow for unique explorations.

JOURNAL

ANALOG/DIGITAL

Ideally, your interactions and reflections from the card prompts should be captured – in a trusted notebook or personal blog.

Reflections:

Committing to a practice of writing and reflections is hard.Interacting with the prompts on a scrap piece of paper is a great way to start. However, there’s a huge benefit to be gained by capturing your thoughts and then returning to them to review your growth. A notebook is a great option, but your preferred notes app or a personal blog provides the further advantages of searching for past prompt responses and sharing your thoughts for feedback.

AI mentor

Digital

Stuck on a prompt? Looking for a thought partner or to discuss an unfamiliar designer? Engage with our custom AI chatbot to dive deeper.

Learning with AI:

Design Mentor is our rudimentary take on an AI chatbot that has been crafted to help novice designers improve their design abilities. We’ve given the chatbot the persona of an expert designer, a go-to-coach that offers guiding advice and suggestions, rather than one-and-done solutions.

Thought partner:

For those moments when you can’t connect with another designer, and are looking for a design-infused chat to provide a spark of inspiration.