The leadership work behind Design.
A panel discussion on the hard calls design leaders make when trust, speed, culture, people, data, and story begin to compete, and what must be protected when every decision comes with a cost.
A panel discussion on the hard calls design leaders make when trust, speed, culture, people, data, and story begin to compete, and what must be protected when every decision comes with a cost.
EPC Unscripted brought together 3 design leaders and a room of designers for an honest, unscripted conversation on hiring in 2026—what’s broken, what’s changing, and what it really takes to get hired or hire well today.
What weakens design first is rarely the obstacle you can point at. It is often the ground beneath it. A useful way to rethink why teams break, adapt, or grow.
Design’s real power is often quiet—found in thoughtful pauses, principled “no’s,” and subtle shifts that shape outcomes. It’s not always loud or visible, but it carries weight, guiding products and teams with care, clarity, and intention.
Many design roles today risk becoming what David Graeber called “bullshit jobs”. The work that looks important but adds no real value. When design serves optics over outcomes, creativity fades and meaning is lost. It’s time to shift from theatre to true impact.