Kooba was delighted to attend the inaugural BOUNCE event at Trinity College Dublin, an inspiring gathering of creative minds that brought together designers, developers, and industry leaders to explore the evolving landscape of design. Our team came away with valuable insights and fresh perspectives that are sure to influence our future projects. Here are some of our key takeaways from this brilliant experience.
Human-Centred Design
One of the most impactful sessions was led by Aisling Murphy and Fiona Ennis, who shared their experiences working on design projects in remote locations. Their presentation highlighted the importance of adopting a human-centred approach to design, ensuring that solutions are not only functional but also sustainable and deeply considerate of the end user’s needs. They emphasized the necessity of thorough research and engagement with the target audience to create designs that truly resonate and provide long-term value.
In particular, we loved hearing about their work in Colombia, where they worked with the environmental non-profit Fundación Montecito to develop "El Muyso Game" an educational board game aimed at teaching children about the biodiversity and conservation of Lake Tota's wetlands.
Cherishing Collaboration
Scott Burnet from Wove delivered an insightful talk on the significance of collaboration in design. He argued that fostering positive relationships with clients and stakeholders is just as important as achieving profits and return on investment (ROI). By prioritising collaboration, teams can build trust, encourage creative problem-solving, and ultimately achieve more durable success.
His talk reminded us that success is not just measured in numbers but also in the strength of our partnerships. Emphasising open communication, active listening, and mutual respect in our projects can lead to more fulfilling and successful outcomes.
Helping Ourselves
Thiago Maia from Cookie Studios provided a thought-provoking insight into the personal challenges that many designers face. He addressed the often-overlooked mental burdens that come with the creative industry, such as burnout, imposter syndrome, and the pressure to constantly innovate.
His session was a powerful reminder that taking care of our mental health is crucial for sustained creativity and productivity in the design industry.
Interdisciplinary Ideas
We were particularly inspired by the work of Tina Touli and Martin Grodl, who both seamlessly blend art, design, and development to create stunning products and artworks. Their approach demonstrated the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, showcasing how different fields can come together to push creative boundaries and produce truly unique work.
Tina Touli seamlessly merges analogue and digital techniques in her artwork, creating unique and visually captivating designs. We especially admired her use of original photography across her different projects.
Martin Grodl's work includes generative and interactive design, spanning branding, web, installation, and print. We loved his use of AI for designing unique emojis and fonts in his Uncanny Values and Aifont projects.
