The Future of Design with Dave Miller

In this episode, Brian and Joe welcome back Dave Miller from Design Citizen to discuss the evolving landscape of design as a profession and what the future designer might look like. Dave shares insights from his recent LinkedIn article exploring design from 2025 through 2040, discussing how AI and accessible tools are transforming creative capabilities and what skills tomorrow's designers will need to thrive in an increasingly competitive market.

Mentioned

• What’s Next for Design? Predictions for 2025 to 2040 - Dave's article on how design will evolve over the next 15 years as AI transforms the field.
• How are we doing out there? (Designer&Designer Episode 30) - Previous episode with Dave
• Design Citizen - Dave's company website where you can learn about his coaching services
• r/pressurewashingporn - Ooooh yeah!

Topics Discussed

• Dave's recent LinkedIn article about the future of design that "blew up"
• The shift from specialist designers to "Omni designers" who can do a bit of everything
• How AI and accessible tools are breaking down barriers to creativity
• The changing economic landscape for designers and the job market
• The value of design education in today's world
• The challenges of cross-disciplinary collaboration between design, engineering, and product
• How design can become a key differentiator in a world of sameness
• The future of design leadership and who will be in charge of creative vision

Pull Quotes

• "Everything's changed. I think everything's gonna change every year apparently." - Dave Miller
• "I found myself all of a sudden seeing that I was exploring adjacent areas of what I'm technically qualified to do and not doing a bad job at it." - Dave Miller
• "The hottest thing in the market right now is essentially the player coach. It's the adult in the room that could manage... but they are particularly skilled in the craft." - Dave Miller

About Dave

Dave Miller is the founder of Design Citizen, a recruiting and coaching firm dedicated to helping designers thrive. With over 20 years of experience in the creative industry, he draws on the insights and trends he uncovers through conversations with the remarkable people and companies he collaborates with. For more of Dave’s perspectives on the ever-evolving world of design, follow him here on LinkedIn.

Connect with Joe & Brian

• Website: designer.fm
• Email: designer@designer.fm
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Outro music: Pressure Washer vs Techno by @Klangphonics

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