By Javier Bermúdez, Senior UX Designer

Last September, I immersed myself in the Hatch Conference, an event brimming with bold ideas and transformative conversations. As a designer passionate about innovation and human-centered solutions, I walked away with actionable insights that I’m eager to weave into my work. Here’s a glimpse of what stuck with me:

1. Redefining Leadership Through Self-Awareness

A standout moment was a session on leadership led by David Hoang, who challenged us to dig deeper into our personal leadership identities. Instead of chasing a one-size-fits-all approach, he urged us to embrace what makes our leadership style unique—whether we’re connectors, problem-solvers, or catalysts. This resonated deeply, reminding me that authenticity drives impact.

2. AI: Amplifying Creativity, Not Replacing It

Emily Campbell flipped the script on AI fears, positioning it as a creative accelerant. She shared examples of AI handling repetitive tasks (like data sorting or pattern recognition), which frees designers to focus on storytelling, strategy, and emotional resonance. It’s not about tools replacing us—it’s about tools empowering us to think bigger.

3. The Burnout Antidote: Designing Healthier Workflows

Katrina Alcorn delivered a raw, relatable talk on burnout prevention. Her mantra? “Sustainability is a design challenge.” She pushed us to rethink workflows, prioritize mental health check-ins, and build cultures where “busy” isn’t a badge of honor. As someone who thrives on momentum, this was a wake-up call to design balance into my process.

4. Cutting Through the Noise of Trends

Rachel Rosenson tackled the elephant in the room: the hype cycle. Her framework for separating trends (lasting shifts) from fads (flashy distractions) was gold. Key takeaway? Stay curious, but anchor decisions in user needs and long-term value—not just what’s trending on social.

5. Machine Learning as a Co-Pilot

Matteo Loglio demoed how Machine Learning and autonomous agents can act as collaborators, not just tools. From automating user research analysis to predicting design system inconsistencies, his examples showed how AI can handle complexity, letting us focus on the human side of design.

A heartfelt thanks to Damian Martone and the Hatch team for curating such a dynamic, thought-provoking event. The energy was contagious, and I’m already brainstorming how to apply these ideas at Appian.

Here’s to designing with intention,
Javier Bermúdez
Senior UX Designer, Appian