A catch-up from Florence to typewriters to tech. We swap travel war stories (kids, lounges, gelato), then dig into WCAG 3.0's shift to bronze/silver/gold and what broader accessibility means for apps, VR/AR, and AI. We compare notes on AI's impact on agency margins, why generalists may have the edge, and how productization invites copyable workflows. Plus a quick detour through Italian design history—Olivetti's design-led culture and its influence on Apple—and a peek at CMA councils, speaking gigs, and early podcast metrics. All roads lead back to systems, not just screens. Alt (short): Airports, AI, accessibility, and Olivetti—why the future of design is systems, not just screens.
Topics & Timestamps:
(00:00) Back from Italy: airports, toddlers, and the upside down world
(02:27) Travel with kids vs solo travel: why lounges aren’t built for families
(04:54) AI fatigue? Posting, conferences, and marketing workflows
(07:30) CMA events, data science, and educating on automation/AI
(09:35) RGD stat: AI may cut 30% of agency margins (and why positioning matters)
(13:41) When AI builds websites: friend’s gym startup and UX blind spots
(15:41) Generalists vs specialists: why flexibility wins in the AI era
(18:50) WCAG 3.0: from A/AA/AAA to Bronze/Silver/Gold, expanding to apps, VR, AR, and AI
(23:27) Accessibility meets emerging tech—and Apple’s thin iPhone speculation
(27:14) Italian design hits: porcini mushrooms, gelato, and espresso culture
(31:20) Olivetti: typewriters, modernist posters, and design-led workplaces
(35:19) Apple, Braun, and the design lineage from Olivetti showrooms to Cupertino
(36:36) Corporate culture pioneers: housing, libraries, daycare in 1908
(37:02) Wrapping with design as strategy, not just decoration
Resources Mentioned:
WCAG 3.0 Draft Guidelines – expanding accessibility standards
CMA (Canadian Marketing Association) – councils & committees
RGD (Association of Registered Graphic Designers) – event on AI + agencies
Olivetti – typewriter manufacturer, design-led culture, MoMA collection
Key Quotes:
“Travel is a young man’s, no-children game.”
“AI stands to remove about 30% margin from agency work.”
“If it’s turnkey, it’s repeatable. And if it’s repeatable, AI can do it.”
“Accessibility isn’t just websites anymore—it’s VR, AR, AI, and apps.”
“Design was not decoration. It was the strategy. It was the culture.”