As the Director of Visual Communications at Hamilton College, Kevin Waldron leads a team that shapes the brand identity for a national leader in liberal arts education. With over two decades of experience in higher education, Kevin is a passionate advocate for the liberal arts, viewing visual storytelling as an essential tool for recruiting the next generation of global leaders.
Between now and 2030, which specific skills, technologies or priorities will matter most in shaping the future of graphic design?
I believe that we are at an inflection point in time where technology companies are trying to systematize and dehumanize design in the name of efficiency.
If we choose to use AI to create an average persona of our audiences, an illustration, or automate away our entry level jobs, we need to recognize that we are choosing to replace a human with a machine.
A person brings not just the value of completing a task to their work, but they also bring empathy and a diversity of experiences. I believe prioritizing a human centered purpose over machine driven efficiencies can become a guiding principle in the years to come.
What trend do you think the industry is overvaluing — and one it is overlooking?
To double down on my previous answer I think we are overvaluing efficiency and undervaluing the humanity that a person brings to design.
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