Infrequent essays about topics we’re frequently interested in: design, productivity, philosophy, brand, and story. We hope you find something of interest to you.

Skov thinking.

Jake Johnson Jake Johnson

Ship Better Ideas in 48 Hours: The AI‑Powered Design Sprint Playbook

What happens when you fuse the structure of a design sprint with the open-ended power of generative AI? This piece explores how AI can reshape each phase of the sprint—introducing new ways to frame problems, generate ideas, and prototype fast—while raising deeper questions about creativity, collaboration, and what it means to design with machines.

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Jake Johnson Jake Johnson

The irrefutable case for why brand investment is key to B2B growth

B2B companies can’t grow on activation alone. This post breaks down why brand investment is essential for long-term growth—covering key insights like the 95:5 rule, mental availability, and why emotionally resonant campaigns outperform. Backed by research from Binet, Field, and the B2B Institute.

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Jake Johnson Jake Johnson

Embracing serendipity and AI in Design

Fresh off the Config conference, I share some thoughts on how AI is reshaping design—not just the tools we use, but how we collaborate, create, and stay open to surprise. It’s about serendipity, not just speed.

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Jake Johnson Jake Johnson

Working at the edge of design

Exploring what it means to work at the edge of design—where constraints loosen, rules blur, and creative breakthroughs happen. It’s a call to embrace uncertainty, experiment boldly, and rediscover momentum through curiosity.

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Jake Johnson Jake Johnson

On time

From Einstein to Buddhism to personal productivity—is time even what we think it is? Why our psychological experience of time is tied to entropy and heat flow, why the future seems elusive, and how our obsession with managing every second often backfires. It's part science, part philosophy—and a pointed reminder to focus on what truly matters.

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Jake Johnson Jake Johnson

How to design innovative products

Innovative products aren’t born from nowhere—they emerge from deep customer understanding, smart constraints, and deliberate tradeoffs. This piece breaks down the patterns behind breakthrough design, from choice architecture to the power of intentional limitations.

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