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The Fountain Institute

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Design treadmills, strategy spectrums, and 100 free retro templates

Dear Reader, Sometimes design can feel like being on a treadmill. You're going really fast, but you have no direction. When you're on the Design Treadmill, it feels like the only way to advance is to go faster. Here are some other signs: You never get to version 2 Speed and output are...
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1 day ago • 3 min read

Design leadership is a 2-wheeled bike

Dear Reader, It's time to put on your facilitation hats and strategy caps because we're diving into how these two skills are linked (and essential for a career in design leadership). Facilitation and strategy are two different skills, but they are more connected than you might think. Just like...
9 days ago • 2 min read

FREE MASTERCLASS: How to Lead with Strategy on March 29th

Hey Reader, On Wednesday, March 29th, the Fountain Institute is hosting a LIVE masterclass on design strategy and how it can lead to design leadership Reserve a Seat (Free) Jeff Humble will teach you some practical ways to lead organizations with strategy. The talk will cover: 5 ways to...
11 days ago • 1 min read

ONLINE MEETUP: Beyond Strategy to Policy Design on Mar. 15th

Hey Reader, Next week! On Wednesday, March 15th, the Fountain Institute will host their monthly online meetup. This month will feature designer and social entrepreneur Guglielmo Apolloni. Guglielmo will show you how to initiate systemic change within an organization, whether a small team or a...
17 days ago • 1 min read

3 ways to influence your company's strategy as a designer

Dear Reader, Q: How can I influence my company or client's strategy? Anyone can shape a company or a client strategy, but most designers don't know how. Designers won't have the agency to define the strategy outright, but you can sharpen strategy with your design skills. Strategies are created...
23 days ago • 2 min read

Dystopia in a Box Recap 🎥

Dear Reader, Today's advice comes from Andreas Wegner, Co-Founder of Studio2, a critical design studio. He talked about how they created consequence-awareness cards for client workshops to spur conversations about the future How can we ensure that our digital products find an optimal place...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Q: How should I test a new idea?

Dear Reader, Here's a question you might be asking yourself. Q: How should I test a new idea? Even if you have some research skills, testing is tough. It's still a growing skillset in designers. Designers and researchers have a lot of methods that can make testing ideas easy. All you need is a...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read

FREE MASTERCLASS: How to Test Innovation Ideas on Feb. 22nd

Hey Reader, On Wednesday, February 22nd, the Fountain Institute is hosting a LIVE masterclass on testing and innovation. Reserve a Seat (Free) Jeff Humble will show you everything you need to turn ideas into customer-driven innovation. The talk will cover: Why iterative testing of button colors...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read

The Eureka Effect in UX

Dear Reader, Today I want to tell you the story of Archimedes, possibly the greatest scientist of the classical age. According to the story, a newly-elected general commissioned a gold crown for the temple. But after the goldsmith made the crown, rumors circulated that it wasn't pure gold but...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read