Tag: #webexpo2025

One of the most thought-provoking talks I attended at this year’s WebExpo Conference was by Lutz Schmitt, titled “Digital Intimacy: Feeling Human in an Artificial World.” It made me reflect on how we approach emotional connection in digital design, something that often gets overlooked when we’re focused on functionality or aesthetics.

The Main Message: Making Technology Feel More Human

Lutz Schmitt’s talk focused on an important point: even though digital tools are getting better at copying how people behave, they don’t always create real emotional connections. He warned that we often design for speed, accuracy, and logic, but real human feelings are often slow, messy, and complicated. Just because a chatbot answers quickly doesn’t mean it feels caring. Just because a dating app matches people doesn’t mean it builds real connections. This really made me think. It reminded me that designing how things work isn’t enough. We need to ask: Does this feel human? Schmitt suggested a new way to think about emotional design. Instead of adding emotions as a last step, it should be part of the main design process. He gave examples like adding pauses in conversations, using less perfect language, or choosing a warm tone to make people feel like they are talking to a real person, not a machine. The goal isn’t to copy humans exactly but to understand what makes people feel seen and cared for, and design for that feeling. Emotional design needs attention and care, just like any other part of good design.

What Was Helpful for My Work

This talk was especially meaningful for me as someone working at the intersection of physical and digital experiences. Schmitt’s perspective made me reflect on how emotional connection often gets lost when we focus too much on the technical side of digital design.

In projects where I blend physical materials with digital interactions, whether it’s sensors, projections, or screen-based interfaces, it’s easy to prioritize what the technology can do over what it feels like to use. Schmitt’s talk reminded me that technology should serve the emotional goals of an experience, not just the functional ones.

He challenged me to think more critically about how digital responses, like lighting, sound, or interface feedback, can be designed to feel more human, warm, or even vulnerable. It’s not just about impressing users with innovation, but about creating a moment that feels real and meaningful. That mindset shift will definitely shape how I approach future projects that aim to engage people on both a sensory and emotional level.

Final Thoughts

This talk didn’t introduce any new technologies or visual trends, but it provided something more profound: a reminder that effective digital design is experienced emotionally, not just visually. To create experiences that resonate with people, we must go beyond mere logic and efficiency. We need to design with emotional intention.

One of the most eye-opening talks I attended at this year’s WebExpo Conference was by Jan Řezáč titled “12 core design skills”. It got me thinking about how we work as designers, especially when building new products or improving user experiences.

The Main Message: Don’t Fall Into the “Second Diamond Trap”

In design, we often use the “double diamond” process: first, we explore the problem (diamond one), and then we explore solutions (diamond two). The talk warned us about a common mistake: we focus so much on making and improving solutions that we forget to check back with users. This is called the “Second Diamond Trap.”

It means we spend a lot of time perfecting ideas, but forget who we’re designing for. We assume that once we’ve talked to users during the early research phase, we’re done. But people change. Contexts change. And the best designs come from staying in touch with real user needs the whole way through.

That point really hit me. It made me reflect on how easy it is to get stuck in “build mode” and lose sight of the bigger picture.

A Helpful Framework: 12 Areas of Design Work

One of the best parts of the talk was a 12-part framework they shared. It showed all the skills a great designer needs to grow, not just in craft, but in leadership and thinking. Here are the 12 areas:

• Design Process
• Business Thinking
• Workshop Facilitation
• Customer Research
• Sense-making
• Strategy
• Stakeholder Management
• Ideation
• Rapid Prototyping
• Testing Business Ideas
• Design Operations
• Project Management

What I liked is that each one had clear examples. For example, in Business Thinking, they reminded us that if we want to influence design decisions, we need to speak the language of business, things like goals, value, and impact. I also liked how they showed the difference between junior and senior skills. For example, juniors might run user interviews, but seniors turn those insights into action fast and share them with the whole team.

What Was Helpful for My Work

This talk was especially helpful for me in two areas: sense-making and stakeholder management. In my own projects, I often do research, but I don’t always stop to reflect enough during the project. Sense-making isn’t just something you do at the end, it should guide your work from start to finish.

Also, learning about how seniors manage themselves and others made me think about how I can grow into a leadership role. It’s not just about doing good work, it’s about helping others see the value of design too.

Final Thoughts

This talk didn’t give flashy design trends, it gave real advice that I can use in my everyday work. It helped me see where I’m strong and where I want to grow. If you’re a designer looking to build better products and be more strategic, the House of Řezáč team’s ideas are worth exploring.