Hello Friend đ
Here are Seven Things I was curious about this week:
Product development: We often at least half-joke when we say âeveryone is a designerâ, but, be that as it may, product teams work better if everyone has empathy and a basic understanding of users. Besides, not every team has the luxury of a full-time designer or researcher. And so, my mini podcast series on User Research for Everyone kicked off in earnest with a walk-through of possibly the most important research method: User interviews. (Listen and subscribe on Spotify, my website, or choose your favourite app)
Startups: I too am suspicious of advice listicles (ironic, I know; Iâm talking about the âSuccessful people do these 5 thingsâ-type). However, when they are grounded in personal experience, they can be very helpful. One such article is Forbesâ Startup tips you shouldnât follow, which I found myself nodding along to as itâs challenging some of the long-held Silicon Valley beliefs.
AI: British chipmaker ARM was bought by GPU leader Nvidia. In 2016, Softbank bet a big chunk of its Vision Fund on ARM to power the future of the Internet of Things and AI through close collaboration with its other portfolio companies. Now, AI hardware power will be consolidated under Nvidia, which itself grew tenfold in value in the same timeframe, largely due to the AI hype. You can read about why that matters at The Verge. A dive into the Bloomberg article thatâs referenced is worth it too.
AI for Good: The AI for Good Summit kicked off in Geneva, and recordings of talks are online now. Iâd been curious about the behind-the-scenes of companiesâ ambitious climate targets that were announced over the past year, as well as the role AI has to play. So I enjoyed Lucas Joppa, Microsoftâs first Chief Climate Officer, explain how his company approaches going carbon-negative in the not too distant future.
Data visualisation: If you liked Dear Data, you might also enjoy Data Sketches, a visualisation project across space and time that also reveals the entire process that went into each project.
Design tools / Fun: A parody on a common theme that ends up as surprisingly insightful is Jaycee Dayâs Why Iâm Switching from Figma to Microsoft Paint. While weâre with Figma, they opened up shop in London, which begs the question, why open a new office during a pandemic?
Teamwork: Getting along with your colleagues is not a bonus. Itâs essential for organisational success. Listen to the HBR Ideacast on why work friends are worth it and how you can make some.
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Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of any current or previous employers.