This episode of The Innovation Engine features Part 2 of our interview with Jason Cyr, VP and Head of Product Design at Cisco Security. 3Pillar Field CTO Lance Mohring jumps back into the conversation to talk with Jason about how Cisco is able to acquire the most innovative, cutting-edge cybersecurity startups and then integrate their products into one unified, user-centric platform.

Jason explains that Cisco embeds designers as low in the organizational structure as possible and is big on the concept of integrated teams. He describes the essential product development triad at any level, where everyone has an equal say: product management, engineering, and design.

Then we pivot to AI: how to design for it, how Generative UI may change workflows in the future, and how it could upend user navigation as we know it. Customers aren’t looking for AI chatbots, Jason says. They’re demanding much higher value processes like cybersecurity data and incident analysis. Product designers need to be ready for this future now.

Lance and Jason, who are both musicians, wrap up the conversation talking about the intersection between music, technology, creativity, and more.  

Episode Highlights:

• How Cisco integrates design into its product development process through triad teams: product management, engineering, and design
• Jason reports that clients are saying they want more than chatbots from AI
• Why the traditional concept of product navigation might be tossed out the window with AI advancements

Resources:

• Listen to part 1 of the discussion
• Connect with Jason Cyr on LinkedIn
• Connect with Lance Mohring on LinkedIn 
• Check out Jason’s blogs on Medium
• Read “About Face: The Essentials of User Interface Design” by Alan Cooper

Produced by NOVA Media