Insta's got a new wordmark. So that'll be the design think piece obsession for the next month or so in between all the AI slop.
Ray Knickmeyer
@rknickme.bsky.social
Designer-Turned-Leadership-Consultant. Currently trying to start a business that aligns with my values. Lover of cats, bird watching and photography.
LinkedIn really wants me to follow the CIA for some reason. What are they trying to tell me?
You use the term vibe-coding in one LinkedIn post and it's an invitation to the AI commenters to come on into the party. Gotta be more careful.
Got a new lens for better bird photos. Pretty pleased. Look at this handsome hawk. Taken with a Fuji XT50 with a 70-300 zoom lens at Huntley Meadows.
I know in the grand scheme of things it's nothing - but I'm so mad I couldn't buy raspberries this week for, you know, reasons.
I'm reassured of my own humanity whenever I've spelled a word so incorrectly the spellcheck thinks I've invented something new.
I've mostly been avoiding being in the heart of DC these days for obvious reasons - but I am braving the National Mall tonight for a really good reason: to see Galaxy Quest at the National Air & Space Museum. Because there is good in this world goddammit.
My cat has a storied history at the vet now. Yes, Cthulhu is a known angry-girl. Today she had to be fully burrito'ed in order to have blood work done. She's still wandering the apartment yelling about it.
Why does LinkedIn think I am a generic male executive in desperate need of building a six pack of abs? Is that what executive presence has actually meant all along? Because I hate it.
So I wrote a thing over on my new Beehiiv home. Check it out if you have thoughts on burnout, living your values, and defining a better, grounded version of success for yourself. There's a pretty good photo of my cat Archie in there too if that's more your jam. ksf.beehiiv.com/p/reframing-...
Reframing Success - A Personal Story
The titles that were dragging me down. A personal reflection on how corporate reframes success in our minds and some ways to recenter how we think about that - grounded in our values.
ksf.beehiiv.com
Swapped my newsletter over the Beehiiv this week - the hardest part is I can't seem to remember to stick that extra 'i' in there whenever I write Beehiiv (I quadruple checked this to make sure it was there) ksf.beehiiv.com
Home | KSF Alignment Lab
Insights to help your team move faster, decide better, and operate with less friction – while keeping kindness at your center.
ksf.beehiiv.com
I think I need to diversify my bluesky portfolio. It's all reflecting pool discourse and AI pontificating. I need more animal photos in the mix as a palate cleanser.
This week I'm refilling my design collaboration cup going back and forth with my tattoo artist to nail my new sleeve. It's been a minute since I got to do a proper critique loop and it's fun!
I'm in that part of building a business where I'm trying to get over marketing myself. Then I read something that says I should be commenting on 30+ linkedin posts a day and well, I just will not. I cannot.
I recently brought home approximately 1 million old photos from my parents' basement to scan for posterity. Great decision. Look at this photo of my mother with a kitten!
I'm not by nature a rage-full person - but man do I hate that specific AI illustration style everyone uses on LinkedIn. You know the one. It itches my brain in just the wrong way.
Thinking about switching up my newsletter to beehiv - anyone got feelings on the platform? Good? Bad? Meh?
Just a little pride month / professional celebration - I'll be speaking at Out & Equal in October! My favorite conference - we love corporate gay prom.
Every time I write an outreach message for LI or email, normally to someone I literally already know and like - I get paranoid that they will incorrectly clock my words as AI. Can I not use good grammar in peace?
Saw three different suggested "posts" on LinkedIn today for Instashots, AI headshots. This is just to say: ugh. I hate it.
Leveraging my 'focus time' calendar block today to dye my hair pink. Seems like a good use of an afternoon.
Is it cool to post newsletters on bluesky? Hope so. I just dropped this deep dive on team values and it's pretty tight. Recommended for leaders feeling a bit lost in corporate spin these days. open.substack.com/pub/rayknick...
Naming and Owning Your Team Values ⚖️
Stop leaving values on a shelf. Learn how to use Information Architecture to sort, define, and operationalize team values that actually drive hard decisions. 📐
open.substack.com
For my Virginia friends, get out and vote on the redistricting today. A Yes is a clear vote against the current anti democratic administration.
I did a thing. Launched my newsletter today - the focus is on helping leadership teams cut the misalignment tax and build better, shared visions and working models to drive impact in this ever changing and complex business environment. Give it a look. rayknickmeyer.substack.com/p/ksf-alignm...
KSF Alignment Lab Volume 1
Blue Oceans, Dragons, and Anchors
rayknickmeyer.substack.com
It's really special getting to work with a for-real brand designer and not just an AI. I am so excited for where my new company's identity landed! Can't wait to roll it out. Spoiler: features one of my favorite birds - the barn swallow.
I spent yesterday doing - ugh - math on pricing models so today I rewarded myself by bird watching for 2 hours at the park. I saw a yellow bellied sapsucker, so my energy is now restored.
I'm building a new workshop and suddenly realized I'd woven in a whole sea-based adventure theme to it including blue oceans, dragons, and anchors. Too whimsical?