Dive Club 🤿 Sara Vienna - Taste, Meaning, and How to Stand Out in an AI world
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Sep 6, 2025 Sara Vienna, Chief Design Officer at Metalab, dives into the responsibilities of designers in an AI-driven world. She discusses the importance of creating meaningful brand experiences while avoiding fleeting design trends. Sara highlights how Metalab integrates AI to enhance workflows and gather research insights. She emphasizes the need for emotional connections in design and maintaining brand integrity amidst the noise of trends. The conversation also touches on the role of community and curiosity in fostering innovation and user trust.
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Windsurf Rebrand Sparked Pushback
- Metalab's Windsurf rebrand provoked strong reactions on design Twitter, including a memorable negative line.
- Sara treats that pushback as a sign of making bold, opinionated work that resonates with people.
Meaning From Human Truths
- Meaning comes from solving a real pain and tapping into a simple human truth for your audience.
- You must evolve the product in real time as users and contexts change to keep that meaning.
Build A Collective Taste Muscle
- Self-regulate taste by critiquing trends openly and developing a shared POV with your team.
- Be flexible: if a brand leans into a trend, be ready to shift it as the landscape changes.
