In this concluding episode of the Craft series, I (Kedar Nimkar, Host of The Gyaan Project Podcast) speak with Randy Hunt, Head of Design at Notion and Chair of the MFA Design program at SVA. Randy reflects on craft as a combination of skill, practice, and judgment, and shares how taste shapes meaningful software experiences. The conversation explores speed versus quality, scale versus care, and why momentum can sometimes improve craft. Randy also offers an interesting perspective on how he sees, AI as a material, and explains what stays as tools as technologies change. This episode is for designers, product leaders, engineers, and makers who care deeply about building thoughtful, well made digital products for the long term.

Topics discussed

(02:14) What is Abecedarium?

(04:14) What does craft mean to you?

(08:12) How has your definition of craft changed over time?

(14:45) Should craft be visible to the end user?

(18:04) Can craft and scale go together?

(22:28) Any example of great quality with speed?

(28:18) Can taste be taught?

(38:17) Can craft bring value at an enterprise level?

(43:32) How do you look at craft at Notion?

(46:57) How do you see the future of craft in the world of AI?

(48:43) How do you practice craft at Notion with AI?

(51:17) What would your poster say about design?

(52:00) How do you see craft evolving in the next 10 years?

Reference links

https://www.instagram.com/randyjhunt

https://www.linkedin.com/in/randyjhunt

https://www.randyjhunt.com

https://www.notion.com/blog/meet-randy

https://books.google.com.sg/books/about/Product_Design_for_the_Web.html?id=paKPAQAAQBAJ&source=kp_author_description&redir_esc=y

https://pda.designsingapore.org/jurors/2020/randy-hunt/

https://design.sva.edu/cofaculty/randy-hunt/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=268NRHhPSZ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ux5g5PnIoY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Mr1WRvYiA

https://www.designweek.co.uk/a-lot-of-this-is-about-rituals-an-hour-with-notion-design-chief-randy-hunt/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4JEl7LHgqI

https://www.thegyaanproject.com/p/ep-321-lucy-datyner

https://www.thegyaanproject.com/p/ep-320-how-craft-shapes-digital-product

https://www.thegyaanproject.com/p/ep-319-craft-as-way-of-doing-things

In this episode of The Gyaan Project, I speak with Lucy Datyner, Principal Designer at Canva, about craft, taste, and the future of product design in the age of AI. Lucy shares how craft goes beyond polish into problem solving, why simplicity is always informed by context, and how designers can build taste through curiosity, critique, and making. The conversation explores AI as a co-creator, the importance of keeping humans in the loop, and why junior designers still matter. This episode is for designers, product leaders, and creators navigating design, craft, and AI today.

Topics discussed

(00:00) Introduction(02:09) What does craft mean to you(04:16) Is craft about aesthetics(04:57) How do you bring craft into your work(07:29) What is informed simplicity at Canva(08:38) How does AI fit into the world of craft(11:05) How do you define taste(13:19) Any rituals at Canva to build taste(16:08) How do design critique sessions happen at Canva(17:31) How does Canva handle not being monotonous(20:13) What is the role of research in craft and AI(22:55) Will designers be left only to curate(24:51) Will we lose the faculty of crafting with hand after AI takes over(26:59) What excites you the most about AI(29:24) What worries you the most with AI(31:11) What will your poster say

Reference links

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucydatyner/- https://lucydatyner.com/- https://contentseoul.com/speaker-profile-lucy-datyner/- https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/design--canva/episodes/E10-Lucy-Datyner--Content-Strategy--Experience-Design-Lead-e2i8mak- Tom Harman (Ep 319 - Part 1 of the Craft Series) https://youtu.be/MuDg4y-52Ec- Caio Orio (Ep 320 - Part 2 of the Craft Series) https://youtu.be/JEvWEyIYKbo

In this episode of the Craft series, I speak to Caio Orio, Principal Brand Designer at Wise, about the role of craft, taste, and practice in modern digital product design. Drawing from his advertising background and work on global fintech products, Caio explains how craft goes beyond visuals to include strategy, care, and attention to detail. The conversation explores taste, open mindedness, brand consistency, design systems, AI, and building meaningful product experiences. This episode is ideal for product designers, brand designers, and design leaders seeking depth beyond tools and trends.

Topics discussed:

(00:00) Intro(00:01:00) What does craft mean in digital products?(00:02:30) How Caio’s understanding of craft evolved?(00:03:53) Why craft is essential for designers?(00:06:16) Craft in brand design and digital products?(00:09:16) How Wise maintains consistency in craft?(00:10:43) Rituals and practices that support craft?(00:12:07) Bringing craft into the smallest elements?(00:15:02) How Caio defines taste in design?(00:16:03) Translating taste into digital products?(00:16:59) How designers can develop taste?(00:18:03) Caio’s personal journey of developing taste?(00:20:59) Communicating taste across teams?(00:23:55) How Wise inspires designers and design culture?(00:25:21) Balancing speed and craft in product design?(00:27:14) Prioritising craft without clear business metrics?(00:28:50) Digital products admired for taste and craft?(00:30:05) One essential mindset for future designers?

About Caio Orio (Guest)

https://c-orio.com/

https://www.instagram.com/c_orio/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/caio-orio/

https://www.behance.net/orio

https://friends.figma.com/events/details/figma-singapore-presents-designing-wise-the-hidden-layers-in-our-creative-process/

https://wise.com/

https://wise.design/

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