WE DIDN'T TEACH OUR DESIGNERS AI: WE BUILT A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD LEARN IT TOGETHER

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

Slack's design team addressed a gap in AI readiness by building peer-led programming, including a Friday learning series and a company-wide "Builder Days" event. The three-day event produced key lessons: human judgment remains essential, upfront planning determines success, supporting infrastructure ("the harness") matters as much as the model, and AI shifts collaboration toward higher-value activities. The team concluded that lasting value came less from finished prototypes and more from creating a supportive community where designers could learn and stay curious together.