Where is your place in this AI world?
Hey, it's Reza.
I know! It's been almost two years since my last newsletter hit your inbox, and since then, much has shifted—not just for me but for all of us navigating this unpredictable time.
I’ve been thinking about restarting this tiny publication the whole time, but believe me, life had other plans. Here’s the short version of what happened: Two years ago, I hit pause—not just on this newsletter but on some of the key projects I was building momentum on. A simple trip to a pizza spot near my place, a hit to my head, and what doctors describe as a “simple, tiny concussion” turned my world upside down.
Writing, editing, and anything involving a bright screen became incredibly difficult. It took me about six months to recover. It was a scary time since we were burning through our savings. I had to adapt, to find ways to survive. I did everything it took to get back in the game—only to realize the game had become all about survival and adaptation!
Just like I had to pause, rethink, and recreate everything, the creative, entertainment, and tech industries globally were hit with their own challenges—strikes, AI, recession, mass layoffs. It feels like everyone’s been forced to adapt, rethink, and find new ways to stay in the game.
What is NXT
I’m ready to continue this newsletter. The goal is going to stay the same: decoding new tech, new mindsets, and new tools for creatives.
Over the past two years, my studio, NXT ANIMAL has gotten heavily involved in storytelling around digital products for VR and AI companies. We’ve worked closely with some of the leaders in these spaces. I’ve learned a ton from working with founders, engineers, product managers, and designers. So, I’ll be writing about the new perspectives I’ve gained and translating what the possibilities are for us.
Big bad monster called Generative AI
It’s obvious by now that AI is not going anywhere. Many artists resist this massive shift, yet every day we see more joining the wave. And sometimes all we need is just one good story to push us to try new things—and I have a few for you!
Design Decoded is a web series I’m producing for the AI company Vizcom, which is making revolutionary tools for its dedicated community of designers. These stories are all about how top designers are integrating AI and responding to this change. Friends and fellow artists have shared with me that these short documentaries have changed their attitude towards AI, and honestly, I’m in heaven every time I hear something like that.
If you’re still resisting AI, or if you’ve poked around but haven’t figured out what’s in it for you, I ask you to watch these stories. See how real creatives are navigating these new tools to solve real problems and to create. These stories are far from the fake buzz and empty promises in social media.
Design Decoded
Here’s a sneak peek at the episodes:
The first episode features Robert Munson, a former designer at GM, reflecting on what might have been possible if he had AI when he designed the iconic Cadillac CTS Coupe. We shot this episode in Detroit, and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed and learned from spending time with this humble and brilliant man.
The second episode tells the story of Dennis Tan, an amazing niche helmet designer based in San Diego. We discovered Dennis during a project with O’NEAL in Austria. He calls himself an analog designer and has a very specific way of problem-solving by creating physical prototypes. His episode is great for those who want to integrate AI with traditional design processes, bridging the gap between digital and physical realms.
The third episode is about Dennis Johann Mueller, a talented footwear designer in Frankfurt. He pivoted from a safe job after ten years at Braun, built a digital community, learned from them, received the emotional support he needed, and became what he had always dreamed of: a footwear designer. His story is an amazing example of new-generation creatives and how they navigate this global change.
Where Do I Begin?
Let me tell you one thing: Here’s the biggest hack about AI: You are not behind. No one is. Don't let some stupid charlatan scare you. We all are figuring this out. Here’s what really matters in this game:
Use AI in any way and shape. Create stuff with it. Have fun with it. Experiment enough.
Figure out how to bring this knowledge to your actual work. What can you innovate or improve?
That’s all! Talk to you soon.
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