60 minutes
Now more than ever, we need a more precise definition of values and vision for products and services. In navigating complexity, clarity of why and how matters. Values shape our behaviors; vision aligns our direction. All too often, teams treat both as inherent in backlog conversations or implied on roadmaps. They are not. It’s time we clarified what’s important to us and what direction we are forging.
This expert talk series explores how product and service teams can anchor their work in real, lived values and use vision as a shared compass, not just an inspirational one-time conversation or prototype. We’ll hear from leaders who use these tools to navigate ambiguity, build alignment, and create more humane, effective services.
Christian Crumlish will share his take on how this applies to real product development challenges with AI.
Christian Crumlish is Director of Product at Kind Systems and author of Product Management for UX People. He previously led the Product chapter at 18F and curated multiple Design in Product conferences. He also runs a community of the same name for product and UX leaders.
Christian builds and scales product teams with an approach grounded in UX, information architecture, and storytelling. As VP of Product at 7 Cups, he transformed a community-driven service into a behavioral health platform grossing seven figures. At CloudOn, he built a gesture-first productivity tool, led the design team, and saw the company acquired by Dropbox. At AOL, he helped launch user blogging at Patch, reimagined AIM, and developed consumer experience practices that influenced core products.
He is also co-author of Designing Social Interfaces (O’Reilly), The Power of Many (Wiley), and Internet for Busy People (McGraw-Hill). His career spans product strategy, UX, content design, and digital media—always with a focus on improving complex service journeys.
If your team struggles with alignment, purpose, or direction, this series will offer practical, grounded approaches to reconnect with what matters and where you’re headed.
A monthly series where design leaders share hard-won lessons on strategy, systems, and service. Moderated by Frank Spillers, we invite a special guest to share their wisdom and insights. Each session dives into real-world takeaways guided by experts shaping impactful work.
