Power of Ten with Andy Polaine S4 Ep2: Peter Merholz - State of the Design Nation
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Feb 26, 2024 
Peter Merholz and Andy Polaine discuss the burst bubble of design, the state of the design nation, mediocrity in design industries, the evolution of in-house design teams, and the impact of corporate cultural shifts on craftsmanship and apprenticeship in design.
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Peter Merholz's Career Journey
- Peter Merholz described his career path from anthropology to multimedia and eventually founding Adaptive Path.
- He transitioned to a design org consultant after years as a design executive and co-founder of a design agency.
Design's Role in Agile Transformations
- The rise of in-house design teams in legacy enterprises led to mass hiring but often relegated design to basic UI work.
- Agile transformations sometimes created confusion, as roles like product managers were often filled by unqualified staff.
Mediocrity as an Industry Reality
- Mediocrity is common and often acceptable in product management and design roles within enterprises.
- Companies often optimize design investment for return, landing in mediocrity rather than excellence.