Shaping the Future of the Guild of Working Designers - Let's Co-Create!By Hannah Baker Dear Reader, As one of over 6,500 newsletter subscribers, you're part of a vibrant group passionate about senior-level design and leadership. You might have heard us refer to the Guild of Working Designers, or Guild for short, and maybe you're even part of it. But if you've been curious about what this is and why it exists, we are here to clarify that and offer an opportunity to shape its future. The Guild of Working DesignersImagine a community where working designers don't just meet but grow together, going beyond the basics and enriching our collective design wisdom. That's the heart of the Guild, which has been thriving since late 2020. Since I started the Guild, it has grown to over 800 designers on Slack, with more than 35 meetups and 9,000+ event registrants fostering connections and creativity. And now, this space is evolving, and here's your invitation to be a part of that change! We've Listened, and Now It's Time to ActThe Guild isn't just evolving; it's being reborn, with your voice as its guiding force. While we've created a thriving space for working designers, we realize it's time for something even more impactful. Now, we're turning the reins over to you—the heart and soul of our community. Your Voice, Your CommunityWe're not just about meetups and Slack chats anymore. We're evolving into a community where your desires and needs take center stage. So, how do we make this happen? Through co-creation and a healthy dose of transparency, of course! We're launching a series of workshops where you get to define our community's purpose and values. Think of it as our community reimagined by you! A Special April MeetupOur next meetup, Designers' Collective Dreaming, on April 24 at 19:00 CEST, is not just another event. It's the kickoff to this new area of the Guild, and we invite every designer to share, dream, and contribute. Be a Part of the TransformationDo you want to dive deeper past this initial workshop and really help steer the Guild's future? We're seeking 8 creative minds for an additional three hands-on workshops. It's more than participation; it's about leaving your mark on the design world. Check out the details below and how you can apply.
Not a Guild Member Yet?Curious but not yet a Guild member? Join us and amplify your voice in a community that values your design insights and creativity. Apply to Join the Guild Together, we're not just designing but redefining what a design community can be. Join us on this extraordinary journey.
Until next time! |
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The System You Can't See By Hannah Baker Dear Reader, Here's a question I get more than any other: "How do I handle the person who talks too much?" Or the flip side: "How do I get quiet people to speak up?" And every time, I want to say: you're asking the wrong question. Not because those moments aren't real or frustrating. They are. But because treating them as people problems is like looking at algae blooming in a pond and asking, "how do I fix the algae?" You don't. The algae isn't the...
I Bought a Mac Mini to Try OpenClaw, the Most Hyped AI Tool of 2026 by Jeff Humble Dear Reader, You've probably heard of OpenClaw 🦞 by now. 145,000 GitHub stars. Headlines everywhere. "The AI that actually does things." This tool is the O.G. dream of AI...automation, not slop. This was the missing piece to my automation system. I had to try it. So I bought an entry-level, 2024 M4 Mac Mini for €590 (on sale in Germany, but they're reportedly selling out in the U.S.) and spent two days trying...
Why Decisions Feel So Hard Right Nows By Hannah Baker Dear Reader, Over the last few months, I’ve been talking with design and product leaders across very different organizations, large companies, smaller teams, fast-moving environments, and slower ones. And I keep hearing the same thing. Their teams are being asked to make decisions faster than ever, and yet, deciding feels heavier than it used to. Not slower, exactly. Just harder. At first, people often explain this in familiar ways: too...