"Because the Product Owner Said So" (And Other UX Fairy Tales)

In this session, Mareike Bonitz dives into how product leaders can use the power of storytelling to build up a strong and healthy product culture. Although considered a core skill in product management, storytelling is an often overlooked strategy, especially when it comes to internal stakeholder management. We will explore concrete scenarios where storytelling can help and provide you with actionable insights on how you can become better at it.

You sit down at your desk to work on an important project, but a notification on your phone interrupts your morning. Later, as you’re about to get back to work, a colleague taps you on the shoulder to chat. At home, screens get in the way of quality time with your family. Another day goes by, and once again, your most important personal and professional goals are put on hold. What would be possible if you followed through on your best intentions? What could you accomplish if you could stay focused and overcome distractions? What if you had the power to become “indistractable?” In Indistractable, Eyal reveals the hidden psychology driving us to distraction. He describes why solving the problem is not as simple as swearing off our devices: Abstinence is impractical and often makes us want more. Eyal lays bare the secret of finally doing what you say you will do with a four-step, research-backed model. Indistractable reveals the key to getting the best out of technology, without letting it get the best of us.

The world of design is undergoing a radical transformation with the advent of AI. Traditionally, we have relied on Design Thinking to solve problems, but it's time to embrace AI Thinking and explore challenges through the lens of computational intelligence. In this talk, I will delve into what AI Thinking entails and highlight key focus areas that are shaping the future of design.

The digital product design process is broken and we have an opportunity to use new tools to build a better future. Dysen Stoks shares how and why designers must shift priorities to always consider unintended consequences hidden in experiences. And Donita Mathis shares how AI holds the key to finding the time for this kind of process revolution.