Online Meetup (Zoom).
Web technology, AI and tools for “design in the browser” are increasingly contributing to democratization of design and enabling contributions from non-experts. In this transformation, design becomes accessible, empowering individuals and communities to actively participate in shaping their surroundings. From user-friendly software tools to collaborative platforms, the democratization of design fosters inclusivity and creativity, revolutionizing industries and driving societal change. And yet, in this world where ‘everyone designs’ (as H. Simon famously put it), there is also an increasing demand for design, with more and more companies and organizations becoming design-driven with needs for problem solving, sense making and imagining.
In this lunch-meetup, we explore this topic through learning about new AI-powered tools that enable everyone to design. We will also learn about Designmaskinen (The Design Machine), a new tool Netlife has developed to enable companies to help themselves stay “on brand” through all the large and small pieces of communication material an organization might need.
Sean Kelly leads educational programmes for the University of Auckland Business School Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, focusing on fabrication skills and utilising digital technologies. Utilising a state-of-the art Makerspace and Technology Hub, Sean and his team of student Creative Technologists teach students and faculty to harness new skills and tools for innovation. In his experience, technology often lends itself to the identification of new opportunities and solutions. Within the New Zealand context, there is a lack of knowledge on how to work practically with innovation, and these new tools including creative AI are enablers to facilitate innovation and creative contributions from many.
Randi Govertsen, Product Lead of Designmaskinen (the Design Machine), will talk about how the “world's simplest design tool” came about and how it helps democratizing design in the companies who have used it - and how it actually contributes to taking the load off the designers who can get some of the more mundane tasks out of their backlog and get more done.
Agenda
11:15 Welcome and introductions
11:20 Creative AI
11:40 Designmaskinen
12:00 Q&A
12:15 Meetup ends
Sean Kelly serves as the Technology and Prototyping Manager at the University of Auckland’s Unleash Space, an iconic Innovation Hub. A graduate in International Studies, Community Technologist, and former trade professional, he established the University’s Makerspace in 2017 and later the Business School Technology Hub in 2022. Over seven years, he has led a team of students and staff in designing and delivering educational programs that span curricular, co-curricular, and inter-school activities. His efforts support the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s (CIE) vision to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and skills.
Randi Govertsen is the product designer who took a huge leap into process leadership, management practice and operational strategy, currently product lead for Designmaskinen as well as strategy advisor at Netlife, where she has been for the last 11 years in a variety of roles, including COO and team lead. Before this she worked within IT consulting as project leader. She holds an MBA from BI Norwegian Business School and a bachelor's degree in product design from Oslo Met.