Leadership By Design 2025
The Human Signal: Architecting for Emotion, Not Just for Experience
As designers, we champion the link between design and emotion when creating user experiences. But what happens when the human emotions in the creation process—the “noise” of stakeholder pushback and team resistance—threaten to derail your brilliant work?
Are you tired of feeling like you’re on a “hamster wheel,” fighting a constant battle to prove the value of your work?
This session will challenge you to stop seeing these moments of resistance as frustrating setbacks and start embracing them as crucial human signals—data points that unlock deeper trust and impact in your work.
We’ll explore how to decode the emotional change curve that your team and stakeholders are silently navigating. You’ll learn a practical playbook to lead the emotional energy of your projects, turning the turbulence and doubt that often comes out of left field into a catalyst for creative collaboration. It’s time to move beyond managing the process and embrace your ultimate responsibility to guide the people through it.
Key Takeaways
- Decode the signals: Identify the hidden emotional dynamics—from anxiety to blame—that stall projects and quietly undermine progress.
- Navigate the curve: Learn to actively guide your team and stakeholders through the Kubler-Ross change curve, transforming resistance into buy-in and acceptance.
- Lead with empathy: Architect a new approach to leadership by focusing on people, not just process, to ensure your innovations thrive and deliver the impact they were designed for.
