Makers 12: Taste x AI: The Strategic Differentiator
What if the very quality that got you into creating, your ability to recognise good work 🤌🏻 is exactly what makes you irreplaceable in the age of AI?
We're making a bet. Tell us if we're wrong.
You didn't become a designer so that you could arrange components efficiently.
You didn't become a developer because you enjoyed copying code from Stack Overflow.
You didn't get into building products because you loved following other people's specifications.
We bet you're here because something in you recognised quality. You felt drawn to craft. You instinctively sensed when proportions were right, when code was elegant, when experiences actually solved problems that mattered.
The strangest thing is, we've spent years optimising that instinct away. Design systems made us consistent, UI kits made us fast, component libraries let us assemble rather than create. We could produce cohesive work without developing the very craft that drew us here.
But AI does assembly too. It does it faster than we ever could. And suddenly, the thing we nearly optimised out of existence becomes our only strategic differentiator.
That thing is taste.
Why this conversation matters now
Every maker using AI discovers the same frustration. You prompt for something specific, get back something generic. The tool generates layouts beautifully, but they don't serve your intention. The code runs perfectly but lacks elegance. The flow works but doesn't motivate.
That moment when you think "that's not quite right" is your taste working. That is your very human ability to recognise the gap between technically correct and strategically valuable.
What's actually happening is AI just handed us superpowers for those who know how to wield them.
For the first time in history, you can translate taste into reality at the speed of thought. That typographic scaling using Fibonacci sequences that took hours is done in seconds. That code refactor you've been avoiding is generated and refined in minutes. That user flow you can clearly see in your mind but would take weeks and the whole kampung to prototype is built before lunch.
The practitioners who can direct these tools with surgical precision would be more than efficient. They're operating in a different league, creating sustainable competitive advantages and not more commoditised work. 💪🏼
What we're exploring
Every Makers, we bring thoughtful, diverse and deep practitioners to the centre-stage so they can help us unpack the elephant in the room.
Core Conversation:
“A Matter of Taste: How Design Taste Shows Up in a World of AI”
🎤 Speakers: Stephanie Moss and Lucy King-Griffin, Design, Research and Creative leaders at SEEK 🩷
Steph and Lucy, our design partners at SEEK, will explore why you can sense good design but struggle to execute it. Why AI generates flawless layouts that feel lifeless. Why technically perfect code lacks soul.
More importantly, they'll show how taste becomes the bridge between AI's capabilities and outcomes that actually matter. Working across different markets at SEEK, they've seen how sophisticated judgment makes execution smoother, faster and creates the differentiation that competitors can't replicate.
Taste is strategic precision - the ability to direct tools toward products people choose over alternatives.
🎙️ Panel Discussion: Strategic Taste: From Recognition to Creation in the AI Era
What follows is a conversation hosted by Shaza Hakim from Stampede, who herself can talk about taste and craft all day. Together, we'll explore why you can spot exceptional work but struggle to create it. We'll unpack the principles behind emotionally resonant design, learn to direct AI strategically rather than hopefully, and tackle building taste-driven teams when craft competes with velocity.
Most importantly, we’ll talk about hope. We'll show how you could rebuild and switch from assembler to tastemaker 🤌🏻
Worth your Saturday morning (and your friends' too!)
You didn't stumble into this field by accident. Something drew you to making things, solving problems, recognising when something creates genuine value. That instinct is now your most valuable business asset.
The future belongs to strategic tastemakers. And we think you're already one of them.
Come join us!
p/s: On another matter of taste, Alex our on-site barista promises a good Saturday brew to jolt you up! ☕️
Agenda
09.00 am: Registration & refreshments
09.20 am: Welcoming speech by Stampede
09.25 am: Welcoming speech by venue sponsor, UOB
09.30 am: [Core conversation] A Matter of Taste
10.15 am: Coffee break
10.30 am: [Panel discussion]
11.15 am: Closing speech & group photo
11.30 am: Networking till noon
Remarks
🎫 Free tickets available for:
Students (subject to availability): Email us from your university email address with the subject title "Makers 12 Student".
People affected by layoff: Email us with your email address and the subject title "Makers 12 Community".
Send your email to: [email protected]
🎫 By registering for this event, you consent to:
Be photographed and filmed, possibly featured on Stampede’s social media platforms.
Sharing your contact details with UOB, our venue sponsor, who may contact you about their products and services.
About Stampede
Founded in 2006, Stampede helps forward-thinking organisations navigate complex challenges with clarity. We design and build solutions that work today and create your competitive advantage for tomorrow. https://stampede-design.com
About UOB (Venue Sponsor)
UOB (United Overseas Bank) is a leading bank in Asia, committed to providing quality financial services and products. With a strong presence across the region, UOB offers a wide range of solutions, including personal banking, business banking, and wealth management.
Guide to UOB Plaza 1
🏢 UOB Multipurpose Hall is on Level M at UOB Plaza 1 (taller building at the back).
No lobby registration needed, just head to the lift available in front of lobby entrance.
📍Directions to UOB
Waze Link
LRT 🚈: Ride the Sri Petaling / Ampang line and head to Bandaraya station (5 mins walk)
Car 🚗: Park at the UOB Plaza 1 building basement car park. (Limited space. RM5 per hour, no cap)
Car & walk 🚙🚶: Park nearby the building, less than 10mins walk away. Parking rates vary:
Car Park Sogo
https://waze.com/ul/hw283fns8tMenara Bumiputra Commerce (CIMB)
https://waze.com/ul/hw283fn7y9
Thank you and looking forward to see you at the event! 🙌🏻