This month, we were onsite at AIGA Design Conference in Los Angeles on October 9-11. It was an inspiring event filled with thoughtful discussions, creative energy, and new perspectives on design, communication, and inclusion. Hearing from these leaders in person brought a whole new level of insight and connection that you just don’t get from a screen.
We share some of our top sessions and key takeaways throughout the event.
Redesigning NASA.gov to Tell Earth’s Most Important Stories
Ben Shown, Head of Design at Blink UX, and Megan Greco, Lead Designer at Greenlight, shared the story behind the relaunch of NASA.gov. Their challenge was unifying more than 3,000 disconnected sites into one clear, inspiring platform. They focused on making NASA’s stories easier to find, highlighting bold imagery, clear navigation, and a gallery that brings decades of space exploration to life.
They explained how they designed for humans, not just “users.” Through dozens of in-depth interviews, they discovered different thinking styles and built a system flexible enough to serve them all. Now, NASA’s digital space feels unified and ready to inspire the next generation.
Takeaway: Build systems that make storytelling simple and meaningful.
What’s Worth Designing in the First Place? How to Design Greatness into Products
Robert Brunner, Founder at Ammunition, talked about what separates good design from great design. Good design solves problems. Great design transforms people. He reminded us that true design leadership comes from vision, courage, and persistence—not just aesthetics.
Using examples like Beats and Square, he showed how products built on strong ideas go beyond function. They create culture.
Takeaway: Great design moves people because it’s rooted in purpose.
Orchestrating the Creative Performance
May Hartono, Head of Brand Design at Meta, and Craig Matchett, Creative Director at Saffron, compared creative collaboration to an orchestra. Everyone has a part to play, and success comes when people show up, practice, and listen to each other. They spoke about passion, curiosity, and how embracing failure can actually fuel innovation.
They encouraged us to focus on what’s strong instead of what’s wrong and to view the creative process as a journey, not a straight line. Protecting focus time and allowing space to play leads to better ideas and stronger teams.
Takeaway: Creativity thrives when people grow and build together.
Using Design to Advocate, Organize, and Build Social Movements Today
Vic Rodriguez Tang, Assistant Professor at Texas State University, and Yocelyn Riojas, Executive Director at Border Artists Society, shared how design can be used to inspire activism and community connection. Through bold colors, cultural references, and authentic storytelling, design can make people feel seen and create unity in the process.
Projects like Chingona Fest Texas showed how celebrating identity through design can spark pride and visibility.
Takeaway: Design can create real change when it celebrates who people are.
Think Clearly, Speak Confidently
Michael Gandler, Co-Founder of Ultraspeaking, wrapped up the day with a session on speaking clearly and confidently. He shared techniques for staying calm and focused, like using prompts such as “Basically, the point is” or “At the highest level.” These small habits can make your message stronger and your delivery smoother.
He reminded us that confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It comes from practice and presence.
Takeaway: Clarity and confidence grow through practice and belief in yourself.
This event was a reminder that design goes beyond visuals. It’s about people, ideas, and impact. From NASA’s digital transformation to building social movements and communicating with confidence, every session came back to the same theme that great design starts with empathy and grows through collaboration. It was a great reminder that the best creative work always connects back to purpose and people.
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