In today's competitive corporate landscape, mastering the art of "managing up" is a crucial skill for design leaders aiming to anchor their design strategies at the executive level. Successfully aligning your team's creative goals with upper management's objectives requires not only a clear understanding of companies design systems and visual brand language but also the ability to connect their value to leadership's goals. This document will delve into persuasive strategies for achieving executive buy-in, fostering stakeholder alignment, and enhancing design maturity within your organization. By leveraging these techniques, design leaders can ensure their initiatives not only meet deliverables but also contribute to the overarching success in the bigger picture.

Catch Jayson’s segment on the AI Powered by People podcast from SXSW, as he discusses the state of AI today within brands, what barriers still exist, and what the tools mean to design thinking as we know it today.

In the realm of design maturity, the advent of generative AI tools, known as genAI, presents a hypershift occuring in the design landscape. While some fear that these tools will render traditional design approaches obsolete, the reality is far from it. In fact, failing to embrace and incorporate AI into design processes could lead to companies falling behind faster than they could ever have anticipated. This article delves into the crucial role of genAI in advancing integrated design functions, shedding light on why it is a pivotal step in the evolution of design maturity models.

Grasping the complex interplay between design maturity and brand authenticity can dictate a brand's success and perception. As leaders, understanding how design maturity shapes a brand's reliability is vital for creating a robust identity. We aim to offer practical solutions and insights on design maturity and brand authenticity, facilitating your brand's growth and ensuring it aligns with your audience authentically.

Since the 1890s, our world has been shaped by the "form follows function" ethos, pioneered by Louis H. Sullivan. Jayson argues that design has transcended its traditional focus on function, comfort, and usability. Designers now bear the responsibility of embodying a brand's essence in their creations.