A reflective and practical workshop for UX and product professionals navigating uncertainty, disruption and change, leave with a clearer perspective, practical reframing tools, and one small shift to apply immediately. The design industry is experiencing a period of enormous uncertainty. AI disruption, economic pressure, layoffs, shifting expectations and constant change are creating anxiety across teams, organisations and careers. Many designers are trying to navigate this tension while still delivering meaningful work, supporting teams and maintaining momentum. This workshop explores how design thinking can help us navigate uncertainty not just in products and services, but in our own lives and careers.
Following a life-threatening heart attack and open-heart surgery eight years ago, Chris was forced to reassess his assumptions about success, work, health and identity. What followed was not a neat recovery story, but a long and deeply human process of navigating ambiguity, redefining priorities and intentionally designing a more sustainable way of operating.
Drawing on more than 20 years leading UX teams, teaching human-centred design and running a successful consultancy through multiple waves of industry change, Chris reframes adversity through a design lens. Rather than offering pop psychology or generic resilience advice, this session applies familiar design principles, reframing problems, challenging assumptions, experimentation, iteration and defining better futures, to uncertainty itself.
Participants will leave with practical ways to:
Recognise and reframe unhelpful assumptions during periods of uncertainty.
Redefine success and priorities in changing environments.
Apply design thinking principles to personal and professional challenges.
Create more sustainable ways of working and leading.
Use small experiments and routines to build momentum and resilience.
Approach ambiguity with greater clarity, perspective and intentionality.
Who it’s for:
This workshop is for UX designers, researchers, product people and design leaders navigating uncertainty, change or transition, whether that’s AI disruption, career shifts, leadership pressure, burnout, redundancy or simply the growing complexity of modern work.
