The Translation Layer
Business leaders and designers often speak entirely different languages—one talks KPIs and ROI, the other design systems and user journeys. Having lead creative programs and internal events for Amazon Design, I’ve learned firsthand that building mutual understanding requires intentional translation.
The Art of Creative Structure: A Coffee Shop Philosophy
Drawing from her journey from barista to digital events producer, Heather Lynn reveals how the perfect balance of reliable systems and creative freedom—much like in a well-run coffee shop—can elevate your work from functional to exceptional.
Cheers & Tiers: Paul Mendoza on Building Design Communities with Joy
This episode highlights Paul’s formative experiences at AIGA leadership retreats, particularly his first in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2015, and recounts his show-stopping karaoke performance that made him instantly recognizable among AIGA leadership.
The Failure Trophy: What Event Marketing Taught Me About Real Leadership
Forced to abandon our successful in-person Creative Jam playbook overnight, our team stood at the edge of pandemic uncertainty—until my mentor’s counterintuitive advice to “fail spectacularly” unlocked a journey of experimentation that would transform our events in ways we never imagined possible.
How to Create Virtual Events That Design Communities Want to Attend
If I have to sit through one more virtual panel titled “The Future of Design Thinking,” I might just close my laptop and take up competitive suitcase packing instead.
Archive
The Translation Layer
Business leaders and designers often speak entirely different languages—one talks KPIs and ROI, the other design systems and user journeys. Having lead creative programs and internal events for Amazon Design, I’ve learned firsthand that building mutual understanding requires intentional translation.
The Art of Creative Structure: A Coffee Shop Philosophy
Drawing from her journey from barista to digital events producer, Heather Lynn reveals how the perfect balance of reliable systems and creative freedom—much like in a well-run coffee shop—can elevate your work from functional to exceptional.
Cheers & Tiers: Paul Mendoza on Building Design Communities with Joy
This episode highlights Paul’s formative experiences at AIGA leadership retreats, particularly his first in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2015, and recounts his show-stopping karaoke performance that made him instantly recognizable among AIGA leadership.
The Failure Trophy: What Event Marketing Taught Me About Real Leadership
Forced to abandon our successful in-person Creative Jam playbook overnight, our team stood at the edge of pandemic uncertainty—until my mentor’s counterintuitive advice to “fail spectacularly” unlocked a journey of experimentation that would transform our events in ways we never imagined possible.
From Pyramids to Podcasts: Capturing Community Memories In Conversations
This article is a behind-the-scenes look at how Cheers & Tiers: Design Leadership Tales Retold came to life—a podcast where my co-host Erik Cargill and I celebrate the bonds, stories, and exciting, tangled adventures of design community leaders.
