A Timely Discussion
Last week, Bas Raijmakers had the honour of participating in a keynote panel discussion at Delft University of Technology. He joined Dasha Simons and Carole Bilson as part of the DMI Design Management Institute’s Academic Design Management Conference. The panel focused on the timely and crucial theme of AI, Technology, and Design. With AI’s rapid advancements and increasing impact on the design field and management practices, the discussion highlighted the importance of carefully managing AI’s introduction. Often, AI is quickly embraced by pioneers with little thought to its broader implications for teams and organisations, beyond the notion that “we need to be part of this.”
Engaging Dialogue with a Diverse Audience
First and foremost, the panel discussion succeeded in creating an engaging and dynamic exchange of ideas. The audience played a significant role in this, actively participating and posing thought-provoking questions. This interaction enriched the conversation, allowing an exploration of AI from multiple angles. The panelists found themselves responding to the same questions but from different perspectives—some rooted in trust and regulatory frameworks, and others in creativity and service design. This diversity of viewpoints is exactly what makes a panel discussion valuable: it’s not just about presenting information but about exchanging ideas and challenging each other’s thinking, with the audience as an integral part of that dialogue.
The Active Role of Designers in Shaping AI
During the discussion, Bas and the other panelists emphasised the role of designers and design managers in shaping AI, rather than merely being shaped by it. AI is not a force that simply washes over us; it is something we actively co-create with many others in the world. This includes influencing how the general public encounters and engages with AI and how we, as professionals, incorporate AI into our work. At Stby, for instance, we are particularly interested in how AI can enhance teamwork, as evidenced by our involvement in the teamingwith.ai initiative. The audience responded positively to this focus, acknowledging it as an often overlooked but crucial area of AI development. This recognition is encouraging, as it highlights the importance of collaborative and human-centred approaches in the evolving AI landscape.
Addressing the Challenge of Rapid AI Development
One of the most pressing challenges discussed was the rapid pace of AI development and the difficulty of ‘keeping up’. It’s clear that, on an individual level, staying fully updated with AI advancements is nearly impossible. Even at the organisational level, the task is daunting. However, we concluded that the solution lies in collective action. By coming together as a community—one that is not just passive but actively experimenting and creating—we can navigate these challenges more effectively. This collective approach is not just about keeping pace but also about shaping the future of AI in ways that reflect our shared values and goals.
Shaping the Future of AI Through Community and Collaboration
In conclusion, the panel discussion reinforced the idea that the future of AI in design is something we must actively participate in shaping, whether in service design, managing design teams, the role of design in organisations, or in policy design. The discussion also highlighted the importance of community in this endeavour. The exchanges in the session, both on stage and with the audience, were a reminder of the power of collaboration and the need for diverse perspectives in addressing the complexities of AI. We encourage others to join this collective effort as we explore and define the role of AI in our work and our world. You can do this at DMI events or at teamingwith.ai events where Stby regularly contributes, for instance.