Rosenverse

This video is only accessible to Gold members. Log in or register for a free Gold Trial Account to watch.

Log in Register

Most conference talks are accessible to Gold members, while community videos are generally available to all logged-in members.

Framing Tomorrow by Questioning Today
Gold
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 • Design at Scale 2022
Share the love for this talk
Framing Tomorrow by Questioning Today
Speakers: Brendan Jarvis

Summary

You may have noticed that all is not well in the world. Caught between a pandemic, a civil rights reckoning and the spectre of global conflict - you still have to show up each day and lead your team. With so much happening, it's easy to forget that the scale of your impact doesn't only come from the tools, systems or processes that you implement, but also from the depth of the questions you ask of yourself, of your team, and of your users. Drawing from over 75 long-format interviews with some of the best and brightest design leaders, this talk explores some of the big questions facing the field, and how you can use the humble question to be a better leader. Warning: this talk may raise more questions than it provides answers for.

Key Insights

  • The pandemic forced deep reflection on personal and collective narratives.

  • Socratic questioning is vital for challenging the status quo and fostering curiosity.

  • Design leaders must embrace ethical responsibilities in their work.

  • Diversity and inclusivity are essential for effective design practices.

  • The stories we tell ourselves influence our behaviors and potential for impact.

  • Critical questions help us navigate through uncertainty and despair.

  • Design has the responsibility to consider its societal implications.

  • Better questions lead to greater understanding and innovation in design.

  • Reflecting on personal challenges can enhance professional growth.

  • We must work actively to change narratives that limit progress.

Notable Quotes

"On March 25, 2020, as New Zealand entered a strict lockdown, I felt helpless and stupid."

"Each of us has been throughout our own version of Hell these past couple of years."

"Our ability to question our external and internal worlds is Central to our Humanity."

"Good questions are your allies; they're a gift that may unlock a deeper understanding."

"The get between our intentions and our outcomes couldn't be more apparent when considering who's not in the room."

"We shouldn't settle for good enough or justify poor performance."

"Getting mad about not having a seat at the table isn't productive."

"The stories we tell are framed by the questions we ask."

"It is up to us to create a better frame for design tomorrow by questioning design today."

"Keep being brave."

More Videos

Chris Govias

"Welcome to the first Civic design community meeting."

Chris Govias Mai-Ling Garcia Emily Lessard

Perspectives on Civic Design

September 23, 2021

Anat Fintzi

"If we give this talk again in a year or two, our ratio of who's had a good delivery should be much different."

Anat Fintzi Rachel Minnicks

Delivering at Scale: Making Traction with Resistant Partners

June 9, 2022

Russ Unger

"By focusing on fourth graders, we could reach a large population with clear messaging."

Russ Unger

Getting Out from Under Everyone: How to Escape the Paralysis of Getting Started

June 8, 2016

Maria Taylor

"The concepts of activating learning outcomes cannot be overlooked in knowledge management."

Maria Taylor

Knowledge is Power: Managing the Lifeblood of the Design Org

October 3, 2023

Alla Weinberg

"When we don't feel safe, our operating IQ drops drastically."

Alla Weinberg

How to Build and Scale Team Safety

January 8, 2024

Jose Coronado

"Digital transformation cannot be effectively done in isolation but must include everyone in the organization."

Jose Coronado Julie Gitlin Lawrence Lipkin

People First - Design at JP Morgan

June 10, 2021

Joshua Graves

"The bigger the stakes, the more you need to be clear and concise with your communication."

Joshua Graves

We Need To Talk: Addressing Unmet Expectations (Part 2 of 3)

April 28, 2025

Sabrina Mach

"The customer should be at the center of everything we do with the whole organization, not just designers."

Sabrina Mach Nina Wainwright

How to Design Your Design Operating Model

September 29, 2021

Steve Portigal

"The core is really putting yourself in that other person's shoes."

Steve Portigal Chris Chapo Kelly Goto Christian Rohrer

Discussion

May 13, 2015