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17 November 2024 | Issue #71

In this issue:

• Job Impact Stats
• Organizations Becoming Diamond-Shaped, Leaving Entry-Level People on the Sidelines
• Audi Launches New Car Without 4-Ring Logo
• Will AI Replace Illustrators?
• How to Have a Hybrid Career
• Design Quote of the Week

We've known that generative AI is transforming the job market, and now we can see some data to back that up. New research revealed in the Harvard Business Review shows that on freelance platforms, writing roles have dropped by 30%, and demand for graphic design has fallen by 17%. Even software development isn’t immune, with a 20% decrease as generative models get more efficient and widely adopted.

Organizations are restructuring into “diamond-shaped” models, as Capgemini’s survey reveals. Entry-level positions are projected to shrink from 44% to 32% in just three years. In their place, middle management will grow, shouldering new responsibilities like AI strategy and ethical risk management.

For early-career professionals, this spells trouble.

Fewer junior roles mean tougher competition and a higher bar for entry. Newcomers must acquire specialized skills faster and find ways to stand out in an AI-driven market. The pressure is on to become not just capable but AI-savvy from the start.

Yet, there’s a glimmer of hope. The survey suggests AI could accelerate some careers, particularly for those who adapt quickly and leverage these tools. Sixty-five percent of managers see the potential for AI to streamline strategic tasks like planning and recruitment. But will these opportunities be accessible to everyone?

The path forward is uncertain. Only 47% of managers feel AI has made their roles more strategic today, revealing mixed sentiment. AI can enhance efficiency, but concerns around cost, reliability, and ethics persist.

The rules of work are being rewritten. Traditional roles are disappearing, and the path to advancement requires an entirely new skill set. Can today’s workers — especially those just starting out — rise to meet this challenge? I believe they can, but it won't be easy. People need to focus on strategy and deep customer/prospect understanding over execution.

Thanks to Mark Schaefer for the heads-up on the middle management article.

​ NEWS AT THE INTERSECTION OF MARKETING, DESIGN, & AI

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⭕️ Audi Launches a New Brand in China Without the Four-Ring Logo

The Verge reports that Audi has unveiled a new logo for the Chinese market, replacing its iconic four-ring emblem with a simple, all-caps “AUDI” text. The rebrand was showcased on a new electric concept car developed in partnership with SAIC Motors, aimed at attracting tech-savvy consumers in China.

• Logo Controversy: The departure from Audi’s famous four-ring logo raises concerns about brand consistency and cultural resonance, sparking debate over whether such changes dilute brand identity.

• Cultural Disconnect: This simplified branding may not align with global perceptions of the brand, potentially creating confusion or a lack of connection across different markets.

• My Take: I don't want to see this become a trend. Companies have invested millions in building visual brand equity. Using Latin-based characters can cause issues in areas of the world that don't use these alphabets.

​Keep reading​

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🖌️ Will AI Replace Illustrators?

Creative Boom examines the impact of AI on the illustration industry, featuring insights from industry expert James Hughes. While some clients may choose generative AI for cost-saving visuals, industries valuing human creativity continue to favor illustrators. Moreover, the piece highlights that creative professionals are actively fighting to keep human artistry relevant in their work.

• Human Touch Matters: AI can’t replicate the warmth and personal connection in illustrations, especially in fields like children’s publishing.

• Economic Trends: Current slowdowns affect demand, but human creativity remains irreplaceable.

• My Take: I sure hope not. The dramatic rise and fall of the NFT market (hopefully) showed that people want real things.

​Keep reading​

​ NEW RESOURCES FOR YOU

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Navigating a Hybrid Career: Creativity, Curiosity, and Resilience

Microsoft's Vice President of Design and Artificial Intelligence, John Maeda’s reflections at MIT Media Lab with Professor Hiroshi Ishii shed light on the complexities and opportunities of a hybrid career across technology, design, and business. It’s more than a blend of skills — it’s a mindset. Hybridity means staying curious, thinking across disciplines, and finding creativity at intersections where different fields converge.

Being a hybrid means not always fitting into one tribe. This can feel isolating, but there’s strength in building connections and seeing patterns others miss. As Maeda highlights, it’s about embracing a career path that’s uniquely adaptable yet requires the resilience to thrive in ambiguity. I've straddled the line between creative and digital teams for the past decade. It is challenging when both teams see you as part of the "other" team.

Financial stability is often a challenge for hybrids. Maeda’s story of learning financial pragmatism from design legend Paul Rand underscores the importance of balance.

Passion can drive creativity, but a stable foundation keeps that passion sustainable.

Creativity, Maeda argues, needs breathing space. AI, if used wisely, could give us more time to think, question, and reflect. Instead of feeling threatened, Maeda sees AI as a tool to automate repetitive tasks, freeing us to focus on ideas that only humans can generate.

One of the most profound takeaways: The purpose of having ideas is to give them away.

Maeda learned from Marvin Minsky that sharing ideas creates space for new ones, betting on ourselves to keep innovating. It’s a philosophy of abundance, trusting that creativity will continue to flow.

Being a hybrid is not a straightforward journey, but one with opportunities to grow, learn, and transform. Each season of life brings fresh chances to see the world anew, contribute something meaningful, and explore possibilities we might not have imagined.

Design Quote of the Week

"Good design goes to heaven; bad design goes everywhere."
– Mieke Gerritzen

My AI disclaimer: I write the main stories by hand (with occasional assistance from Grammarly), but this week, I used ChatGPT for the first drafts. The quick news hits are articles I've found, which I run through a ChatGPT prompt to generate the synopsis and bullet points. However, I write the My Thoughts bullet. If AI generates the images, I include the prompt so you can see how I got to that image. Nothing in this newsletter, or anything I publish anywhere, reflects the views of my employer.

Thanks for reading!

–Jim

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